WAJ Science Club Students worked to dissect owl pellets at a recent program conducted by Cornell Cooperative Extension. Furthering their knowledge of food webs and digestive systems, students took part in exciting activities designed to help them learn about the complexities of the food web. The program was funded by the Windham Foundation.

Students spent the afternoon doing hands on projects based around the roles of producers and consumers in our ecosystem. Owl pellets, which consist of the indigestible remains of the owls prey, were dissected by all 14 students as well as the parent volunteers. Prior to dissection the students made hypotheses about the animals that might make up the food web of a barn owl. For the most part, they were spot on, using bone charts the students identified a variety of animals the owls had consumed. These included voles, mice, and even small birds.

While performing their dissection the program’s participants were able to enjoy live bird cams courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (The public can access these live video feeds at http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/.) The WAJ Science club members were lucky enough to witness one of the barn owls preening its feathers during a brief break in its afternoon slumber. Students left the program with a great deal of excitement and a better understanding of how energy flows through plants and animals.  The WAJ Science Club would not be possible without the generous financial support of The Windham Foundation.  This five part series will continue each month until June. In March the students will cover topics related to bird migration.

Once again, the Windham Foundation provided funding to Cornell Cooperative Extension to conduct 5 nature programs for the WAJ Science Club from February – June 2016.  The students enjoy hands-on projects conducted by the CCE Extension Educators. WAJ science teachers and parent volunteers participate in the learning process. All of the sessions are conducted at the AgroForestry Resource Center in Acra.

 

Owl Pellet Dissection Lab—Exploring the Food Web–February

Owls have complicated digestive systems that allow them to swallow small rodents and birds whole.  This provides a unique opportunity for young people to explore the food web.   Dissection kits will be provided that empower students to identify what the owl ate last.  Participants will learn to deduct information about the food web, prey-predator relationships and the owl’s natural surroundings by analyzing the remains found inside the pellet.

 

Bird Migration Challenge –March

Exploring migration patterns tells a great story about the challenges birds face as the seasons change.  Each station will outline a specific challenge that they (Every student is assigned a bird species) will face during their lengthy migration.   The concept of preserving natural spaces for bird migration will be discussed as the session progresses.

 

Mapping–April

Knowing how to read a map is an invaluable skill that enables young people to enjoy the forest. In this sessions students will familiarize themselves with orienteering skills using maps, compasses, and GPS units.

 

Spring Tree Id–May

Spring is the perfect time to learn about tree identification. Students will learn to explore the forest from a new perspective. As participants learn about leaf, branch, and bark structure they develop a more complex understanding of the forest.

 

Soil, The foundation of the Forest—June

Soil is a complex substance filled with living organisms, it is the source of life in the forest.   In this lesson students will use augers to obtain soil samples.  Observations about the different layers of soil will be made and an understanding of the living soil profile will be established.

The Windham Foundation recently funded students from Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School to attend Boys State, a prestigious educational program of both local and national acclaim.  Coordination was handled at the local level by Windham’s VFW Post 1545 and Prattville’s’ American Legion Post 1327.

Walter Dodson, Anthony Holmok, and Aidan Cohane  were selected from WAJ to participate in Boys State.  These encouraging young men were chosen based on their exceptional qualities of character, scholarship, and school involvement.  Attending the program along with 1000 others from the State of New York, the students were immersed in citizenship, leadership and team work. They also participated in physical fitness and other activities under the guidance of American Legion counselors and U.S. Marines. Walter, who was elected to the Speaker of the Assembly, mentioned how it was “an enriching experience and it provided me with an in depth exploration of the system of government in our country.”

This highly prestigious program has offered a wide range of opportunities for its graduates; each of the students greatly appreciated the opportunity to add this experience to their list of accomplishments.  The Windham Foundation is committed to sponsoring educational programs in our community. It is our greatest pleasure to see young adults in the town of Windham flourish, as they are our future.  Boys State was held at SUNY Morrisville State College from June 26 to July 2, 2015. To learn more about the Windham Foundation go to www.windhamfoundation.com or call 518-734-9636.  The Windham Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization governed by an all volunteer board.

The Schoharie Creek Players and WAJ Drama Club teamed up to present scenes from Michael Gore’s “Fame” on Friday July 17^th. Jim Starr directed the show along with choreographer Ashley Becker. They enjoyed working with the students and pushed them to do their best.  Eleven local students from WAJ’s drama department took part in the summer workshop. These young actors worked hard for two weeks from 9am-12pm everyday in WAJ’s auditorium. It certainly paid off as they put on an amazing musical for the community. They learned a lot about the theater including different vocal exercises to get warmed up. Jenna Lashua, a tenth grader and budding actress, played the role of Mrs. Sherwood. She said that it was a fun experience and she enjoyed working with her peers. Every spring the WAJ Drama Club puts on a performance, however this workshop gave the students an opportunity to showcase their passion in the summer as well. The students combined acting, dancing, and singing into one great show! It received many laughs and applauds from the audience. This production was made possible by funds from the Windham Foundation, who continues to be a major supporter of the arts.  This is our third year funding a summer drama program for local teens, said board member Phyllis Parrish.  Jim Star brings out the best in each student. They grow a lot in two weeks.   The Windham Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization, www.windhamfoundation.com.

Mag Scarey and Nicole Kern’s 3^rd grade classes visited the Sugar Maples Farm. They had a fun packed day learning about natural agriculture and planting their own vegetables.  After taking a tour of the greenhouses, students got down and dirty picking out the pesky weeds to make room for their vegetable seeds.  After preparing the soil, they worked together making holes and planting their first row of beans.  Students learned that plants need plenty of water, sunlight and soil to grow.  Tomatoes, in particular, need fresh compost along with tall stakes for support.  When possible, students will visit the farm during the summer and help weed and water their beans and tomatoes.  Everyone said it was a great day and looked forward to learning more about the food they eat and where it comes from.   The Farm Tours are sponsored by the Windham Foundation.