Saturday, May 17, 2014

last Monday morning...

...which was the day after the turmoil of Mother's Day weekend, was noted on my calendar as a volunteer opportunity at the Botanical Gardens. I obviously was not thinking about how tired I would be trying to recover from all that fun in the floral shoppe. I'd agreed several weeks ago to help with ninety-plus kids coming from an elementary school on a field trip that morning.

This has happened often enough that the people who enjoy working with kids, helping them explore nature and provide the learning opportunities to experience the wonders of the environment, are pretty adept at doing what they do.  Most of the previous visits by school-age children have been smaller groups of kids and their home-schooling Moms. And reportedly not nearly as cooperative and well mannered as the ones who come from public schools.

Lots of things to see and do at the Columbus Botanical Gardens. A well restored and maintained farm house, built in the late 1800's by the Adams family. A beautiful garden venue open to the public, available for rental for weddings, receptions, parties. Lots of things blooming, providing eye-catching color through out the year, in every season.

There is a walking trail, where groups of kids, lead by adults can roam in the woods, observe nature through their senses. A bird viewing area, with baths and feeders, brushy areas for protection where kids can look through the barn windows and see a wide variety of native and migrating birds. There are microscopes available for groups of kids to observe flowers and leaves in amazing detail. There is a moss garden, where kids, equipped with magnifying glasses can get on their knees and see things growing at close range. There are binoculars available for kids to learn to use, and observe wildlife and growing things at a remarkable distance. Lots of opportunities for city kids to experience the natural world.

I was fortunately, blessedly, thankfully not in charge of anything. Assigned to be with the guy who was instructing the rotating groups of about fifteen kids on how to use, adjust, enjoy binoculars. I think these kids were fifth graders, from one of the magnet schools.  My responsibility was no more complicated than passing out the binoculars to the kids, and taking them up again when our little twenty minute session was over. I was impressed with how well mannered, cooperative they were.

While they were taking a break I noticed a turtle walking across the grass.

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