10/16/2026
This week, the JNC hosted its first classes of the year, and we couldn't have asked for better weather! Third grade students from Simmons, Blair Mill, and Crooked Billet came to the JNC for lessons all about soil! During their visit, students watched a “cooking show” that demonstrated how soil is made. They helped identify ingredients, then discovered that the key missing element is time—it takes many years for these ingredients to break down into soil. Students then visited the wetlands, lawn, and forest to study the different types of soil that can be found at the JNC. They identified parts of the soil such as roots, rocks, and water and then classified each as organic or inorganic. Students were particularly excited to see creatures such as ants, centipedes, earthworms, and salamanders in the soil!
We, also, had our first group of volunteers join us this week. One of the local Girl Scout troops, led by the HHEF's own Beth Ann Olesen, pulled weeds from the "floor" of our outdoor classroom. They moved at least 10 wheelbarrow loads of mulch and spread it around to ensure a great place for students to sit and learn. Next week, we will host our first kindergarten class to introduce them to the JNC.
