PCES sixth-graders visit PCSWCD Demonstration

WILLIAMSBURG — On Sept. 25 the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation Districts hosted the grade 6 classes from Piscataquis Community Elementary School (PCES) at the Demonstration Forest for a day of natural resource discovery.

Photo courtesy of PCSWCD

DIGGING THE SOIL STATION — Nick Butler of the USDA NRCS Soil Science Division explains the composition, complexity and history of Maine’s soils to PCES sixth-graders during a field trip to the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District Demonstration Forest in Williamsburg on Sept. 25.

This field trip has become an annual tradition for sixth-graders at PCES and provides the students with an excellent way to experience the demonstration forest and learn a few things about biology and ecology. Throughout the day, students rotated through four stations – forestry, leaf ID, wildlife and soils — where they explored each topic in unique, hands-on ways. At the soil station, students were able to learn about the biology of soil by digging, getting their hands dirty and using their senses. They learned what a forester does at the forestry station, identified trees by examining the characteristics of their leaves at the leaf ID station and checked out some neat skulls, fur and even played a fun game at the wildlife station.

The students learned directly from presenters Nick Butler, MLRA 144B project leader of the USDA NRCS Soil Science Division; Gordon Moore, district forester of the Maine Forest Service; Rochelle Titcomb, educator at PCES; and Dawna Blackstone and Nicole Nelson, education program coordinators from AMC; and were able to ask them questions about their careers. The students enjoyed seeing the many different options available to them if they desired to work outside, helping to protect natural resources.

The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District encourages all schools, organizations and clubs to contact the organization with interest in setting up one of these field trips at the Demonstration Forest (Williamsburg) or the Law Farm (Dover-Foxcroft). This field trip is a great way to get students outdoors, learning about our natural world. For more information, please contact 564-2321 ext. 3 or info@piscataquisswcd.org.