Since 2015, Marshall Public School 3rd-grade students have looked for “What’s” and “Whys” at Wilder Creek Conservation Club (WCCC) during May. This spring, over 180 students, their teachers, some parents, and nature experts filled WCCC grounds with learning and laughter. Program initiators, teachers Tim Rupp and Kevin Brownell, along with additional 3rd-grade teachers, helped students complete their curriculum through nature’s eyes, exploring the property and finding natural treasures that cause “What” and “Why” questions.
Armed with pencils and colorful sticky notes, students record their questions like, “Why do turtle shells have 13 squares?” or “What makes frogs green? ”etc. Notes stick to the question board for exploration throughout the 4-day camp from 9 AM to 2 PM. Pollution awareness comes in loud and clear when, before leaving for the day, students weigh the trash they collected from snacks, lunches, and crafts.
As the school year closes in June, 2 weeks of “Week in the Woods” day camp opens at Wilder Creek. Marshall Public Schools teachers, Tim Rupp and Mary Douglass, enthusiastic camp counselors, and their band of 50 excited campers cover Wilder Creek Conservation Club grounds with “catching and racing frogs, DIY boat races, capture the flag, fort /hut building, slingshots, archery, tie dye and crafts galore! Oh and 100 popsicles (give or take a few )” according to Mary Douglass.
Parents register students in early spring to secure one of 50 spots for each camp week. Students and parents rave about all the outdoor adventures and even about joining the fun the next year. One of this year’s highlights was holding Bigfoot at bay as students ran and strategized, capturing the elusive creature, armed with laughter and 2-foot water-blaster squirt guns.
Ongoing at Wilder Creek Conservation Club are Scouting activities. Since 2006, over 15 Eagle Scout Projects have joined the natural amenities: retaining wall, park benches, castle chandeliers, new trails, hand-crafted tables and chairs, property signage, trail signage, and more. One of the upcoming projects to be added to the Scouting accomplishments will be a turtle-basking platform built by a 13-year-old Scout, WCCC’s youngest candidate.
Wilder Creek Conservation Club has become a favorite for youth outdoor activities. The mission of WCCC is to get more kids and families outdoors. To put traction to that mission, the all-volunteer organization offers the property to youth-serving, nonprofit groups rent-free.
Please further your awareness of Wilder Creek Conservation Club by reaching out through the “Contact Us” page. We invite you to join us and “Meet Us at the Creek.”