We had a wonderful experience at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center this morning for Outdoor Education! Our class was joined by the kindergarteners, Ms. Cederoth, lots of amazing parents, and of course our wonderful Outdoor Ed teacher who planned this trip for us – Mrs. Bowsher! As we arrived, we split into two groups by grade set off on a nature hike to observe signs of fall all around us. Our guide helped us discover colorful leaves, acorns, a caterpillar, four deer, lots of squirrels and plants! We saw a pawpaw tree just like the first graders had learned about (and even tasted!) in Outdoor Ed recently. Did you know the fruit from the pawpaw tree is the state fruit of Missouri?
As we walked, we pointed out the changes students have been discussing in Outdoor Education, like why leaves change colors and fall from trees and how animals get ready for the colder months. It was amazing to watch them make connections to what they’ve been learning about plants, animals, and their preparations for winter.
After the hike, we went inside the Nature Center for a presentation about how Missouri plants and animals adapt to the fall season. The kids got to touch a king snake and several animal pelts, which gave them an up-close experience with some of the creatures we don’t often see. They were especially fascinated by a tiger salamander in its cage!
The day wrapped up with time in the children’s area of the Nature Center. The space was designed to let kids interact with Missouri’s nature in creative and exploratory ways. The students loved exploring and learning even more through play and observation. Each student even got to donate a coin to the conservation department by feeding it to a pretend frog and hearing the frog croak!
We’re so grateful for the opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom and out into the Missouri nature. A huge thanks to Mrs. Bowsher for teaching us so much and organizing experiences like this for us! I encourage you to ask your child about their favorite part of the day or something new they learned—you might just learn something about Missouri nature, too!
