The Mattapoisett Land Trust is celebrating its 50th Anniversary on Sunday, June 30, at the Munro Preserve just immediately adjacent to Mattapoisett Wharf. That said, board member Ellen Flynn recently reflected on the educational programs recently held by MLT, as well as ideas that are in the works.
Reached recently, Flynn, director and chairwoman of MLT’s Education Committee, outlined a variety of activities that align with STEAM – or science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.
For instance, MLT is brainstorming a story walk where kids write the stories. So instead of laminated signs about nature that students read, they go on their own walk and jot down their own scientific observations.
Students would also have an opportunity to observe specimens under microscopes before writing about them, Flynn said, adding that she hopes that program can include students of all ages and be ready by the end of the summer or early fall.
Flynn said the MLT has a great working relationship with Old Rochester Regional School District, so teachers in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester often reach out to the MLT for field trips.
For the second consecutive year this spring, Marine Biology students for ORR visited Nantucket and observed ocean specimens.
Sixth grade students from the district visited Cuttyhunk Island, where they received an education in history, science and art. They met up with a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation and learned about native fox and other furs and got to touch, wear and learn all about them.
The trip took a science and culinary turn as the students observed the lifecycle of oysters and got to taste raw oysters and remove them from their shells. Meanwhile, an artist was on scene and students got a chance to do some watercolor paintings.
Flynn acknowledged that these activities all tie into the ORR curriculum.
A group of Grade 7 students this year went on a whale watch. Some students wrote reflections of this experience.
First students this fall got to plant sunflower seeds at the Dunseith Gardens Property that sits in the shadow of Salty the Seahorse in Mattapoisett. Flynn said students this summer can return to the property and see their seeds bloom into flowers.
“We chose sunflowers because we had the idea that Ukraine was the largest sunflower importer of the world and in the sense that we wanted the students to know that we are in sympathy with the Ukraine situation,” Flynn said.
Those same children were treated to a story walk.
The MLT also awarded two, $1,000 scholarships this year, including an art scholarship.
“If you look at nature and you’re in nature, it’s all art … everything around you is a natural art,” she said. “People don’t know how to include art in their everyday way of life.”
Education or students extends to music opportunities as well.
This past June, special needs students from the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC) heard a live jazz concert at Munro Preserve.
“The children are housed at Old Hammondtown School and all are confined to wheelchairs while in school, yet some are able to walk with a personal caretaker outside. Three local musicians, Neil Sylvia, Don Legge and William Kingsland, performed this time,” she said. “These children do not have live music in the classroom, so we brought the live music to them.”
Mattapoisett Land Trust 50th Anniversary
By Jeffrey D. Wagner