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June 29, 2006 - A foray to Fort CorchaugThe Suffolk Times • June 29, fora to Fort Corchau Suffolk Times photos by Barbara Stoutenburgh I had the privilege recently of traveling with the science coordinator and teachers from Cutchogue East Elementary School on two science field trips. The fourth - graders were learning how the Native Americans used the local resources in the area to survive, and the second - graders were learning about local bodies of water. It brought back memories of when I led groups of young and old on field trips years ago, in the hope that they would see and enjoy some of the wonders of our East End. Our first adventure with 25 students bursting with enthusiasm took place at Focus Downs Farm Preserve west of the country club. Here, the Pe- 0 N conic Land Trust and the town have built a wonderful learn - N A "T U R E i ng center, with miles of trails. Through a constant stream by Paul of questions and answers, the Stoutenburgh teachers brought out how the early inhabitants lived off the land and reaped the harvest of the creeks and bays. The area was rich in vegeta- tion, fish, shellfish and game of all sorts. Science and history lessons were interwoven throughout the morning. What might sound common and sometimes el- ementary to we adults is often new and enlighten- ing to the young. A perfect example of this was the morning orientation exercise in which the students learned how to find east, west, north and south. Hands continually popped up with questions and answers. One could see how the classroom experi- ence and the field trip reinforced each other. Before entering the wide and clearly marked trail; the group was given a thorough lesson on ticks — how to protect yourself, what to do if one attaches to you, how important it is to check yourself and as Mom or Dad to look you over, and much more. It was a timely lesson well taught. At the beginning of the trail were relics from the past owners of the farm: an old horse -drawn potato digger and a planter lie rusting away, with Ines of cat brier winding about them. During the discussion, connections were made to the early ag- riculture of the area, which the fourth - graders had covered in their local history lessons throughout the school year. As we started out, we came across a group of in- teresting mushrooms that the early people no doub used, and we talked about how important it was to know a safe mushroom from a poisonous one. We were shown wine berries that were just starting to ripen; one of the many berries the early inhabitants must have gathered and eaten. As we walked along, a student asked, "What's that ?" It was a shelf mushroom attached to a locust tree. Lesson 101: "What do mushrooms do ?" This was a pretty tough question for fourth - graders. A discussion followed on how mushrooms help in the decaying process and, when all factors are put together, the result is that all animal and vegetable matter sooner or later break down into one huge compost pile. Then nature's cycle is repeated over and over and soil is created. Bird songs were all about us; the lovely gray catbird kept us company all along our way. Some recognized the noisy blue jay's call and the hammering of a woodpecker on a dead tree; each had its own story to tell. "What was the woodpecker after ?" Grubs underneath the bark. "What would happen if all the dead trees were cut down and taken away ?" There'd be no food for the woodpecker and it would have to leave our woods. Then followed a discussion on the importance of preserves such as the one they were in. Eager hands were raised as excited students begged to be recog- nized so they could add their comments. We passed huge trees, which led to a discussion on how the early inhabitants got around. Some said "birch -bark canoes." That was pretty close, but here on Long Island we didn't have birch trees big enough for canoes. What they did was chisel and burn out the center part of a large tree to make a dugout. In the future it's hoped a tree will be cut down in the preserve and a site set up where stu- dents can actually work on a dugout canoe and un- derstand what a difficult job it was to make one. Our science coordinator and helpful teacher were kept busy answering a steady lineup of ques- tions. After about a half an hour on the It was delightful trail, we came to a large clearing in the woods where the classes rendezvous. . to see these youn In the center was the frame of a shelter students playing constructed similarly to wigwams used the art of the by the early people of the area. All p around were logs for the students to sit early inhabitants. on, creating an outdoor classroom. It was snack time, and the coordina- tor had cleverly put together a lesson about what the early inhabitants ate and what they used to eat with. It was decided, since they didn't have knives and forks, they probably ate with their fingers. Hands popped up with excitement when the ques- tion was asked "What would they have eaten out of?" They replied, "Large shells ... clay pots ... turtle hells." True, they used all these simple items, which ere important to each family, and they cherished Luring uie uiscussion wooaen dowis were passed out, along with a small blueberry muffin and water from a jug. An interested parent who had come along on the trip helped to keep the bowls filled with drinking water. It was delightful to see these young students, with their wooden bowls and blueberry muffins, playing the part of the early inhabitants. Free time was allowed after their snack and some of the students used their energy to inves- tigate the hut, while others balanced with arms outstretched as they walked the length of the logs. Then an Indian legend was read, exposing the students to yet another kind of literary work. This settled most of them down before they had to get started back on the trail. I couldn't get over how attentive the students were, how well behaved they were and how knowl- edgeable they were after having studied local Na- tive Americans and early Colonial life in their class- rooms prior to this field trip. All this is mandated by the state education department. Time slipped by all too soon as we headed back to the preserve's learning center. Here were bathrooms and picnic tables where the students could eat their lunches before the bus was to take them back to school and their classrooms. Next week we'll join the second - graders on a field trip to a nearby pond.