The afternoon began with a  reading of the story In the Woods: Who's Been Here?  by Lindsey Barrett George.

Afterward we examined a number of items a nature detective might come upon here in the woods of Northeast Pennsylvania, such as a shed antler, snake skin, wasp nest, comb from a bee hive, etc.

We were then ready to take a hike and test our powers of observation. Students kept track of the various kinds of animal signs they encountered on a checklist. Chipmunks were the only mammals sighted as we walked but there were deer tracks, a groundhog hole, and a squirrel nest that offered clues to other animals in the area.

Further along the trail we used the sweep nets to glimpse the varied insect life of an overgrown meadow. This time students tallied how many creatures they caught and how they moved. In general, more crawlers were counted than either hoppers or fliers.

Besides being a pleasant way to spend an afernoon, we learned how many different animals, big and small, live around our homes. We just need to look more carefully to see the evidence. Take a walk in your neighborhood and see what you can find. Here is a checklist to take with you.