January, 2023: Beginning a Busy Year!
This past month, the Willow Bend Team used their winter break free time to update programs, and clean and organize our building to ring in the new year! Thanks to our team member, Melissa, our earthworm program is now updated. She partnered with eSigns.com to create new magnetic visuals for our Wildlife and Earthworm/Composting programs. This upgrade will benefit students through engaged education and hands-on participation. Who knew magnetic car signs would make such great teaching tools?
We started off the year with a handful of in-classroom programs. Kinsey 4th graders received a 3-part waste lesson, Cromer 4th grade a 3-part climate lesson and Kinsey kindergarteners explored earthworms and the concept of composting. Not so bad for navigating three snow days already!
As far as our community events, our Science Saturday themed, “Winter Science” was a great success. Families who joined learned about snow melt through our ground water and topography models, identified animal tracks in snow, used microscopes to observe details in the natural world, and got crafty by making their own unique snowflake cut-outs to take home. On the 21st, community members joined us for an adult workshop where local expert, Geoffrey Gross, taught them about the basics of wildlife tracking through a fun, interactive presentation and guided hike around Sawmill Park.
Thank you community members, teachers and students, for a great start to the year! Keep an eye out soon for February’s blog update.
-The Willow Bend Team