Archaeologists for a Day

Campers had an AWESOME day yesterday! The Explorers went on a field trip to Skinner State Park, where they got a close look at some of the amazing geological features of the Connecticut River Valley, plus a nice view of the river from above. They had a picnic when they got to the top! 

The Young Naturalists became archaeologists for a day. They went to the archaeological dig site at the farm next door, where quadrants were already roped off. They got into groups and started digging... and found bones! Campers found jaws, skulls, leg bones, ribs, and back bones... what could they be? (Answer below) It was a great adventure! 

The bones came from sheep that lived on the farm years ago. When the sheep died, they were put on a compost pile, and after their bodies decomposed their bones were left behind. The counselors borrowed the bones from Farmer Hans and buried them for the campers to find.

Later, Ted visited the classroom for a look at some metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks that are found locally. We played “Guess My Rule” in which Ted made two piles of rocks, and the campers had to guess what the two groups were. Then the campers got a turn! Some of the ideas they had were: shiny/not shiny, bumpy/smooth, gas bubbles/no gas bubbles.

  

Beneski Museum of Natural History

Both groups of campers visited the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College this week. What an amazing place! A student named Megan showed us around the dinosaur track fossils (the biggest collection in the world!) and the various prehistoric animal skeletons, and then we had a chance to explore the hallways with the mineral displays. Awesome!

 

Meghan showed us how the animals around us today have evolved from animals in the past. We saw the ancestors of deer, elephants, bears, wolves, horses, and cats!

 

We also spent time looking at the feet of dinosaurs, counting their toes and legs. Many three-toed dinosaurs were upright, two-legged dinosaurs, she explained, while dinosaurs with more than three toes probably walked on four legs.

 

We got a close look at some prehistoric animal teeth and skulls and explored the differences between omnivore, herbivore and carnivore dentition. Thanks Megan!

Wood Duck Visit and Dino Game

On Tuesday all campers got to meet baby wood ducks! The Mileski family has been caring for some abandoned wood ducklings they found earlier this summer. The ducks are now teenagers and ready to be released. Campers got a close look at them and one especially amazing adaptation: the claws on their feet! Wood ducks spend a lot of time up in trees – I can attest to this, because I saw a pair up in a tree on Mount Holyoke at Skinner State Park this May – and the claws help them climb. These teenage ducks are all a dark greenish gray color now, and their sex can’t be distinguished. But campers all got to see in a field guide what their coloring will look like as adults – the males are very striking and colorful and the females are remain an overall greenish gray, which helps them camouflage in their wetland habitat.

 

 All campers have been playing the Dinosaur Rock-Paper-Scissors game this week. Everyone starts by being an egg, low to the ground. They play rock-paper-scissors with each other. The person that “wins” can advance on to the baby dinosaur phase, and the person that doesn’t stays an egg and keeps playing until they win. By the time campers are adult dinosaurs, they are completely upright, and theatrics are encouraged, so there’s roaring and outstretched arms and chomping jaws too!

 

The Explorers went to the Mill River recreation area on Tuesday, where they had the choice of swimming in the pool or exploring the river. The river looked particularly picturesque that day!

Clues to Nature's Past

Hitchcock campers kicked off Session Four: “Clues to Nature’s Past” yesterday by hiking around the Hitchcock trails, getting to know each other, and having special visitors! 

The Young Naturalists had a visit from our resident Box Turtle, Speedy. Believe it or not, Speedy really is a fast mover! He’s about 52 years old and has lived in captivity for a long time. Box turtles are not too common to find, but do live in Massachusetts. They are a woodland turtle and do not swim, although they might go near water to find food. When confronted with a predator, box turtles can go inside their shell, sealing up like a box. During Speedy visits, campers sit in a circle and the counselors put Speedy in the middle. Speedy walks around, probably looking for an exit, and meanwhile campers can feel his shell and ask questions.

 Meanwhile, the next classroom over, the Explorers had a special visitor too, and this one could talk! Ted Watt, an educator and naturalist at the Hitchcock Center, came in to talk about local geology of the Connecticut River Valley. First, Ted asked the campers what they’d seen so far that day. The list was impressive: canine (could be dog, could be fox) tracks, scat, and a praying mantis, to name a few.  Then Ted pulled out some rocks that cna be found in this area. Campers recognized some: quartz, granite, mica, marble. And some were newish: vesicular basalt and puddingstone. It is always a huge treat to work with Ted!

  

Campers will continue the learning and fun today, as the Young Naturalists dive into the Rock Cycle and the Explorers head out on their first field trip to the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College.

Explorers: Hiking at Goat Peak

On Tuesday the Explorers traveled to Mount Tom to hike Goat Peak. They hiked to the top and then got the chance to climb the tower. It was the perfect day for a hike!

On Wednesday at request of the campers, the Explorers trekked out to the tire swing. It is always a huge favorite at Hitchcock!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Last week campers explored Turtle Pond, a shady pool that has catfish, frogs and painted turtles galore!

Young Naturalists: Visit to UMASS "Bug Wall"

 Yesterday the Young Naturalists visited the Plant, Soil and Insect Science building at UMASS. A graduate student named Matt had a presentation for us, all about what makes an insect an insect plus who the other arthropods are. He showed us some awesome pictures of insects, and told us some amazing facts, such as: Insects are more numerous than any other animal on the planet, and every third animal on Earth is a beetle! We also talked about how important insects are to humans, animals and other insects. Campers were amazed that some people like to EAT insects!

After the slide show, campers had a look at a honeybee hive up close.

It was easy to spot the queen, who had been marked with a dot. (Plus, she was the biggest!)

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Then campers visited the “Bug Wall,” a magnificent collection of insects on display.

There are more than twenty insects in this case – can you spot them?

Afterwards campers met some live insects up close. They had a chance to hold a Madagascar hissing cockroach.

This is a cool beetle that plays dead as a defense strategy!

Which one is a boy and which one is a girl?

The male has horns on its head for fighting and defense (left). The female has a smoother head (right).

Tarantulas are not insects, but arachnids. The tarantula’s hairs are an adaptation. When attacked, the tarantula can “kick off” its irritating hairs at its predator.