Students experience nature at Fennessey Ranch
UH and TLC2 are proud sponsors of Fennessey Ranch, a living laboratory where young students learn about nature and science first hand. On October 26, 2007, student from across the Rio Grande Valley area converged on the Ranch for a one-day blowout featuring fun activities and presentations to help them develop a better appreciation of biodiversity, conservation and the sciences.
TLC2 and UH have a long-standing relationship with Fennessey Ranch. Such outreach efforts help spark students’ interest in the sciences at young ages, encouraging them to consider science and math as an educational and career path. The experiential learning model used at Fennessey provides children the opportunity to interact with the environment and think about nature in a new way.
Special presentations were given on wildlife biodiversity and conservation. Students experienced more ‘hard science’ in these presentations, while still keeping it fun and engaging. They learned how scientific disciplines are applied to studying wildlife, whether through butterfly tagging or understanding the role bacteria play in the ecosystem.
Fennessey Ranch is abundant in wildlife with creatures that fly and crawl. Its 4,000 acres consist of wetlands, meadows, natural lakes, riparian woods and brush land. The Ranch is bordered on three sides by the Mission River. The wide-range of topography gives students an opportunity to observe and learn about the biodiversity inherent in this region of Texas.
Birdwatching is always a popular activity at Fennessey Ranch. Special blinds have been constructed and placed in the wetland areas to give students a chance to see different species up close with the help of binoculars and scopes. As a result, they learn about migration patterns and how the birds make their homes in Texas wetlands.
Lots of fun activities stretched students imagination, encouraged physical activity, and helped build friendships.
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