Leo Kenney gave a slide presentation showing the vide variety of organisms that may be found in a vernal pool. Leo uses vernal pools as an example of wildlife habitat that might be found in your own backyard The diversity of life found in vernal pools makes them an extremely effective tool for teaching biology and other subjects to his students. He finds the size and ephemeral quality of these tiny wetlands makes the subject matter easier to grasp than an entire ocean or a far away rain forest.

Wild wetlands - Vernal pool expert, Leo Kenney, takes teachers on a tour of the wetlands near Governor Dummer Academy (enlarge image).

Leo brought the workshop participants on a field trip to several vernal pools to explore the ecology there. Some people put on waders and dipped nets for animal life, whileothers sampled water for pH and O2 testing. Woodfrog tadpoles, adult American toads, green frogs, bullfrogs, and red-backed salamanders were seen, caught, and heard. Mosquitoes were plenty, and some of the more adventurous souls wandered off into the poison ivy, although they had been warned.

Art for science's sake - Biology teacher, Sue Nourse, helps teachers with an interdisciplinary approach to marine studies (enlarge image).