Mariton: Nature Camp

by Tim Burris, Preserve Manager.  Photos by Carole Mebus.

Nature Camp started at Mariton, and we have a bright group of children attending.  We are focusing on plants this year.  Virginia is seen here giving an overview of how plants fit into the order of life, along with the things that make plants special.

After Virginia talked, we took a walk where we could find out more about plants.  We took a look at galls on the Hackberry.  It is a neat adaptation where an insect injects a plant hormone while laying its egg, thus causing the plant to grow a protective structure that protects the egg and larva.

Above are examples of moss and lichen side by side.  These are two very special types of plants.  On our walk, we also examined tree roots that had been exposed by storms, poison ivy, leaf miner tracks and other plants.  The kids are asking really excellent questions this year, so we are looking forward to the rest of the week.