Field Trip Adventures for 919 Students this Spring

As the school year winds down, so does our spring CREA field trip season at the Cathance River Nature Preserve—and what a season it’s been! Between late April and June 11, over 900 students visited the Preserve for immersive, 3.5-hour outdoor learning experiences designed to enrich their classroom science curriculum.

From the pond to the forest to the river, students explored the wonders of the natural world through hands-on investigations. Second through fifth graders studied everything from habitat diversity and renewable energy to the life cycle of the newt, engaging deeply with the ecosystems around them. With binoculars in hand, wind meters spinning, and microscopes ready, they scooped in ponds, rolled over logs, and uncovered the secrets of the preserve—one muddy boot at a time.

One teacher summed it up perfectly:

“I wish every science class could be outside, because that is where science lives!”

We were especially excited to welcome classes from Mt. Ararat Middle School, who came to explore independently. Seventh-grade Merrymeeting Bay team students walked their science classes to the Preserve in search of pond eggs and larvae, while the Sheepscot Bay team made the trip by bike, spending the day hiking along the River’s edge.

We’re thrilled that so many local students can experience this incredible natural resource right in their own backyard. Thank you to the teachers, schools, and volunteers who make these field trips possible—and we can’t wait to welcome even more students back this fall!

Thank you to Battelle for funding this work.