Wildlife Explorers children learn about nature at parks
Wildlife Explorers day campers Isabella Brunne, left, and Ella Wayne show off the experimental seedlings they have been growing as part of the six-week experience.
The Town of Farragut’s six-week program, currently in its second year, has brought 60 children to the Town’s Outdoor Classroom, McFee Park and Founder’s Park so far this year, with plans to visit Anchor Park and return to McFee in the coming weeks.
The children, ranging in age from 5 to 10, meet in two different groups weekly, either on Tuesday or Wednesday, at the already selected sites.
The Town’s Wildlife Explorers is held in conjunction with the National Park and Recreation Association project of the same name, explained Brittany Spencer, Special Event and Program coordinator with Town of Farragut, who is overseeing it locally.
“The program can be whatever you want it to be to get kids outside and enjoying nature.”
It actually has proven to be quite popular, as classes filled up quickly this year.
“We had to limit it to 30,” Spencer said. “We have had a lot of repeats, but we’ve had a lot of new students, too.
“It is just really a fun time with them getting to come out to all the parks, especially since most of (the parks) have a water element.”
Program highlights have included planting seeds, exploring creeks and streams, and identifying plants and native creatures — but all the while showing children that learning and fun are not mutually exclusive.
The first week they planted watermelon, radish and sunflower seeds, which are carefully stored from week to week so they can be examined during their follow-up meetings. The campers also are keeping journals throughout the six-week course, in which they are detailing their findings and discoveries.
The week the group visited the Outdoor Classroom, they worked with Abbie Casey, the Town’s Americore volunteer and Stormwater Matters coordinator.
While getting ready to work with Casey, 9-year-old Isabella Brunne said she thought the program was “awesome” because “we get to learn about all parts of nature.”
Her classmate, Ella Wayne, said she enjoys getting to play outdoors, “which is my favorite part.”
Isabella noted she also liked getting to play in the creeks and water.
“My shoes got so dirty last time that I had to wear my water shoes this week, and when I get home, I’m going right in the pool,” she said.
After introducing herself, Casey took the group on a short hike of the property, leading them down to the creek to show them various plants growing naturally in the area, along with plants that are not indigenous but have sprouted there though other means.
Town of Farragut Parks & Leisure Services assistant Caitlin Waters and volunteer Taylor Higginbotham were enjoying their time at the Outdoor Classroom too, even as they helped chaperone the youngsters.
“This is really a great program,” Waters said. “I like that it gives the kids the opportunity to get outside, and it also gives them some perspective and knowledge of what to do and what not to do.”
“I like that it is creating the next generation to take care of the earth and the environment, while also giving them something to do on a hot summer day,” Higginbotham added.
