Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students in English language arts teacher Charlene Bufalini’s class recently had the opportunity to visit Fulmer Creek in Mohawk to learn from a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer and a Herkimer BOCES Conservation program student.
Bufalini worked with MaryBeth Napolitano, Herkimer BOCES School to Careers liaison, work-based learning coordinator and Mentor Program coordinator, to plan the event. DEC Environmental Conservation Officer Katie Jakaub and Herkimer BOCES Conservation student Nathan Sperl, a senior of Central Valley, presented to students during their visit to Fulmer Creek.
Jakaub discussed why it’s important to be responsible and protect water resources, and she participated in activities with the students. Sperl spoke to students about the value of the Herkimer BOCES Conservation program and Career and Technical Education programs in general – including how the programs might be beneficial to students’ future educational goals.
The field trip also tied to English, math, science and social studies lessons for the students with help from Special Education teachers and content-area teachers.
In English class with Bufalini, the students read “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer and “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen. Both are stories about survival in the wild, and students created bucket list vision boards based on “Into the Wild.”
During a Mentor Program meeting, Bufalini and Napolitano developed the idea that it would be great for the students to be able to get a hands-on experience with nature, and the field trip to Fulmer Creek was planned.
For science, the students took water samples and looked at them under a microscope. Science teacher Kim Nowakowski had the students identify what they found in the water, and they discussed why you can’t drink water from a stream.
For math, the students received a demonstration on casting a fishing pole. Jakaub cast the line with a bobber on it, and the students worked with math teacher Anthony Kulesa to calculate the velocity of the stream.
For social studies, the students learned about the history of Fulmer Creek in a lesson led by teacher Robert DeRollo.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Conservation student Nathan Sperl (right), a senior of Central Valley, talks with (L-R) Poland student Jesse Postal, Frankfort-Schuyler student Alexis Heiderich and Poland student Brian Walchusky during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer BOCES Special Education students.
Poland student Brian Walchusky transfers water samples during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Poland students Brian Walchusky (left) and Jesse Postal (right), look at water samples during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Poland student Brian Walchusky looks at water samples during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Poland student Brian Walchusky gathers water samples during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Poland student Jesse Postal finds animal skull remains while gathering water samples during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Poland student Jesse Postal finds animal skull remains while gathering water samples and shows them to Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Conservation student Nathan Sperl (right), a senior of Central Valley, during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Katie Jakaub, an environmental conservation officer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, speaks to students during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Poland student Jesse Postal hands off a fishing pole to Frankfort-Schuyler student Alexis Heiderich during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
West Canada Valley student Jacob Shingler casts off into the creek while learning how to fish during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Katie Jakaub, an environmental conservation officer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, teaches West Canada Valley student Jacob Shingler how to cast during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Katie Jakaub, an environmental conservation officer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, teaches West Canada Valley student Jacob Shingler how to cast during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
West Canada Valley student Jacob Shingler practices his fishing skills learned by the creek during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Poland student Jesse Postal casts off into the creek while the class learns how to fish during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Katie Jakaub, an environmental conservation officer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, teaches Frankfort-Schuyler student Alexis Heiderich how to cast during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Katie Jakaub, an environmental conservation officer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, teaches West Canada Valley student Jacob Shingler how to cast during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Katie Jakaub, an environmental conservation officer for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, teaches Poland student Jesse Postal how to cast during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Herkimer student Gabby Crim casts into the creek as West Canada Valley student Jacob Shingler watches during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.
Frankfort-Schuyler student Alexis Heiderick practices casting into the creek during a field trip on June 6 to Fulmer Creek in Mohawk for seventh and eighth grade Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Special Education students.