Those Busy Beavers

by Kim Bissell

“My gloves are too big” exclaimed one of Mrs Bridgnell’s room 3 kindergartners.  A quick switch with one of the several pairs left in the work glove basket and off two classes of buddy partners, 17 3^rd graders from Mrs Hunger’s class and 17 kindergartners, went into the OES Wetlands.   Students led the way with the watchful eye of their teachers, they knew their task, they understood the problem, and their part in protect ing the ecosystem.

There’s Beavers in them woods.  Students had been studying them for months.  They knew how quickly the beavers were able to build dams that would stop the water flow through the wetlands.  They knew all about beaver habitat, the fact Beavers had  one partner, lived in lodges, what they ate, and how to recognize the notorious teeth marks of their fellow friend. 

We arrived at the Weir, a small dam in the river that flows through the wetlands, now blocked by the Beavers busyness.  Kids and adults formed a “fire line” taking sticks from the weir, handing them down the line “VERTICALLY” to protect our friends eyes and then into waiting buckets or trailers.   All the while chatting about where the beavers were, are they watching, they must be feeling frustrated, but we have to protect the wetlands from flooding. . . .

We worked for 2.5 hours.  Children aged 5-10.  No complaining, a little goofing off, but always driven to clear the weir and set the ecosystem straight again.  We estimated pile size and how many chews per stick . . . using all our academic skills.  But we mostly used our hearts, knowing our larger purpose to protect our own learning environment and the flora and fauna we share it with.