Mrs. Bonner-Vickers Grade 7-8 class from J.W. Walker School went on a field trip (dubbed “Lichen Those Hares” by their teacher) last Thursday (Oct. 11).
The students helped set up a scientific study, discovered lichens (plants which most had never noticed before), and participated in the “Golden Griddle Award” contest.
First, the class assisted Jeff Johnston to set up a hare fecal pellet plot on the Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club’s property out at Frog Creek.
Each plot consists of four one-metre radius sub-plots, marked by metal stakes at 10-metre intervals along a 30-metre transect.
In the spring, fecal pellets will be counted by this class and the results will be entered into an MNR data base, along with data derived from other stations in this region and northeastern Ontario.
The purpose of these counts, which will be done over a period of several years, is to determine hare populations.
Since predators, such as lynx, depend on hares, their population trends can be predicted. Such information can be useful in setting quotes for trapping.
The hare project has been funded through a CFWIP grant from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
After clearing the last sub-plot, the students hurried to get their fires started, then the cooking began. And what gourmet meals they produced!
There were hot cheese sandwiches grilled to a golden brown, burgers loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, and condiments, delicious smokies and moose sausage, great-tasting apple slices with sugar and cinnamon baked in tin foil, and the best Kraft dinners.
Those judges tasting the food had a difficult time choosing a winner, but they agreed all meals were great.
After lunch, a study of lichens was on the menu. The kids collected lichens and separated them into groups—club/cup-shaped, hair, flattened/leaf-like, and branched lichens.
The collections then were taken back to school for further study.
Everyone seemed to enjoy this outing, which was led by members of the Sportsmen’s Club.
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