Student Project Work Showcase

At Kestrel, we value all our young scientists and their discoveries, and we mentor them to create original work that is valuable to the wider community. Many of the students in our school programs record their observations of the natural world, discuss and analyze their findings, and integrate them into creative pieces that will educate others about the natural history of their local wilds. While our youngest scientists make maps, field guides, and models, our older scientists often craft mini nature documentaries and websites. In June of 2024 we were excited to present our Student Work Showcase at Camp Paradise in Beverly. The Student Work Showcase is the day each year when we share all this beautiful work with the community, with the help of the makers. Our outdoor skills students were also present to demonstrate some of their skills in person. The event featured Student Work exhibits, live, drop-in presentations, wilderness skills demonstrations, live pond creatures, snacks, and was free, thanks to the generosity of Johnson O’Connor accounting!

Here is a sample of some of the work featured at the event!

Hometown Waters Beverly Public Schools 2nd Grade Habitat Maps

During two full morning visits to Camp Paradise, students compared life in different wetlands. They found, sketched, and identified creatures, and discussed how the wetlands themselves and the animals within them differ. They learned about migratory amphibians and the habitats they depend on. Students also explored upland habitats and documented the plants and animals inhabiting them and how they connect to wetlands life. Working in small groups, they mapped out the wetlands and the living things in and around them, in order to show how and why these particular wetlands are important.

Thanks to Cell Signaling for sponsoring this program, and the Beverly Cultural Council (a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency) for supporting transportation costs!

Manchester Memorial School Pond Life Cycle Field Guides

Students visited Dexter Pond, where they caught, observed, and sketched a wide array of pond animals. They used their own sketches to identify the animals and learned about the changes their bodies undergo throughout their lives, using background reading materials. The students’ field guide pages show the life stories of a variety of local pond animals.

 Thanks to the Manchester and Essex Cultural Councils (local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency) and  Manchester-Essex Conservation Trust for sponsoring this program.

Brookwood School Vernal Pond Guides

Fourth grade students at Brookwood learned about vernal ponds just as the animals that use them began their annual migration in late April.  They visited two ponds and identified the invertebrates and amphibians that live and breed there.  Students then created a field guide showing the obligate and facultative species associated with vernal ponds on Cape Ann.  Live animals served as their models for drawing the images. The students topped off their field guides with facts of interest.

Rockport Elementary School 5th Grade Energy Flow Maps of Rockport Woods

This program began in fall and continued through spring. Small groups were each assigned to a native predator and learned about all the resources it takes to support them. We ventured into Rockport woods to find evidence of the web to support our predators, starting from specific tree types that produce high energy nuts and fruits, to using tracks and sign to find prey. We checked trail cameras and found videos of both predators and prey, and documented everything. Later, students made maps of the local woods that show specifically how energy flows through the specific species we found in each area.

Thanks again to our Student Work Showcase Sponsor, Johnson O’Connor, our generous Program Sponsors, our local Cultural Councils, and private donors for supporting this work!