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Critters invade Mayfield Elementary

Snakes, worms, tortoises and an alligator were special guests at Mayfield Elementary School’s Water Festival on Monday. The event taught fourth- and fifth-grade students about the Lackawanna River and environmental issues.

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From left, Kali Mellin, Michael Clark, Cheyenne Black, Lauren Cunningham, Kelly Showmaker, Ryan Vaverchak and Porter Barnes demonstrate the connections between animals in a food web during the Water Festival at Mayfield Elementary.

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Zookeeper Colin Walker from Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland explains about alligators and other reptiles.

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The celebration concluded a four-week watershed education program that used classroom activities and field trips to teach students about the Lackawanna River, acid mine drainage pollution, and aquatic life. The program was funded by a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience grant from the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. Fourth-grade science teacher Maria Proch partnered with the Lackawanna County Conservation District to create a memorable educational experience for her students.

During the festival, students held worms, acted out the food web, and conducted water experiments. They used iron oxide, which drains from abandoned coal mines into the river, to create orange chalk, and they learned the anatomy of the fish while making fish art projects. Presenters included an educator from Lackawanna State Park, Conservation District employees, and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers from the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team.

The highlight of the day was the presentation from Reptiland, a zoo in Allenwood. Zookeeper and lecturer Colin Walker used a live tortoise, snakes, an iguana, and a baby alligator to teach the students about the reptiles that live in Pennsylvania and around the world.

Fourth-grader Corah said, “It’s much better than reading it in a book and better than sitting in the classroom.”

The program was organized be Watershed Specialist Alana Roberts and Office of Surface Mining VISTA volunteer Lindsey Ritchey. For more information on the county’s watershed education programs, call 281-9495.