Becoming a drop of water, acting like a migrating fish, and designing dams– middle school students have enjoyed hands-on nature based learning experiences thanks to Maine Audubon educators. In the fall of 2024, Fields Pond Audubon Center partnered with SeDoMoCha Middle School’s 21CCLC (21st Century Community Learning Center) after-school program to provide hands-on, nature-based learning experiences—a collaboration made possible by the generous support of the EE.Blue grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). SeDoMoCha Middle School serves students in Sebec, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson, and Charleston. Guided by Melissa Gallagher, Education Manager at Fields Pond Audubon Center, students engaged in activities that deepened their understanding of natural processes while fostering leadership, teamwork, and community stewardship. Here’s a look at some key highlights from this impactful partnership, from the fall semester to summer camp adventures.
June 2025 Update: Diving Deep into Watersheds: SeDoMoCha’s Summer STEAM Adventure
This June, SeDoMoCha Middle School educators collaborated with Maine Audubon to deliver an innovative two-week STEAM summer camp focused on watershed education for students in grades 4-8. The intensive program transformed young learners into environmental scientists as they explored fundamental questions about watersheds, the water cycle, and pollution impacts on local ecosystems.
During the first week, students built foundational knowledge by mapping their town on whiteboards, maintaining daily nature journals, and conducting comprehensive water quality studies using bioindicators to assess pollution levels. They learned to identify the living creatures that tell the story of water health, discovering how the presence or absence of certain species reveals ecosystem stability. The week culminated with hands-on watershed modeling that made abstract concepts tangible and clear.
The second week brought real-world application as students ventured into actual stream habitats armed with dissecting scopes and sketching materials. They became aquatic detectives, carefully documenting species and adding discoveries to expanding biodiversity maps. Perhaps most exciting was their exploration of the school’s parking lot pond, where they found a thriving amphibian community that perfectly illustrated how watersheds connect all parts of our environment, even in urban settings.
This partnership exemplified STEAM education at its finest, seamlessly blending science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics while creating lasting environmental stewards. Students returned home as watershed ambassadors with deep connections to their local environment and practical skills in scientific observation. The ripples of this summer’s learning will continue to spread, creating waves of environmental awareness and action for years to come.
Fall Semester
Exploring the Water Cycle Through Play
In the first weeks of the program, middle school students embarked on a journey to explore one of nature’s most essential processes: the water cycle. To make this concept tangible and fun, Gallagher asked students to imagine themselves as tiny drops of water navigating through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. They brought the water cycle to life by designing an obstacle course that represented the droplet’s journey through these stages. Using cones, hoops, and jump ropes, they created physical challenges that symbolized phase changes and water movement across the planet.
The excitement didn’t stop there—middle schoolers took on leadership roles by guiding K-4th grade students through the obstacle course. As the younger students leapt through hoops as evaporating droplets and zig-zagged between cones as clouds, they learned about the water cycle in a memorable and engaging way. This creative approach not only reinforced scientific concepts but also encouraged collaboration and mentorship among students of different age groups.
Diving into Maine’s River Ecosystems
In the following weeks, students turned their attention to Maine’s river ecosystems. With guidance from NOAA educator and scientist Max Tritt, they explored the challenges faced by Maine’s migratory fish species—including predators and man-made barriers like dams. Through hands-on activities, students learned about the importance of fish passage and even tested their skills in designing culvert models to facilitate fish migration.
The highlight of this segment was a session with Max Tritt using a hands-on stream table to demonstrate river dynamics and the impact of human interventions (pictured below). Students explored real-world environmental issues, focusing on the Mayo Mill Dam removal in their own town of Dover-Foxcroft. They examined how communities across Maine are adapting to regulations that require fish passage updates on dams, balancing ecological restoration with community needs.
This lesson provided a powerful connection between science, community planning, and environmental policy wherein students participated in a simulation mirroring a real public meeting. They evaluated five Guiding Principles and ranked values based on personal preferences. Armed with these insights, students designed potential riverfront landscapes, integrating features aligned with the principles to envision a reclaimed riverbank. Through this exercise they experienced firsthand the complexities of decision-making processes that consider environmental stewardship alongside public input and practical implementation. By blending science with civics, this activity empowered students to think critically about the future of their community and understand the broader impact of human actions on ecosystems.
Understanding the Atlantic Salmon’s Life Cycle
As part of their ongoing study of migration, fourth and fifth grade students explored the life cycle of the Atlantic Salmon. Building on previous lessons, they delved into the salmon’s incredible journey from river to sea and back again—a journey filled with challenges and obstacles. Students learned that although a female salmon may lay hundreds of eggs, only a few survive to adulthood.
To make this learning experience interactive, students participated in a series of kinesthetic games:
• Salmon Stage Sequence: Students acted out different stages of the salmon life cycle, working together to form a complete cycle.
• Salmon Life Cycle Relay: Teams raced to correctly arrange pictures of the salmon life cycle in order, reinforcing their understanding of each stage.
• Salmon Survival Game: Using dice, students simulated the probability of surviving each stage of the salmon’s life cycle, gaining insight into the various threats these fish face.
To wrap up the lesson, students reflected on their favorite stage of the salmon life cycle while coloring a detailed life cycle diagram of the Atlantic Salmon. These reflections sparked meaningful discussions about the resilience and importance of this species, encouraging students to think about ways they can help protect local wildlife.
Building Curiosity, Leadership, and Stewardship
The after-school sessions were filled with curiosity, creativity, and a growing appreciation for the delicate balance of nature. Students not only gained knowledge about ecosystems and natural processes but also developed important skills in leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking. Through hands-on learning and real-world connections, these young learners are becoming the next generation of environmental stewards.
Looking ahead to the spring, students will bring their learning full circle with an environmental action project aimed at benefiting their community. We’re proud of their engagement and can’t wait to see how they continue to grow as leaders and advocates for a healthier planet.
