Hello to one and all, welcome back to the best nature program of all! We took a wonderful walk to our wild wetlands to learn more about frogs today, bundle up, grab a net and prepare to learn more about a day in the life of your Knee High Naturalist!
We started off our morning cold and a little confused about the changing weather and having to wear winter boots! We returned to our secret spot under the pines, paying careful attention to the garden design. We learned that spring ephemerals are growing right now, they’re special flowers and plants that bloom and are in their prime for a very short time. We found Bloodroot and Trailing Arbutus waiting for us! With the colder weather, we were ready for a move to somewhere sunnier and better. We packed up our bags and headed to the pavilion where we moved picnic tables to catch the perfect sun and learn something reptilian.
We learned about amphibians and reptiles, cool friends that hope, slither and make us smile. We learned that amphibians are things like frogs who are born in the water with gills, not lungs. They go through metamorphosis as they grow, growing legs and arms before losing their tails. We can find amphibians (usually) in places with water nearby like bogs, ponds and marshes. We also learned that snakes are reptiles who have scales for skin and begin life on land with lungs and no hands! Snakes look the same when they’re born as they do when their adults, they don’t grow arms or legs and it’s not their fault! Both of these critters are cold blooded, meaning they rely on their environment to maintain their body temperature, unlike humans!
We got to explore snake and frog skeletons, as well as a preserved Northern Ribbon Snake and an American Bullfrog through all of its different stages. We ate snack and didn’t color today, instead we opted for outdoor play! It take long before we hit the trail with a few nets and a frog catching pail. We wound our way down the big hill and big steps, over tree roots and rocks until reaching the boardwalk, kind of like a dock. We got quiet and still, waiting and watching to see any frogs were out with the chill. We looked high and low, to and fro, waved sticks in the water and tried to feed them food. We discovered the it was for too cold outside for the frogs, so they buried themselves in the mud and under logs until it gets warmer, we hope it won’t be long! We had fun finding the perfect sticks, we used them to catch algae, “seaweed” and other plants. While no frogs were found, smiles and laughs were abound. All too soon, it was time to head back, so we climbed the huge hills and steps once again, happy to be with all of our friends. Our families were so excited to see us, we can’t wait to discuss the fun things we did today!
Thank you all for another incredible and wild week in the lives of your Knee High Naturalists, we look forward to seeing you all next week to celebrate your naturalists accomplishments and growth over the past few months! Please plan on arriving 10-15 minutes early for pick up, we’ll have you all line the walkway by the nature center doors and we’ll present certificates to all of the naturalists! Thank you for helping us celebrate your wonderful children!
