Young Explorers
The Young Explorer's Program offers hands-on activities to inspire children, ages 5-12,
with nature in the city.
All programs are FREE.
Program Offerings:
RIVERS
1. Life Along the River:
Ryan Playground, Neponset River, Mattapan (grades 2-6)
Available: March-Nov
Why is the river an important habitat for wildlife? We will look for signs of wildlife of all sizes including birds, mammals, fish and insects. We will listen for birds, look for tracks, measure shade, talk about trees, and explore the river’s edge with our dip nets to find creatures in the water.
2. Early Life on the Neponset:
Ventura Park, Dorchester (grades K-4)
Available: March-Nov
How was the river important to the people who lived here hundreds of years ago? What were the different resources used by the Native Americans along the river? Visit the site of a traditional camp of the Massadchuseuck Indians below the Lower Mills falls. We will discuss how the early inhabitants of the Lower Neponset lived their lives hundreds of years ago.
3. Winter Wildlife and Tracking:
Ventura Park, Dorchester and Belle Isle Marsh Reservation (grades K-4)
Available: January-March
What does a track or footprint tell you about an animal? What do different animals do to survive the winter? We will act as wildlife detectives and look for track “stories” and other signs of wildlife. Activities may include making a cast of a track and observing tracks with magnifying lenses.
SALT MARSHES
4. Salt Marsh Discovery:
Neponset River Estuary and Belle Isle Marsh Reservation (grades 2-8)
Available: March-Nov
Why is a salt marsh an important habitat? How do tides affect the plants and animals? What lives in the salt marsh? How is the marsh like a sponge? We will use our dip nets to look for creatures in the marsh and learn about what makes up a food chain.
5. Wetland Adventure and Marsh Creatures:
Neponset River Estuary and Belle Isle Marsh Reservation (grades 2-8)
Available: March-Nov
What is a wetland and why are they important? What are some of the special features of a wetland including soils, plants and wildlife? We will tour the marsh to create our own wetland adventure.
GARDENS
6. Vegetable Garden Discovery:
City Natives Learning Garden, Mattapan (grades 5-8)
Available: May-September
How do you raise food in an environmentally friendly way? What critters help the garden, which ones hurt the garden? How do you prevent soil erosion? How do you conserve water? Come discover the joys and details of gardening and dig your hands deep within the earth.
LOCATIONS:
Groups are responsible for transportation to field trip locations.
All Dorchester and Mattapan program sites are located along the MBTA Mattapan high-speed trolley corridor (Red Line) that runs from Ashmont Station to Mattapan Square Station. The East Boston program site, Belle Isle Marsh Reservation is located adjacent Blue Line’s Suffolk Downs T station.
Maximum group size: 25 students per session; must be accompanied by adult supervision. Interested school, after-school, scout, and community/youth center teachers and leaders should contact BNAN at 617-542-7696 or email info@bostonnatural.org for information on how your group can participate.
Click here to download the Young Explorers Brochure.
Programs & Activities
Bee Keeping
Canoeing
Multicultural Seed & Recipe Exchange
Rock Climbing
Seed, Sow & Grow
SLUG (Students Learning through Urban Gardening)
Sounds of the Garden
Walks, Hikes & Bikes
Young Explorers
© 2006 Copyright
Boston Natural Areas Network
62 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02110-1016
(ph)617-542-7696
(fax)617-542-0383
info@bostonnatural.org