SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. — Animal footprints are just one of many learning opportunities at Locust Lake State Park near Mahanoy City. An outdoor learning day provided fifth graders in the Tamaqua area the perfect opportunity to explore all that nature offers.
The Schuylkill County Conservancy committee says the goal is to familiarize students with their environment so they can learn how to care for it.
"What we have learned is that people that appreciate the environment will feel more apt to take care of it," said Frank Snyder, Schuylkill County Conservancy Outreach committee.
For more than a decade, fifth graders in the Tamaqua area have taken this trip to the nearby state park. Educators feel that this hands-on experience helps create a connection between students and nature.
"This way, they can put their hands on things like salamanders, crayfish. There's even a snake here today, and the students really remember that a lot better, I think," said Dave Kruel, Outdoor Learning Day organizer.
There are six learning stations throughout the state park. At this location, students learned about snakes like Snoop and other reptiles native to Pennsylvania. For many students, it was their first time seeing and touching a snake.
"Too many people see snakes and want to kill them, and there is no need to kill them. They have their place in nature as a lot of other scary things and the beautiful things too," said Audrey Wells, retired naturalist volunteer.
Students also learned about stream life and how to tie on flies, plants, pollinators, trees, and mammals native to the state.
"That was pretty cool because you could see like, the skulls inside, which was cool. Cats have the fangs on it because they're carnivores, which was cool," described Cecilia Neifert, Tamaqua Area fifth-grade student.
Schuylkill County Conservancy officials say they hope this motivates students to protect the environment and preserve it for future generations.