Vernal Pool Education Projects
Community Outreach Projects
Vernal pool studies can go beyond the classroom. It is important for students to share their knowledge with others. For Vernal Pool Outreach Projects an individual or class should redistribute the knowledge gained in class and through field work to the community at large. This would mean presenting vernal pool information to others - another class, the school, the town, or civic and social groups. The choice is yours. The only "rule" is that the information must go beyond the classroom in which it was created to benefit others in your community.
Basic level outreach projects would include projects within your own school. These would be projects which do not leave your building. More involved projects would have a more far-ranging effect and directly reach the community beyond your school's population. Such projects would involve your students in the community as either direct presenters or through their materials which appear somehow in the public arena.
The following are some examples of "outreach" projects which have been done by classes, students or other individuals in the past. You are not limited to this list but it is a good place to begin. Let us know of other outreach projects you might devise and accomplish.
If you need help or just want to share your experiences as you progress, email the Vernal Pool Association.
- Design a bulletin board display for a corridor in your school.
- Make a display for another classroom or school.
- Produce and give a slide presentation for another class, a civic group (garden club, scouts, etc.) or Conservation Commission
- Set up a vernal pool display at the town library.
- Educate town meetings members about vernal pool natural history.
- Publicize vernal pool certification in your town.
- Organize and host townwide "information night" or "certification workshop".
- Involve the "press" in "Big Night" for road closings and information about salamander migrations.
- Educate the public about local vernal pool organisms and habitat through posters, decorated grocery bags, newspaper articles, etc.
- Design, produce, and mount on a server a web page for local vernal pool natural history.
- Design and build vernal pool nature trail on school grounds.
- Host a vernal pool walk on town land for the public.
- Have your town protect public land with significant vernal pools as Conservation property.
- Have your town purchase private land or a Conservation Restriction on private land to protect vernal pools and vernal pool habitat.