Students from 14 different classes of the Concord School District visited the Merrimack River Floodplain for their "habitat hikes" programs in October.
Nearly 300 students and teachers visited the Forest Society's Merrimack River Outdoor Education & Conservation Area in October as part of the Concord School District's Project SEE “habitats hikes."
A total of 236 second grade students from 14 classes (along with 14 teachers, 14 Assistants, and 27 adult chaperones) took part in the field trip. Project SEE, based at White Farm on Clinton Street in Concord is a School District-funded environmental education program for grades K though 6. It is staffed by environmental educators Stephanie Bowser, Madeline Champlin and Hillary Chapman.
The Forest Society’s Merrimack River Floodplain offers unique opportunities to observe four different habitats associated with forest, wetland, open field and river habitats.
According to Hilary Chapman, Concord School District Project SEE Program Assistant: “It's been a lovely fall, we only had to reschedule one time for rain. The kids practiced Leave No Trace, reading a map, identifying trees, considering the characteristics of forest soil vs. river soil and making close observations of the habitat for evidence of the animals that live there. The kids loved their hike and explorations. They all expressed an interest to return with their families.”