(by Claire Adams)

This October marked the return of the Urban Wildlife Program to 3rd grade classrooms in Manchester with our new Camp Administrator and Environmental Educator, Claire Adams. This program series is made possible through a partnership with New Hampshire Fish and Game, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and New Hampshire Audubon. Since this is a grant-funded program, it can be presented for free to all 3rd grade classrooms in the Manchester public school district.

For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, all four programs in the series are being presented in-person for the students in the classroom. The teachers and students have been loving the material of the presentations as well as the way the students are interacting with the biofacts and other teaching props, participating in dance moves to better understand wildlife behavior, and asking engaging questions. Here are just a few photos of the wonderful classroom interactions that have been taking place (photos taken by Manchester 3rd grade teachers).

Throughout the series of four programs, the students begin to understand more about what “wildlife” means through learning about unique habitats in New Hampshire, and Manchester in particular, what makes a mammal a mammal, what makes birds unique, and observing and interacting with some of our reptile and amphibian ambassador animals. This program also perfectly aligns with the animal classification unit these students are learning in their science curriculum, therefore providing an exciting and memorable experience for the students while supplementing the teachers’ subject material. New Hampshire Audubon is thrilled to continue this program with New Hampshire Fish and Game, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the wonderful 3rd grade educators in our Manchester elementary schools.