St.Marys Area Middle School's Helping Hands for Habitat club's president, Dylan Shields and vice-president, Zach Schatz were pleased to present Mr. Fordoski with a fisher to be displayed in the outdoor classroom. This was a cooperative effort involving several different individuals and groups. Bob Bolt, retired teacher from the SMAMS approached WCO Doty McDowell concerning taxidermy for the outdoor classroom. The PGC obliged by providing the services of Tony Ross, NC Regional Biologist to do the mounting if the school would cover the cost of needed parts. So the Helping Hands for Habitat club paid the cost involved for the fisher, and it now is an addition to the learning environment of the SMAMS's outdoor classroom.
St. Marys Area Middle School's Helping Hands for Habitat and Trout Nursery club members had a fantastic presentation by two students from the middle school. Ben Samick and Jess Cogan complimented each other during a wonderful presentation on trapping. Relatives sparked the interest that developed into quite a sport for them. They talked about the different land/water traps, equipment, laws, safety and the commitment you must have. It is certainly important to learn the habits of the animal you are going to trap to be successful. PASS IT ON!
Working for Wildlife is exactly what the St. Marys Area Middle School's Helping Hands for Habitat club did at their 2006 banquet. Mr. Murray Neeper Superintendent of the SMASD, Mr. Jim Wortman Principal of the SMAMS, along with several family members, friends and teachers had quite a time. Door prizes, delicious food, entertainment by Mr. Ed Schwar's jazz band and Mrs. Amy Sines's vocal ensemble were added delights. Mr. Rawley Cogan, Lands Program Manager for the R.M.E.F. presented a program to educate and update all about mission accomplishment. Club members were introduced and the eighth graders were recognized. All attending left knowing more about the Helping Hands for Habitat club, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and that their presence at the banquet helped the St. Marys Area Middle School get closer to the Monarch Partnership level. The SMAMS made a commitment to wildlife conservation with the R.M.E.F. in 2001 and will continue to PASS IT ON!
Helping Hands for Habitat club members are making use of a MAC grant that McDonald's owner/operator Linda Hoffman presented to them last October. They are in the process of developing "green thumbs" while utilizing mini greenhouses to nurture and grow various types of plants. The Valley Rainbow owner's Mark and Maryann Swisher provided most of the compost, pots and plants to experiment with. The plants will be watered using two sources. One will be from the school and the other will be waste water from the trout nursery. Varying factors will be noted daily with each greenhouse during the month of May. This is a wonderful example of hands on learning.
St. Marys Area Middle School's Helping Hands for Habitat club is a chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's High Schools for Habitat. The members know what it is like to be a forest under management. Mr. Luke Dillinger, Wood Procurement Specialist for Weyerhaeuser, used lecture and an activity to demonstrate how the process works and why. The students were each given a seedling to take home and plant and a handout on "Our Forests As Our Foundation The History of Penn's Woods".
St. Marys Area Middle School’s Helping Hands for Habitat club and the Fish Nursery club had two presenters from the Wapiti Roost, which is the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Mr. Bill Olson and Mr. Mike Haines were talking "turkey" to the students. Yelps, purrs, clucks, and gobbles were just a few of the calls that were demonstrated. Turkeys have different voices just like people, no two alike. So it is important to learn the cadence and converse with the wildlife. It was stressed that a person needs to study the animal and learn as much as you can about the animal you plan to hunt, observe, or photograph. This respect will lead to understanding why we must conserve and protect what we have in wild places so all will be here for future generations to enjoy. PASS IT ON!
St. Marys Area Middle School’s Helping Hands for Habitat club members, which are a chapter of R.M.E.F.’s High Schools for Habitat, sure had hammers pounding in the cafeteria. The men from the Pennsylvania Wildlife Habitat Unlimited organization from DuBois proudly brought all materials for each student to assemble a bluebird-nesting box to take home. Discussion followed about where to place them, what to do and not to do. Members were very pleased and hopefully will get hooked on this wonderful hobby. PASS IT ON!
St. Marys Area Middle School's Helping Hands for Habitat club, a chapter of R.M.E.F.'s High Schools for Habitat, knows that spring will soon be here. They know because the bluebirds have arrived and so did Mr.Richard Bodenhorn, Conservation Officer for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He presented a wonderful program about bluebirds, nesting boxes, and the joy that can come from spending days in nature so you will learn to appreciate its beauty. Then you can PASS IT ON!
The St. Marys Area Middle School’s Helping Hands for Habitat club, a chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s High Schools for Habitat is very pleased to have its project selected to receive the $500.00 MAC Grant
The Helping Hands for Habitat club consists of thirty-five 6th, 7th and 8th graders. This MAC grant will enable the students to enter the world of plants and develop "green thumbs". Utilizing mini greenhouses the students will learn what is involved in producing beautiful plants. Several factors need to be considered when dealing with seeds, soil, and growing conditions. Mr. Jerry Undercoffer, a local resident of St. Marys and the owner of The Greenhouse will provide guidance and advice using his forty-eight years of expertise in the flower business. This project will also involve the SMAMS’s trout nursery that has been established. The nitrogen rich wastewater will be a source of nourishment for the growing young plants. The end result will be beautiful plants that can be sold. Proceeds from this project will be put towards the St. Marys Area Middle School’s wildlife conservation commitment with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to help ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat and to get closer to the Monarch Partnership level. It sure is a wonderful way to PASS IT ON!
Mr. Murray Neeper, Principal of the SMAMS and Fish Nursery/Outdoor Classroom Supervisor
Mrs. Linda Hoffman, Proprietor of McDonalds in St. Marys, PA
Amanda McCurdy, President of the Helping Hands for Habitat club
Heidi Pavlikowski, Vice-president of the Helping Hands for Habitat club
Helping Hands for Habitat club members assisted by men from the Pennsylvania Wildlife Habitat Unlimited organization from DuBois had hammers pounding. PWHU members provided the materials necessary for each student to assemble a bluebird box to take home. Since the bluebird has long been as inspiration for conservationists because of their brilliant colors, delightful calls, clean habits, and family devotion. The placing and maintaining of a bluebird nesting box should prove to be a wonderful pass time for Helping Hands for Habitat club members and their families. PASS IT ON!!
Bob Pendro, Jack Peterson and Bob Knarr of Pennsylvania Wildlife Habitat Unlimited brought in some of their various project display boxes and talked to the Helping Hands for Habitat club, a chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, at St. Marys Area Middle School. The trio spoke about their organization and some of their projects. The display boxes built by Bob Pendro show off scale models of some of the various area habitat projects the group has completed.
Helping Hands for Habitat club members learned first hand about trapping from Ben Samick, a sixth grader at the St. Marys Area Middle School. He talked about his hobby, traps, furs and safety. He had fox, coyote, muskrat, beaver and bobcat pelts for all to see. He even showed the club members how to make a set in dirt that he had in a box. Ben did a fantastic job, answered questions from club members, and most definitely Passed It On!
St. Marys Area Middle School's Helping Hands for Habitat club members had a unique experience. A ho-hum Monday certainly took a turn for the better when Doty McDowell, Wildlife Conservation Officer for the Pennsylvania Game Commission showed up with a bear. The students had the opportunity to watch as the bear was processed, listen to information about bears and learn why it is done in this fashion. It was a rare opportunity, and an experience they will remember and hopefully will PASS IT ON.
