WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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The Making of a Lifelong Nature Keeper

August 30, 2024 By Blake Goll

One of our primary goals in connecting youth to nature is to transform their mindset to viewing themselves as part of the natural world. Through repeated, memorable experiences in nature during their formative years, children learn to understand, respect, and love the earth. This critical foundation inspires lifelong choices to protect the environment, while also providing children with mental focus, emotional stability, physical health, and spiritual resilience. There is no better example than Catherine Oblack, a 16-year old student who has been involved with our youth education programs since she was 8 years old. The following is her story, told through her words.

Catherine Oblack, age 16, at Rushton Farm this summer during the Rushton Nature Keepers Summer Harvest program. Photo by Blake Goll

One day that I will remember forever is the first day I got to go bird banding at Willistown Conservation Trust when I was eight. From the time I started elementary school, I loved nature and was especially obsessed with birds. I enjoyed watching and learning about birds and what is being done to protect them. I wanted to learn more and get involved, so this led to my family finding WCT and signing up for Junior Birders, which was their youth program that has now expanded into Rushton Nature Keepers.

When my dad told me that they had a bird banding session that I could attend I was ecstatic. I had learned about bird banding and how it is used to study and protect birds, but I didn’t know that I could go see it in person. I was also super excited that the target species were warblers, as I had read all about them but did not see them as much on my own. I spent the evening before reading over all the types of birds that they typically banded; I could not wait.

Eight-year-old Catherine seeing a Common Yellowthroat for the first time at the Rushton banding station. October 2016. Photo by Blake Goll

When I arrived in the early morning, I remember how excited I was as I walked through the beautiful trails to the banding station. The autumn woods were just starting to wake up and come to life as the sun rose above the tree line. When I reached the banding station, I was welcomed in along with the other guests. After I had been introduced to Blake and Lisa, they invited me up to watch a Common Yellowthroat warbler being banded. I had arrived hoping to see some birds, but it hadn’t prepared me for experiencing what it was like to be so close to a wild bird. I could see all the markings and traits that had been described in the guidebooks, and I was awestruck by the birds’ beauty.  

Catherine releasing a banded Gray Catbird at her first day at the banding station, October 2016. Photo by Blake Goll

After my first day at the banding station, I continued to go to bird banding before school whenever I could for many years, each season learning more not only about the birds, but also about the conservation efforts at WCT. I also participated in WCT’s other educational activities, like Rushton Nature Keepers, that helped me develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of nature. This program helped grow my love for the natural spaces right around me and also respect for the people that work hard to keep them open. It also reinforced my desire to have a positive impact on our environment.

Catherine nature journaling as a Jr. Birder in 2017
Catherine tasting honey with Jr. Birders at Rushton Farm in 2017.
Catherine harvesting potatoes as a Rushton Nature Keeper in 2018.
Catherine holding a fox pelt as a Jr. Birder in 2017. Photo by Blake Goll

Going into my sophomore year in high school, I knew that I still wanted to be involved with WCT, so I helped Blake with Rushton Nature Keepers over the summer. Rushton Nature Keepers is a youth program that teaches kids (ages 8-11) about not only birds, but also about sustainable farming, our local watersheds, and many other aspects of conservation that allow curious kids like me to grow into young naturalists. It was a full circle moment when I got to help with the program and see other kids having the same experiences that fueled my own love of the natural world. I had so many wonderful and unique experiences in the junior programs at WCT, so it was amazing to help other kids get to experience these same things. Whenever I am at Willistown now, I still experience the same feelings that made me love learning about and experiencing nature firsthand and am inspired to help protect our natural lands and habitats.   

Catherine helping to oversee Rushton Nature Keepers this summer. Photo by Blake Goll

Filed Under: Education, Nature Education, Rushton Nature Keepers Tagged With: nature education, youth and nature

How Willistown Conservation Trust Helped a Young Birder Like Me

August 15, 2024 By Blake Goll

“My name is Sid Ghatta. I am a rising 5th grader of Great Valley School District. I am also a student of Rushton Nature Keepers. Eastern Bluebirds cannot make their nest cavities because of their small beaks. Therefore, they are vulnerable. Hence generous people put up bluebird boxes to help increase their population. In April 2023, WCT put up a bluebird box in our backyard and that started my love for bluebirds.

Sid with his bluebird box and mealworm feeding contraption.

So I do my everyday ritual. I go and get the mealworms from the refrigerator and I blow my whistle to let the bluebirds know their food is ready. Last year, there were four eggs, but unfortunately one egg did not hatch. This year there are five eggs and all of them hatched! Now we installed two more boxes and one was occupied by tree swallows.

WCT taught me to protect bluebirds and I am doing that. Audubon website says the bluebird population is growing and it’s because of bluebird boxes along open countryside. I would like to speak with my new school Principal to install more bluebird boxes to help more bluebirds.”

Sid’s bluebird eggs
Sid’s baby bluebirds
Sid’s bluebird painting

The Willistown Conservation Trust has been running our popular Bird Box Program for twelve years. Under the foresight of Dick Eales, chair of our Bird Conservation Committee, we began the program with the intention of boosting bluebird populations in our area. Threats to Eastern Bluebirds include habitat loss, particularly of standing dead trees (otherwise known as snags) that offer nesting cavities in open fields or grasslands. This loss of nest sites coupled with competition from aggressive alien species (namely the House Sparrow) rendered bluebirds a rare sight in the late 1960’s. It was the advent of well monitored bluebird trails and programs such as ours that enabled these beautiful blue thrushes to make a comeback in Pennsylvania.

To date, we have installed over 400 bluebird boxes for homeowners and preserves throughout our program area (Malvern, Newtown Square, Wayne, and West Chester)! In addition to helping native birds, these nest boxes represent indelible opportunities for people of all ages to connect to nature and wildlife science in their own backyards. The above story was written by Sid Ghatta, a young student who is an avid participant in Rushton Nature Keepers, our award-winning children’s environmental education program. We have a feeling this budding conservationist will do great things for the earth!

Sid thought of his friends at the Willistown Conservation Trust as he visited Yosemite Conservancy this summer on a family vacation.

Filed Under: Bird Conservation, Nature Education, Rushton Nature Keepers Tagged With: Bird boxes, nature education

Nature Escapes for Kids: Create Your Own Headdress

April 9, 2020 By Blake Goll

Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer.  Photo by Blake Goll/Staff
A Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer during Discover Rushton Mini Camp. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff

One of my childhood memories that has not faded throughout the years is from “Outdoor School,” which was basically a week-long field trip to a local nature center.  Simply reporting to a nature preserve instead of school everyday with my classmates was enchanting on its own.  One of the lessons, however, really got my attention: role-playing the Native American way of life.  I remember the instructor telling us about how connected they were to the land and how even when they walked it was with respect to the earth.  Following her lead, I picked my way delicately among the leaves —rolling my foot from the heal through the outside edge and then finally the ball and toe. This was, she explained, how Native Americans could stealthily walk through the woods without making a sound during hunting trips.

Role playing is such a wonderful way for children to mentally escape and be transported to a different time and place.  Making nature headdresses is one such activity that fully engages a child’s creativity and focus while exercising fine motor skills and communication.  I got this activity from a marvelous little book called Play the Forest School Way by Peter Houghton and Jane Worroll.  The book is full of great ideas for outdoor play and is an essential resource for parents, especially during this time.

A Rushton Nature Keeper wearing his nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll

Start with introducing the concept of a headdress to your child.  For example, in England a king or queen wore a crown with jewels to represent nobility, or a Native American chief may have been awarded a feather in his headdresses for an act of courage.  Then explain to your child that they will be creating their own headdress and embellishing it with items found in nature; these items can be chosen to personally represent themselves and/or transform themselves into a mythical deity, woodland fairy, or other character of their imagination.

A Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll

All you will need prepared ahead of time is a long strip of sturdy plain white paper or posterboard.  It should be 3-4 inches wide and long enough to go around the child’s head.  You can help the child with fitting the strip to their head and cutting it to the right length; be sure to mark on the strip where the ends will overlap with tape so the child knows not to decorate that little section.  Put a piece of double-sided tape along the length of the strip, onto which the child will stick bits of grass, seeds, flowers, twigs, feathers, and whatever else they find.  (You will also need regular tape to put over top of the embellishments to secure them in place, and to tape the ends of the strip together once they are finished decorating—a stapler will also work.)

Decorating nature headdresses. Photo by Blake Goll
Making nature headdresses. Photo by Blake Goll

When you set the child loose to look for their embellishments (whether in your yard, a woodland, or nature preserve), I found it is easiest to have them gather their items and then bring them back to a work space rather than bring the paper strip with them during the foraging.  It is easier for them to focus on foraging first and designing and sticking things to their headdress second.  And boy do they design!  You will be amazed at the beautiful works of art that your child will create. 

Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll
Rushton Nature Keeper wearing his nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll
Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll

Be sure to have your child explain their creative decision process when they are finished.  What does each decoration symbolize?  Why did he/she choose that item?  What was the role of that decoration in the natural world?  Who have they become with the headdress on?  How does it make them feel?  Are there animals in nature that create works of art or use decorations? Can you think of animals with headdresses of sorts?

Last but not least, don’t forget to take a picture of your child wearing the headdress since unfortunately these do not last in their original form for very long.  They are, however, guaranteed to last a lifetime in your child’s memory.

Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll

Rushton Nature Keepers

Blake manages our Rushton Nature Keepers (RNK) club for children ages 7-11. Through year-round programs covering four conservation themes (birds and wildlife, regenerative farming, healthy habitat, and watersheds), RNK provides children with unique opportunities to develop a meaningful life-long relationship with nature. Although things are subject to change regarding Covid-19, we plan to resume children’s activities on May 2nd.  Click here for the schedule of RNK programs and membership information.

Filed Under: Nature, Nature Education, Rushton Nature Keepers Tagged With: environmental education, kids and nature, nature activities, nature education, nature headdresses, nature play, rushton nature keepers

Nature Escapes for Kids: Building Toad Abodes and Heart Space

March 24, 2020 By Blake Goll

A Rushton Nature Keeper shows off a baby toad he found at Rushton Woods Preserve last summer. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff

I first learned of this whimsical nature activity (building toad abodes) while I was living in the wilderness of Central Pennsylvania soon after college, training as an environmental education intern at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. Our soft-spoken instructor always took us through training activities as though we were children ourselves, which helped to get us in the mindset of seeing the world through the eyes of a child. Only in this mindset can you understand what makes these little people tick, what ignites their imagination, and what sparks those seemingly small moments to burn into their memories forever.

A toad abode. Photo by Blake Goll

So there I was curiously scrambling and scuffling about the crisp brown bed of cool soil, fragrant dried needles, and damp green moss beneath the shade of the giant hemlocks . My fellow interns and I each worked our own patch of the forest floor, collecting bits of bark, twigs, pine cones, stones, and fallen leaves —anything that could be used to build the foundation of our own sturdy toad abode.  Then came the interior design aspect because it only took a small stretch of the imagination to surmise that toads are discerning creatures with particular aesthetic tastes.  A shimmering found butterfly wing might become a welcome doormat, or a fern frond might act as a cozy curtain.

As you can probably guess, a child can be entertained by this activity for quite a long time.  And just as I look back fondly on that time with the forest floor of Central Pennsylvania, so too may your child remember their toad abode building fun.  The best part about it is its simplicity; the core of this activity is really a tactile connection to nature.  All you need is a patch of earth (in the woods, your yard, or a nature preserve) and a fertile imagination.  The only rule is that you try to avoid picking mushrooms or plants from the earth. (Focus instead on items already at rest.) 


A Rushton Nature Keeper building a toad abode. Photo by Blake Goll


A Rushton Nature Keeper building a toad abode. Photo by Blake Goll

You can extend this activity from one simple toad abode to a whole village or even focus on houses for fairies instead of toads.  The details are not important.  This kind of free play in nature as a child is what fosters critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and mental health as adults.  In doing something as simple as building a place for a toad to rest his head, a child is actually creating a healing space in his/her heart to return to as an adult.

Children playing under a pine tree. Photo by Blake Goll

Rushton Nature Keepers

Blake manages our Rushton Nature Keepers (RNK) club for children ages 7-11. Through year-round programs covering four conservation themes (birds and wildlife, regenerative farming, healthy habitat, and watersheds), RNK provides children with unique opportunities to develop a meaningful life-long relationship with nature. Although things are subject to change regarding Covid-19, we plan to resume children’s activities on May 2nd.  Click here for the schedule of RNK programs and membership information.

Filed Under: Nature, Nature Education, Rushton Nature Keepers Tagged With: children and nature, nature activities, nature education, nature play, rushton nature keepers, toad abodes

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