Every Summer I have the pleasure of making a Nature & Wildlife Photo presentation to students attending Allamuchy Elementary School’s, ‘Summer Enrichment Program’, held at Mountain Villa School.  This Summer, I was asked if I could provide some photos for their current study topic, ‘Insects, Bugs and Other Crawly Things’?

CAN DO!!  Began, looking through my numerous, various, sorted folders.  You know, it really amazed me, how so many specific photos, ( just like the Photo of the Week – Praying Mantis ), immediately began coming to mind!!  Ladies and Gentleman, some of those photos were taken years ago, AND, I am remembering them, as if, I had just taken the photo!!  YES, many of these were pretty easy to find, because I had classified and put them into ‘Topic Albums’, HOWEVER, even if I hadn’t, I could still clearly remember, the specific photo, what Park and then what trail!!  The finished product for my presentation was about 85 photos!

OBSERVATION:  When you have a topic, ‘Insects, Bugs and Other Crawly Things’ & you are going to be showing photos of THAT topic to young children, I AM THINKING FUN!

Wednesday, August 1^st:  After making two presentations, it became clear to me, “I know what my ‘Inside Warren’ article is going to be about!!!!  My only question now, What photo do I use for Photo of the Week!!??  My choices, the face-to-face with the Praying Mantis OR a photo taken showing the class looking at me pointing out a BUG photo!!  Decisions, Decisions,  I have to tell you, the Mantis photo was always one of my favorites, BUT, the other photo, showed a nice activity, kids etc..  NOTE:  the other photo was not staged, it documented what was going on at that time.  If we had taken a ‘planned’ photo, I would have used the mantis picture or something colorful and then done a close-up etc..  ANYWAY – this was the thinking behind your ‘Photo of the Week’!!  You will see the other photo, it is the first photo in my Flickr display.

Your Flickr photo tour was/is the same show I put on for the kids!!  Before you look, let me just fill you in on a couple of concepts, concepts, I thought about, putting the show together.  I DON’T, want to just show photo after photo about insects!!  I DO, want to mention and give credit, if possible, to the locations of each photo, State Park, National Park, Appalachian Trail, Allamuchy Playground etc., etc., this usually sparks comments and dialogue, giving my young audience a chance to be part of the presentation AND, to HEAR (multiple times) names of great places to visit!!  I DO, want to show and talk about several events. These events again will create a dialogue during my presentation. Example#1  Rutherfurd Hall hired a bee keeper to remove a huge beehive and I had photographed the entire operation.  Example#2 NJDEP has Amphibian Surveys/Rescues at certain locations during March when various amphibian species (abt 7) migrant from highlands to wetlands.  Volunteers are on the road to prevent overkill by cars as these small creatures cross roadways – NOTE these are not insects, HOWEVER, they are ‘crawly things’ that just happen to eat insects.  Example#3 BUG BLITZ conducted by the MWA (Musconetcong Watershed Association)  Experts and volunteers, survey invertebrates in the Musconetcong River to review the river’s health after Trout Unlimited had done some restoration work, returning the river to a more normal flow – results were spectacular!!  Example#4 River Watcher’s Program – MWA surveys the Musconetcong River at different locations to do an assessment on and of the River.  Part of that assessment involves collecting various invertebrates/insects which tell how the water quality is!!  These four examples are a FUN way for our young students to learn about and see insects, AND also learn about various organizations protecting our Open Spaces and water resources!!

Last but certainly not least, I want to inform you about Allamuchy Elementary School’s – Summer Enrichment Program.  I would use the word Summer Camp, it is that great of a setting!  Four weeks, half days, Monday thru Thursdays at Mountain Villa School and Rutherfurd Hall adjacent to Allamuchy Pond all amid beautiful Allamuchy Mountain State Park.  The program has over 50 students.  There are six teachers from Allamuchy Elementary School and Mountain Villa School.  Part of this program includes 27 Reading Specialists from Centenary University, who did their practicum work with our students.  Our students are also offered STEM courses (STEM = Science-Technology-Engineering-Math)   THANK YOU & GREAT JOB!!

Please visit my Flickr site for your Summer Camp presentation – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/albums/72157671861516578

Enjoy Your Open Space, Charlie Fineran