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Highland elementary students hike at Douthat State Park
MONTEREY - Highland Elementary School second and third graders recently traveled to Douthat State Park, northeast of Clifton Forge, on a field trip.
Ranger Eric Harold guided each class on a hike through the woods and showed the group many of the park's wonders, such as two-lined salamanders and toads. He pointed out varieties of trees and explained how some are dying because of insect damage and disease. Students hiked up to the park's dam and saw areas that have been set aside just for kids to fish in. There were fish jumping out of the water trying to catch insects and Harold explained the lake is stocked with several kinds of fish.
Beth Hawse, chief ranger of interpretation and education, shared a presentation on the life cycle of the butterfly with second graders. She had models of each stage of metamorphosis. In addition, students each created a colorful butterfly to take home.
Hawse shared with the third grade her expertise on beavers and their adaptations. She showed them models of the beaver's feet, scat, and skull. Hawse explained how the beaver's mouth has a special area that allows it to carry branches with ease and a branch that had been cut down by a beaver.
Third graders learned how beavers create their homes - lodges - in the water and how they create a dam to bring the water level up around their lodge. Each thirdgrader created a beaver craft to take home.
It was a fun-filled learning adventure that helped reinforce some of the science standards of learning objectives for each grade.
By Meg Wilson and Terri Jamison, Highland Elementary
School teachers
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