ROSEBUD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT SOUTH FORK NATURE CENTER

Joyce Hartmann

Four small groups met at the cabin for hands-on outdoor education:
in the foreground are students working on their art journal page after
illustrating their impressions on a short hike; on the left is a group
receiving instruction from Bob Verboon on how to identify animal skulls; on
the right is a group studying flowers and plants with Don Culwell. Shirley
Pratt has a group identifying edible and medicinal plants on the trails.

The weather was perfect the morning of May 9th, when the Rosebud High School Pre-Advanced Placement Biology Sophomores with instructor Margaret Moon arrived. Dr. Don Culwell met the school bus and led the group on a nature walk through the woods to the cabin, where he shared the story of folk singer Almeda Riddle, and how this authentic 100-year-old important piece of history was moved and restored.

Four docents provided hands-on instruction: taxidermist Bob Verboon brought his amazing collection of skulls, Shirley Pratt led groups along trails to show edible and medicinal plants, Don Culwell taught hands-on flower structure and function, and artist Joyce Hartmann led the group in drawing techniques and constructing a group nature art journal.


After these sessions and lunch at the picnic tables, students got a good workout when they tried their hand at cutting logs using crosscut saw techniques. After a concluding hike to the waterfall, everyone loaded up on the bus for the return home, taking along memories of a great time with many new things learned.