Text by Melissa Asselin
Photo by Caitlin Layton

Botelle School sixth graders, accompanied by their peers from Colebrook, took a trip to    Nature’s Classroom in Ivoryton, Conn. from April 11 through 14. The students learned about nature, animal sign, ecosystems, conservation, and food waste. They learned to make a lean-to shelter, build a fire, cook outside, field journal, and how to dissect owl pellets to determine what the owl had eaten. One day, the group took a bus trip to Project Oceanology in Groton where students had a scavenger hunt on the beach, learned about invasive crab species and the ecosystem of Long Island Sound. The group also boarded a research vessel to cast nets and examine plant and animal life that was pulled up in the nets. – Melissa Asselin