Great Blue Herons nest, and other wildlife at Lake Wallace, Summer 2013

June 3

The nest through the scope, August 5

Kingfisher, through the lens

Mourning Cloak tastes the salt at Tadgell

The Canada Geese do own the place when we humans aren't around!

Damselfly emerges, June 2013

We were privileged to witness the whole event in the classroom

And to think, we caught the emergence on video, too!

Start with a larva, determined to crawl out of the water ...

 ... leaves its exuvia behind, pumps to deploy those wings ... 

 ... starts to dry and stretch out ... 

 ... and there's the adult, ready to live out the rest of its life!

Ecomentors ... stay tuned for information on our first trip of the new school year!

Our last trip of the year, in June 2013, was a great one ... beautiful afternoon, and great scientists ready to put their skills to work.

Thanks, everyone, for a great year.  With special thanks to Mr. Clark!!

These experienced scientists know the drill ... sort, identify, sketch, and appreciate.

A Mayfly, even in June

A respectably large leech

Hey, little dragonfly, thanks for eating all those mosquitoes!!

Larva, who are you?

Lots of little crayfish

Now that's a kind of dragonfly larva we've never seen before.  2 years of looking, and we can still find something new.

Thanks, one and all ... 2012-2013 was a great year, and we're looking forward to more in 2013!

Last trips to the pond, May 2013

Even dedicated explorers need to know when Not to take that next step in

Yes, exploring the pond can be fun

Green Frog portrait

Grey Tree Frog, shy

Identify, record, then decide if we want to check it out under the microscope back in the classroom

Tough little Red-backed Salamander

Painted Turtle, sweet

Painted Turtle, fierce

Froglet back in the classroom, ready to hop away

Ruthie gets her NEOWA award

Even though she couldn't be with us at the School Committee presentation of the awards for the New England Outdoor Writers Association Young Writers' contest, RuthAnn happily smiled for the camera when she got her award.  Nicely expressed, Ruthie.  There was polite applause.  Good luck in college!