Really cool class!

Yesterday Noah and Kadin took their first of a series of monthly science classes at Peabody Mill Environmental Center in Amherst, NH.  These classes were organized through a local NH homeschool group.  Animal Tracking was the February theme, followed by a Tree Study in March, Spring Birding in April, Forest Study in May and Aquatic (Pond) Study in June.  The boys are really looking forward to the rest of their classes!  What a great place!  The setting is beautiful...very New Englandy.  And, it is only about 30 minutes from our house (and practically in GiGi and GrandDad's backyard)!  Another reason I like this place is that there is plenty to do with the little ones on site while the boys are in their class or out in the field.  If it happens to be a subject that we all have an interest in, their teacher welcomes all family members into the classroom session and in the field!  I didn't take part in snowshoeing with Aaron and Matthew this time, though.  We stayed behind and explored around the building.

Yesterday's class taught the boys the basics of how to track an animal in the snow.  They learned how to identify several different animals...rabbits, deer, black bears, porcupines, squirrels and coyotes.  During a one hour teaching session in the main building, their instructor, Mr. Scopa, explained how to look for certain characteristics in an animal print.  He handed out an information-filled identification card that the boys can laminate and take with them on their snowshoe hikes.  If they see a print in the snow, they can bring out their card and try to identify it.  Even Aaron sat still and listened intently through the entire class!

After the hour in the classroom it was out to the field!  The class all put on their snowshoes (Noah and Kadin brought their new ones) and they headed out to a beautiful trail in the woods for a 45 minute walk to try and find some tracks then identify them.  Unfortunately, we had some fresh snow before class yesterday, so they didn't see too much.  But they did see fresh porcupine tracks!  They were very excited about that!

Here are some pics from our day.  I forgot to bring in the camera to the classroom session, but I got some good ones outside afterwards.  Enjoy!

Peabody Mill Environmental Center - Amherst, NH

Happy Aaron playing in the snow, waiting for his brothers.

Walking up the lane!

Matthew trying to catch his big brother Aaron!

Having FUN!  Aaron has absolutely NO fear on these snow piles...he was jumping off from the top with no warning!!

Getting ready to throw at Mommy!

The class coming back from their snowshoe hike in the woods.

Happy boys!

Happy his brothers are back!

Moose in the lodge.  Matthew was afraid of him when we arrived, but as we were leaving he asked to pet him!

A great day!  4 very tired boys!

Cheese!!

Tired...  :)