www.solf.org
Post Office Box 345
Southborough, MA 01772
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www.solf.org Post Office Box 345 |
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A new collaboration in town is getting kids out into nature and they are all having a ball! The Southborough Open Land Foundation (SOLF) and the Southborough Extended Day (SEDP) brought 29 local children outside to participate in a variety of activities related to nature. The group was greeted by Southborough's Deborah Costine, a SOLF Trustee, renowned artist and professional puppeteer. She started the day off with a children's overview of the 58-acre Beals Preserve. She talked about the importance of protecting land for wildlife habitat and explained the difference between a nature preserve and a park. She then led a nature-based art activity involving making crayon rubbings of leaves, tree bark and stones to create artistic renderings of natural materials. Deborah commented on the day, "I feel that we definitely achieved our main goal: to have these children visit the Preserve and have them love it! I loved hearing their joyous shouts and whoops as they came down the Main Lane. They were in "wide-open" discovery mode! - all senses engaged!"” The day wrapped up with some trailwork, where they helped to redefine the trail to Ice Pond by placing sticks and pinecones along the edges, and hunting for natural treasures such as frog eggs.
SEDP's Executive Director, Karen Isaacson tells us, “As soon as we set foot on the trail, the atmosphere of the group went from fidgety and restless to engaged and excited. The children were so excited by this opportunity we took them back out into the woods around the Neary School after lunch so they could continue their explorations.” SOLF President, Sally Watters comments: “the partnership to provide programs that reconnect children with the natural world is very important to help overcome a growing 'nature deficit disorder' that many young people are developing. SOLF's beautiful 58-acre Beals Preserve is the perfect foundation for this program to connect children with nature through fun, interesting, and educational activities." The Southborough Open Land Foundation's (SOLF) mission is to preserve, protect, conserve and enhance the natural resources in the Town of Southborough, Massachusetts in order to maintain and improve the quality of life for the benefit of present and future generations of its residents and visitors. The program strives to further that mission by building tomorrow's nature lovers in today's children through programs such as this. SOLF's participation in this program was made possible by a grant from the Foundation for MetroWest.
Read the Community Advocate article about this program.
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