13780 Highway 69

 Savannah, Tennessee 38372

 Phone (731) 926 4008

 Fax (731) 926 3000
Nature Days 2008  

 

On Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 & 24, 2008, Horse Creek Wildlife Sanctuary hosted our annual “Nature Days” event.  All fourth grade classes in Hardin County were invited to spend a day with us.  We were delighted that all of them were able to attend!  About 145 students came each day.

 

 

 

 

 
Several learning centers were set up along Horse Creek and the hiking trail which meanders alongside it.  Students spent the day visiting the following learning centers:

 
Indian History:  Mr. Cubert Bell of the Chucalissa Indian Museum provided the students with information on his heritage and entertained them with blow gun demonstrations and native dances.
Pet Care:  Staff from Horse Creek Wildlife Sanctuary (with the help of some special dogs) discussed the importance of proper care and personal responsibility for family pets.

 

    Pioneer Cabin:  Ms. Connie Beck demonstrated spinning yarn, and Ms. Laura Rushing made baskets inside the Darby Cabin.
Raptors:  Mr. Knox Martin of the Memphis Raptor Center and Ranger Tim Dudley of Pickwick Landing State Park brought rescued raptors and discussed endangered birds in our area.

 

 

 

 
    Wildlife Identification:  Officers from Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency talked about wildlife and their habitats in our area.   
    Water Quality:  Mr. Mark Roberts and biologists from the Nature Resource and Conservation Service climbed into Horse Creek to show students how to determine water quality.

Tree Identification:  Mr. Paul Whaley from the Tennessee State Forestry Division walked through the hiking trail with groups of students, showing them how to identify different species of trees.

 

 

 

Wagon Ride:  Mr. James A. Neill, along with his sons Terry and Thomas Neill, provided mule-drawn wagon rides.  Mr. Jeff Neal demonstrated plowing with his mules along the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

All students and their chaperones received special Horse Creek Nature Days T-shirts.  All students received one of Cecil’s Activity Books about pet care.  They also received booklets and information from the great folks at the learning centers.

 

 

 

We hope everyone had a great time—we certainly did!  All of us at Horse Creek thank all students and teachers who came.  Our special thanks to all the presenters who provided great information at the learning centers.  And we must thank our volunteers, including local EMS and fire department personnel, who helped with all kinds of things!!

 

 
“Nature Days” is an annual event for Horse Creek.  We sincerely hope that the fourth-grade students in our area took away useful information and that they HAD AS MUCH FUN AS WE DID!

 

 

 

 

© 2008 Horse Creek Wildlife