WES students travel to Saco for adventure in ecology

By Becky Hallowell, Grade Four Teacher at Wiscasset Elementary School

Fourth graders at Wiscasset Elementary School had an adventure the last few days of September. The class traveled to The Ecology School in Saco for a three-day, two-night program. They worked with educators to learn more about the world they live in. They took part in lessons about geology, food systems, nighttime creatures, and watersheds. While taking part in the lessons, students explored the beautiful campus as they walked along river trails, through gardens, and around forests.

If asked about their favorite part of The Ecology School, students would quickly answer it was the food! Each student was assigned a table group and they took responsibility for serving and picking up family-style meals. Several students came home with new favorite foods. Each meal had a sponsor to teach the campers about where their food comes from. A few students were selected to read about the meal sponsor in front of over 80 people. They were cheered and congratulated for their bravery.

The Ecology School began every lesson with a skit and several students were asked to act in the skits. Each skit resulted in peals of laughter as students learned about riparian areas and companion planting. On breaks from their lessons, students played in the woods, created or played games in yurts, and discovered several interesting salamanders and insects. The fourth graders came home tired but exhilarated to learn more about their environment.

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