Sycamore Land Trust and Harmony’s third & fourth grade class are teaming up for conservation education this fall!

Students worked with Sycamore Land Trust (SLT) Environmental Education Director Saige Sentell in September, hand weeding all non-native and invasive species on Harmony’s campus. Other activities are planned this semester to help students experience the outdoors and learn more about the local environment.

“Our partnership with the third and fourth grade class will allow students to engage in hands-on stewardship and conservation practices while gaining an understanding of the benefits of our natural environment.”

In October, Sentell will present a lesson about tree identification and facilitate a service day of tree planting with the class. Students will also take a field trip to hike at Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve to explore the trail and identify native trees and plants they’ve learned about through the SLT experiences.

According to third and fourth grade teacher, Noelle Wanchic, “The students will have the opportunity to play a nature-hunt bingo game throughout the day to find unique and interesting objects/growing things in nature. We will talk about conservation and the leave-no-trace credo and safely help clean up this public trail and woodland area by using gloves to pick up trash and debris we may find in the woods and on the shore!”

Harmony’s partnership with SLT is made possible through Sycamore Land Trust’s Environmental Education program, which connects people of all ages to the outdoors through meaningful, hands-on activities.

“We bring lessons, games, story books, and activities to schools across southern Indiana, completely free of charge,” Sentell said. “Each year, we reach thousands of school-aged children with these programs adapted for each classroom’s needs.”

According to Sentell, Sycamore Land Trust provides robust environmental education programming through guided hikes, workshops, conservation conversations, and weed wrangles. Harmony families and the community can get involved by signing up for e-newsletter or participating in an upcoming event.