CREEKSIDE AT THE CIBOLO
If natural resources are to endure, it is vital that we pass along the love of nature and all things wild to the generations following in our footprints for decades to come.
It was from this vision that the Outdoor Classroom program at the Cibolo Center for Conservation was created.
The ball got rolling in the late 1980s when two local elementary teachers, Martha Guin and Nancy Gaertner, had the idea of leading students down the Cibolo Wilderness Trail (CWT), immersing them in the beauty of the creek and woods and the lessons to be learned there.
Inspired by the “Project Wild Workshop” taught by Mary Kennedy at CWT and with a grant from the Alamo Resource Conservation and Development Area, the outdoor education program was born.
Under the direction and leadership of naturalist and writer Jan Wrede, the program evolved into what it is today, hosting more than 1,500 students a year from Boerne, San Antonio and surrounding school districts utilizing a TEKS-based curriculum.
The outdoor lessons get students involved with a lively variety of hands-on activities and games revolving around nature themes. Some topics are birding, watersheds, marsh fish and invertebrates, Cibolo Creek and other ecosystems, skulls, insects and many more.
Children learn by doing, so there is hardly a dull moment on a field trip at The Cibolo. At the end of the day, each child who might never have been exposed to natural, wild beauty has taken the first step toward being a nature-loving, conservation- minded adult. In June 2007, The Cibolo acquired the 60-acre Herff Farm. It became possible to expand existing educational programs at the nature center to include a curriculum based on ethical land use practices across the creek.
With the combination of both programs, a comprehensive, holistic approach to education emerged revolving around a community’s relationship with the land.
Employing TEKS standards, lessons include soil health, edible plant biology, worms and other decomposers, composting and land stewardship. There is even a chicken coop to delight children coming to the farm. These and other gardening basics pave the way for instilling concepts of sustainable, ethical land use to all who come to Herff Farm to teach and learn.
It was my love of birds and birding that inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and share that love with others. In time, my comfort zone expanded to include sharing my fascination with animal skulls, insects and the diverse denizens to be found in the marsh. And so, the learning continues for both student and teacher alike.
After spending more time with the children during our lessons together, it began to dawn on me that for many of them, this was their first time in fresh air and wide-open space, especially those from inner-city neighborhoods. That explained many of the “oohs” and “aahs” as the kids walked among the old giant cypress trees by the creek.
Apart from education, sharing our love of nature has other rewards. All of the teachers have memories they cherish. There are golden moments that come to mind. A young lady returning to the nature center recalled birding with me and now her family has bird feeders in their yard. A boy who once caught critters with me in the marsh recognized me in a store one day and now accompanies his dad fishing.
One fine morning, a Greater Roadrunner dropped in on my birding class. The looks on the children’s faces who had always believed that it was a cartoon character were priceless.
Whether you are an experienced teacher wanting to take your skills to the outdoors or simply have a desire to share your love of nature, come to The Cibolo to find your inspiration and share the love.
To learn more about becoming a field trip volunteer, contact [email protected].
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