Neenah Creek Elementary School

12 February 2008

We visited Neenah Creek Elementary School in Briggsville, WI within the ICF Sandhill Crane study area. There are many corn fields near the school (above), so the students can see Sandhill Cranes when the birds are in the fields. There are also many wetlands and grasslands near the school, which is why it is easy to do ecology studies and education work here.

It is a small school, 90 students total, from kindergarden to grade 5. There are many interesting artwork everywhere. After a delicious Mexican lunch, we gave our presentation to grades 3-5. The students are very smart, they ask many questions that I never think about, such us why the crane is not in the Chinese zodiac? It is a really complicated question, and I think nobody could answer. We play jianzi and give some Chinese student artwork to the school, sharing more interesting stories and thinking between each other. I believe the people who live close to nature are lucky and happy, they can find more beauty and wonder in the world , and they can get more personal growth from nature.