GAMBIER — A first-hand look at Ohio’s habitats was explored by students from East Knox Elementary School, thanks to scholarship donations collected at the Brown Family Environmental Center. With field trips being eliminated after unsuccessful passage of district levies, numerous groups and individuals came forward with donations to go to a scholarship fund to allow students a chance at field trips to the BFEC.
“What we offer here, this really meets their needs,” said Heather Doherty, program manager at BFEC who hosted East Knox second-graders on April 10 before first graders visited on Tuesday. “These animals and plants they see here actually live in Ohio. We hope this gives them a connection with the outdoors. It’s good for them to be outside.”
The day was split into two separate visits with two classes visiting in the morning and two more in the afternoon. Three different habitats were explored, giving students an up-close look at ponds, forests and fields. The visit to the BFEC was coordinated with the students’ school curriculum. Animal reports were assigned where the students could choose an animal they wanted to learn about.
