(by Claire Adams)

During the week of April 28th-May 2nd, over 50 campers got to explore and learn about the excitement of spring during our Signs of Spring vacation day camp at the McLane and Massabesic Centers. Through nature-themed games, hikes, ponding, and crafting, the 6-10-year-old campers experienced the changes of spring firsthand. The weather was absolutely beautiful (except for a little rain on Friday), so we made the most of it by spending as much time outside as possible.

The focus of the week was “phenology”, or the study of observing seasonal changes in nature. Spring is a fantastic time to do this since there are so many rapid changes occurring in plants and animals daily this time of year. If you would like to spend more time outside observing spring phenology, I have listed a few of the activities we did during camp that are a great place to start:

• Ponding: With some hand-held nets, a dish bin, and some plastic spoons, you can discover a huge diversity of life in a pond! From crayfish to dragonfly nymphs to tadpoles, ponds support many species of aquatic animals, especially in their infant and juvenile life stages. These creatures are also bioindicators, which means they can tell you how clean and healthy your body of water is.
• Log rolling: With lots of spring rain and plants just starting to grow, now is a great time to head to the forest and roll over some fallen, rotting logs. Salamanders, spiders, and isopods and the most common critters you’ll find in this microhabitat, but there are many other animals (and fungus!) to explore here, too. Just be careful to roll the logs back where they were when you are done exploring – these are the animals’ homes after all!
• Hiking: hitting the trail is a great activity for the spring! While there may be more mud than in the summer, there are fewer mosquitoes and cooler weather, which can make longer hikes more enjoyable. Be sure to slow down to notice the changes that spring brings, such as tiny spring wildflowers, new leaves on trees, and bird calls you may not have heard since before fall migration.

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  Birding: Speaking of birds, late April and early May are super exciting times to head outside and look/listen for birds. Many warblers and swallows are just returning from migration, bringing lots of beautiful color and music to our fields and forests after the stillness of winter. The sparser leaves also make spotting birds easier in spring than with full foliage in the summer. Waterfowl is also much more abundant on our rivers, ponds, and lakes. Grab a pair of binoculars and go exploring!