This is the 1st of 6 learning opportunities for home schooled children in our area, presented in partnership with Unbound Field Trips. Pre-registration is required.

Please sign up here or by e-mailing director@chemungriverfriends.org.

If the weather is good, we will meet in the Corning Wegmans parking lot by the River Levee. Children will receive their notepad and pencil as they become Earth Science Investigators. We will have binoculars to share. As we travel the banks of the Chemung River, investigators will observe wildlife activity, writing down what they see in their journals. If we are very lucky, we might even get to see an eagle! Parents are encouraged to use their phones to take pictures of any wildlife their child encounters, so we can share with the group when we discuss our findings. We’ll discuss the geology and paleontology of our area, and if we’re lucky, we’ll even see some real Devonian fossils in the rocks we find!

If it rains, we will meet at the Corning Library and talk about all the wonderful creatures we see by the river and what roles they play in the food chain. We will split into groups and write down all the critters we’ve seen in the past, and draw some pictures of our favorite ones. We’ll discuss the geology and paleontology of our area, and view some rocks that have fossils in them–you can find these rocks all over our region!

We will have a snack break while we discuss our findings. Did you find many birds? Bugs? Reptiles? Why do you think some people found more than others? Do you think the time of day we’re doing our exploring has an effect on our investigation outcomes? You can visit the river at other times of day or year, and record your observations in your notebook. You’ll find that what you see is very dependent on when you visit.

Now let’s play a little wildlife game! We’re going to play a game to find out about how the food chain works, and what happens when any one member of our food chain is missing!  If we have time, we’ll play Frogs and Fish.

Please wear hiking shoes that can get dirty (no open-toed shoes or sandals), a hat, high socks to cover ankles for bugs, sunscreen, bug spray, and a water bottle.

Suggested donation is $6 per child and spots are limited. This program is geared towards ages 6 – 10.

All parents will have to fill out a liability waiver form prior to children participating in FCRW activities. The liability waiver is available here.