The 2010-2011 School Year
Wow, the summer and Fall have flown by here in the Big Walnut community. Naturally, all of the wonderful and amazing seasonal changes have been transpiring. The animals were abundant and lively over the summer, and as Fall arrived, they began their busy work in preparation for the upcoming winter.  Those species still remaining continue to be busy at work and are quite entertaining.
We skipped a Fall work day this year to focus all of our efforts on the passage of the school levy.  We are extremely grateful for its passage!  
Keep checking back to this site as photos are posted, updates are included, and any news arrives.  And, as always, enjoy the Big Walnut Land Lab!

Spring Work Day
We had another wonderful work day in the Big Walnut Land Lab on Saturday, May 15, 2010.  The weather was perfect for a morning outside, and the volunteers who joined us in helping worked hard.  We picked up trash, trimmed more trees and shrubs, consolidated more of the dead branches and trimmings (creating more habitat for rabbits, etc.), and cleared away a few invasive species that are harmful to other Ohio native species.  If you enter into the Land Lab from the front entrance, you will note a significant difference in the area.  The orchard, grassland, and pond have yet to completely be addressed, but we did have a few volunteers who were unable to make the scheduled work day time and worked earlier in the week, open a new fishing spot at the pond, and work on some of the other pine areas.  Most importantly, we were a mixed group of students, educators, residents, parents, and community members coming together to work, smile, and improve our BW grounds to enhance the learning our students.
A special thanks goes to these workers who participated: 
-Dick Tuttle, retired BW Science teacher, avid outdoor enthusiast, & 1 of the original Land Lab designers
-Linda & Michael Wagner, parents of Zach Wagner (Eagle Scout project in Land Lab)
-Mr. & Mrs. Diane Butts, BW Board of Education president
-Nick Helber, BWMS student
-Elizabeth, student
-Kyle & Kaelyn Lortz, & Ashtynn-BWE first graders
-Jeremy McCaulla, owner of Sundance Excavation & Landscaping, BW graduate
-Megan Rose Forman, BW teacher & graduate, project coordinator for Land Lab
-Gabriel McCaulla, son of Megan & Jeremy

Winter in the Land Lab
Winter is in full swing in the Land Lab!  We have plenty of snow, animal tracks galore, ice, and numerous animal homes.  Animal tracks are easily visible currently in the snow (and on the pond-above); check out the deer track in the photo gallery to the right.  Deer beds and scat are everywhere so the students became excellent bedding and scat identifiers.  We heard numerous birds throughout our trek, but naturally, we saw less due to migration.  
Mrs. Forman's First Grade excerpt:  The lab is quite a peaceful and untraveled place this time of year, but we trudged through the few feet of snow to enjoy.  Cross country skis or snow shoes may have been helpful, but few of my first graders have those.  We ventured out on Friday, February 19 when the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the temperature was around 36 degrees to kick off a Science unit on living and non-living.  After a short trek around the pond, (our little legs were struggling in the snow), we regrouped at the amphitheater to share and analyze our observations before having a chance to enjoy a bit of freedom in the outdoors.  You will notice several pictures of our "free time" which included building snow people, examining interesting formations from snow and ice, and more.  Yet, another successful afternoon in the Land Lab; we appreciate our parents for assisting us in being prepared with the right gear to make this learning endeavor possible.  We look forward to many more as the weather remains a little more friendly. 

An Update on our Future Needs and Land Lab Work:
Currently, grant opportunities are being sought and applied for to provide funding for some of our needs.  As these grants are gained (or not), there will be information posted on this site to detail what it is and what it is for.  We will be hosting another staff inservice to assist in connecting curriculum with outdoor, inquiry-based learning opportunities; and we will host another work day to complete Phase II of renovation and rehabilitation.  These will be scheduled in Spring so keep your eyes out on this page and Big Walnut's webpages for more information!

Future Needs
We are seeking to enhance our learning through a multitude of means including land lab clean up, curriculum development, and supplemental materials.  We will be seeking donations and applying for grants to cover the costs of the following basic list.  Please do not hesitate to contact Big Walnut Elementary or site manager listed below if you are interested in assisting us obtain these items.
-Digital cameras (preferably Flip cameras, about 3 of them)
-Surveying services (to have it re-surveyed and updated)
-Tree plaques to identify the various species present
-Backpacks (about 30)
-Notebooks of paper
-Magnifying glasses
-Pond collecting materials (petri dishes, nets, funnels, etc.)
-Guide books (tree, small animal, wildflower, bird, pond, etc.)
-Bird callers
-Sketch pads (and various materials to illustrate our studies)

The Fall Community Work day was a success!
    On Saturday, October 3rd, several determined and dedicated workers arrived at BWE to brave the wet ground to complete a few projects on our long list.  Fortunately, we were graced with the sun's presence for most of the morning and smiles were abundant with the workers.  Adam Roof from Adams Tree Care supplied a chipper, truck, and worker for the morning.  We picked up branches, trimmed dead limbs, and placed it all into the chipper.  Once the truck was full, we began to pile the dead limbs & branches on the edge of the BW Land lab property.  There is still a tremendous amount of work of this type which we will focus on continuing at our next work day in the Spring.  We also cut down a few dead trees and picked up trash.  Doug Germann secured a grant that provided free mulch which we spread in the amphitheater, bench, and picnic table areas.  This endeavor took numerous wheelbarrow trips, until the Wagners graciously donated their lawn tractor and trailer which helped immensely.  Most importantly, we were a mixed group of students, educators, residents, parents, and community members coming together to work, smile, and improve our BW grounds to enhance the learning our students.
A special thanks goes to these workers who participated: 
-Dick Tuttle, retired BW Science teacher, avid outdoor enthusiast, & 1 of the original Land Lab designers
-Zach Wagner, BWHS student & completed his Eagle Scout project by renovating the amphitheater, benches, and adding the observation deck.
-Linda & Michael Wagner, parents of Zach
-Tyler Deel, BWHS student
-Ryan Hardy, BWHS student
-Tracy Jennings, BW parent & resident
-Nicole Jennings, BWE first grader
-Jerry Bale, BW employee & resident
-Doug Germann, BW REACH teacher & BW parent
-Chad Morrison, representing Tall Boy Construction & Morrison Trucking
-Chris, representing Adam's Tree Care
-EmmyLou Kline, BW graduate & future BW parent
-Kyle & Kenzie Kline, future BW students
-Jeremy McCaulla, owner of Sundance Excavation & Landscaping, BW graduate
-Megan Rose Forman, BW teacher & graduate, project coordinator for Land Lab
-Gabriel McCaulla, son of Megan & Jeremy, avid wheelbarrow rider