Learning The Lessons Of Nature

By Tanjua Damon

There are still some places on the earth where civilization is more than an arm’s length away so that the sights and sounds of nature can be spotted and investigated.

Newtown Youth Services provided a weeklong nature program for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The children were able to enjoy the nature preserve at Cullens Memorial on Taunton Lake Road.

The program has been available to elementary school children for at least the past five years, according to facilitator Tracey Roberts with Newtown Youth Services. The program allows children to learn about various things with a nature theme. This year’s program focused on the forces of nature: wind, sun, rain, dirt, and seeds.

“Each year we do different things, but it’s all about nature,” Ms Roberts said. “I created it to add to the positive youth development programs Youth Services offers.”

Two groups met at Cullens Memorial from June 25 through 29. Kindergartners through second graders met during the first morning session and third through fifth graders met during the second session. Each day they spent time outside investigating the nature around them and how the forces of nature affected them. Crafts were also part of the educational program.

“There are a lot of summer programs,” Ms Roberts said. “This couples education, conservation, and respect for nature. It helps provide them with the skills we want adults to have.”

The students learned about the water cycle, ecosystems, talked about how seeds get around and their importance. The students also played in the dirt and gathered things along the nature trails to reinforce what they talked about all week.

The students also learned about how the sun makes shadows at different parts of the day. Before noon the shadow can be found to the west, after noon the shadow can be found to the east, and right at noon there is no shadow at all.

“The sun rises in the east so your shadow is behind you. It always faces the opposite direction,” Ms Roberts said. “At noon the sun is directly above you so there is no shadow at all.”

Over 25 students participated in this year’s camp. Ms Roberts said the program would not be possible without the generosity of the Cullens Memorial Association. For more information about NYS programs call 270-4335.