Reflections

===Part of the mission of the Boat Camp programs is to foster environmental stewardship in our children by helping them to learn and care about the environment, in particular, their own area. This was the intent of the field trip experience we created as a result of participation in the course. One of the first challenges was to connect it to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks that we teach in our science program for fifth grade. There were so many ways that it could be connected that it was difficult to choose a focus. We decided to use the unit on Adaptations of Living Things and give the students the opportunity to experience the ecosystems and connect them to the learning in the classroom. The maritime forest and the salt marsh are two unique ecosystems that we are lucky enough to live within. The experience was extremely successful in a number of ways.===
 * 1) ===The other science teachers enthusiastically participated in the planning and execution of the project.===
 * 2) ===The non-science teachers also were enthusiastic participants in carrying out the field trip.===
 * 3) ===The students enjoyed the day and were actively engaged in all of the activities.===
 * 4) ===The learning experience transferred to their understanding of biomes and adaptations of liviing things in other ecosystems.===