Day 1
I have to admit that I spent most of the prior week bouncing back and forth from nervousness to excitement. Driving in Monday morning I felt that this was a very positive change of direction. The minute I entered the classroom my nerves settled and the urge to learn kicked in. During the introductions I learned that although we all have different backgrounds we have come together
for the same reason. To educate in a manner that is associated with the nature around us. Our first trip outside landed us in College Woods observing a forest that has been alive for hundreds of years. In just a matter of a few hours I had learned more about the composition of a New England forest then I had known. As an activity we were to pick a tree of our own and describe the tree and it's surroundings. We were also to give the tree a name. The location of my tree was in a very moist area that gave way for shrubbery to thrive and an opening to the sky. My tree was the tallest in this opening, thus naming him the Towering Terror! He was identified as an American Elm and actually living in an unusually wet area. What I learned from the observations, activities, and ideas from the first day opened up my primarily marine biology-thinking mind to new ecosystems. I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in nature the first day (but safe from the downpours)!Day 2
Today was our first visit to Tamposi where we will be spending a majority of our next four weeks. To get orientated with the 1300 acre watershed we were sent on a scavenger hunt which sent us 2 miles into the conservation area. There were five points along the path and each one was associated to some natural or human disturbance. All five brought on great conversations and thoughts to our observations. The one that I found quite interesting was an old house foundation, or possibly two old house foundations. To be standing where hundreds of years ago a family had lived harmoniously with the land makes one think how simple life was. In the area that looks like it may have been a cellar was a baby's headstone. We weren't sure if she, Alice Chote, had been buried there or across the path where the family cemetery is located. It is great what you will see when you stop and take the time to look at around. You will see more then you originally thought existed!
