This year's event was held on Wednesday May 25, at Diamond D Ranch outside Middletown. Approximately 75 fourth grade students from Coyote Valley and Minnie Cannon elementary schools participated in this interactive educational event on the banks of Putah Creek, where the emphasis was on seeing, touching, and learning about the natural world and natural resource management in an outdoor setting.
Although not part of the formal presentations, everyone also got a close look at post-fire resilience: although the Valley Fire had reduced the riparian vegetation along Putah Creek to charred skeletons, lush new growth was already sprouting everywhere -- and the massive Valley Oaks a little farther from the creek appeared to have come through unscathed.
Although not part of the formal presentations, everyone also got a close look at post-fire resilience: although the Valley Fire had reduced the riparian vegetation along Putah Creek to charred skeletons, lush new growth was already sprouting everywhere -- and the massive Valley Oaks a little farther from the creek appeared to have come through unscathed.
|
|
|
Dr. Harry Lyons providing an introduction to our native trees and ways to identify them
|
Carolyn Ruttan from the Department of Water Resources talks about the dangers of aquatic invasive species such as quagga mussels.
|
|
|
|
Dean Enderlin demonstrating geologic principles with rocks he found on site
|
After the demonstrations and hands-on activities, the students settled in for lunch -- when who should appear but Smokey Bear! Lots of hugs.
|
Dean Enderlin, East Lake Director Bill Lincoln and Dr. Harry Lyons admiring the mature Valley Oaks that shade the event site, undamaged despite the Valley Fire that burned all around them
