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.