BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- "We're going to meet trees and make a field guide. We're also going to learn about the community that lives in the forest," explains Kristin Raveling of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington.
"Let's go find us a nice tree to meet," added Raveling.
These kindergartners from the American Indian Magnet School are heading into the woods to learn about their environment.
"That tells us deer live in the forest," added Raveling.
These students do more than look at trees.
"We're going to make a bark rubbing. I think we'll have to draw this leaf, we can't really rub it," added Raveling.
They create a booklet that will help them keep learning about plants and animals once they head back into the classroom.
These students and their knowledge about the wilderness will grow as they grow.
They'll visit this wildlife refuge until they reach 7th grade. But for now, it's all about small discoveries.
That can turn into a lifetime appreciation of the world around us.
The Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is hosting a Kids Bird Watching Fair at the Rapids Lake Unit of the Minnesota Valley NWR from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Saturday, May 7th.
For more information on the May 7th event: http://mn.audubon.org/events/672
(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)