A skunk, opossum, owl, milk snake, box turtle, and a box full of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches were some of the special guests at the "Adventures in Nature" class sponsored by CCF this fall. As part of its educational mission, the Carlisle Conservation Foundation underwrote a course offered to elementary school children through the Carlisle Recreation Department. Teacher-naturalist Susan Vecchi from Mass. Audubon's Drumlin Farm brought a different animal each week and conducted related activities and games during eight after-school sessions for 14 participants. The Conant Land was home for their adventures such as exploration at Fishtail Pond, collecting mice habitat at Castle Rock, and pretending to have dim vision on the trails like a skunk.

Genna Carmichael, a 5th grade participant, wrote: “Sometimes we had to put on blindfolds and use our other senses. Another time, we had to experience what it was like to have no thumbs by taping our thumbs to our hands. It was cool. The nature program is the best!”

Marjie Findlay