On July 6th, NatureStation visited campers at the Rye YMCA. Though the weather was hot and humid, camp groups eagerly came outside to explore the mobile classroom. Each group had a chance to look around NatureStation, engaging with the materials that interested them and asking questions to the supervising Environmental Educators, Katie and Ben. They matched animal skulls to the creatures they come from, created their own food webs out of string, and fished in the NatureStation’s pond exhibit.
The campers also met three animals from the Nature Center: Popcorn the Corn Snake, Honey the Guinea Pig, and Sophie the Box Turtle. They got to watch Honey enjoy some lettuce and Sophie snap up a worm, and they learned how to pet the animals in a way that kept the campers safe and the animals comfortable.
Everyone was so excited to see our animals that other camp groups and visitors to the YMCA dropped in, and campers from inside the building were even standing at the windows to watch! After seeing some of the visitors lingering around the NatureStation, peering inside with interest, one of the YMCA camp managers noted with a laugh that the staff wanted a chance to explore the NatureStation, too!
NatureStation offers a fun and interactive way to engage with nature. If this article has gotten you excited about this special exhibit, you can learn more by visiting ryenaturecenter.org/nature-station.