Welcome
SCARBOROUGH ADULT ED - VERNAL POOLS, SPRING PEEPERS
Vernal pools are precious, biologically-diverse, legally-protected, seasonal wetlands that form in late winter and early spring, and disappear in fall. If you heard “peeper choruses” (small frogs) in the spring, there may be one in your neighborhood. Home to a fragile ecologically-connected web of plants, amphibians (salamanders, frogs, newts), insects and crustaceans, including the dynamic fairy shrimp - they also attract visitors such as turtles, snakes, birds and mammals. This workshop offers backyard scientists, nature lovers, and landowners a peek at local vernal pools. Learn to identify inhabitants, their food web, the various calls of frogs, threats to vernal pools, and why & how concerned citizens advocate for, and collect data to monitor life there. Borrow a pair of waders and complete the program with an optional, but highly-encouraged, expertly-guided field trip, and even help with data collection. Ages 12 and up. John served two terms on the school board, 6 years on the Conservation Commission and 5 years as part of a team of “Citizen Scientists” dedicated to conducting vernal pool studies in Scarborough.
WHEN AND WHERE
Tuesday 30-April 2013 6pm WIS band Rm Class GSA
Class time approx 30 min
Explore local pool approx 30 min
Wednesday 24-April 2013 4pm Scarborough Library with 4th graders
Class time approx 30 min
Explore local pool approx 30 min
Thursday 5-APRIL 2012 6:15 to 8:15 pm Rm A106 Free
With optional Saturday field trip, 7-APRIL 2012, conditions permitting
Pre-register by 3-APRIL
Instructor: John Cole
Minimum: 5 students / Maximum: 20 students
