An amazing trip for our Pine Bush High School Youth Empowerment and Sustainability Skills (YESS) and National Honor Society students on Friday as they went to the Bashakill Wetlands and Mamakating Environmental Education Center (MEEC). Just days before Earth Day, the trip had special significance as the students learned so much about their environment.

 

 

 

The trip consisted of a short walk to view the Bashakill Wetlands and discuss some of the animals and animal homes that were visible to students.  Students then went to MEEC, where they met environmental educator Pam Golben and director, Jackie Broder.  Pam and Jackie introduced students to some of the animal ambassadors that live in MEEC, including Nutmeg, the African pygmy hedgehog, and a corn snake named Achgook, which means snake in the Lenni Lenape language. 

 

 

Students learned about Basha, a Lenni Lenape medicine woman, who used the many plants of the area to heal others. Jackie then presented a slideshow on the history of the Bashakill Wetlands and some of the animals that call it home.

 

After lunch, students broke up into groups and spent the rest of the time doing volunteer work. The activities consisted of removing invasive barberry bushes, working in the pollinator garden and reading through historical documents to get information on soldiers from the revolutionary war era. It was an amazing day of environmental awareness and community activism!