Lichens, moss, and fungi delighted fourth-grade students at Hidden Valley Nature Center as they came for their monthly visit. Naturalists Cami Wilbert and Karen Simpson greeted the students at the HVNC entrance and set the purpose for their hike to the barn. Examples of lichen and moss were shared, while the scarcity of mushrooms brought on by lack of rain was discussed.

The students were charged with filling paper bags with lichen and moss from felled sticks and leaves. However, the students were also thrilled to find a few mushroom examples on huge logs that they carried to the barn to show their friends. After a quick snack break, the students played a game that created a web to show how all plants and animals are connected, and how water is the source of life.

Magnifying glasses were brought out, and the fourth-graders sketched the lichen and moss they found in their nature journals after noting the date, place, temperature and weather. Then they visited the trees they had adopted in September to note any changes that had occurred. Children were surprised to learn that the beautiful leaf colors their trees were showing had been in the leaves all along!

As the day wrapped up, Wilbert read a story to the students, highlighting the importance of dead trees called “snags. ” The students gathered around several different snags to make observations before hiking back to the bus. Wiscasset Elementary School fourth-grade students appreciate the work of Hidden Valley Nature Center and Midcoast Conservancy in making the monthly naturalist visits possible.