MEP Hikes!
Summer is in full swing in Maine, and Mano en Mano is hard at work to provide programming to support our communities, all while having some fun!
This July, students and families in the Migrant Education Program, partnered with the Maine Outdoor School to organize an outdoor exploration day at Pigeon Hill- a .75 mile hike that passes through both the forest and ocean shore.
Thania Hernandez, the Migrant Education Program Regional Coordinator for Western Washington County, helped to coordinate and chaperone the event. She shared that:
“For me, I think that it is really significant for our students to be able to access the outdoors. Many migrant families do not have these experiences, since they are often working and they do not stay in one place for a long time. Many families are not able to connect with outdoor activities together, or explore together, and that is why we organized this hike- as a way to connect deeper with the world around us.”
And explore they did! In the .75 mile hike participants saw: a squirrel's nest, crabs, shrimps, seaweed, periwinkles, shells, and lots of other sea creatures. Students were able to take a closer look at some of their findings with magnifying glasses provided by Maine Outdoor School.
Thania says,
“I think the kids really enjoyed finding the crabs at the beach...the crab that we found was an invasive species and it was a learning opportunity for kids to understand how different species impact the environment.”
On the return trail from the beach, students were given a color card, and instructed to search for things in nature that matched the colors on their card. This challenged students to look more deeply into their surroundings and focus on seeing things in a new way.
Thania adds,
“Lots of learning that kids do is through experiencing the world around them. For many children who aren’t able to or cannot easily access spaces to do so, it can really hinder their development. These activities help our students try new things and learn by doing.”
The Migrant Education Program works hard to support students in their educational development, as well as their socio-emotional development. Activities like this are realized throughout the year, but are much easier to organize and warmer in the summer!
This August 2-20th, the Migrant Education Program will realize the Blueberry Harvest School (BHS)- a summer program for children ages 3-13 whose families are in the area to work during the blueberry harvest. The camp is held at the Milbridge Elementary School and this year's theme is ‘Creative Community.’ MEP staff and BHS educators are hard at work to design activities and discussions to highlight and foster creativity in all its forms within ourselves and our community. Together everyone will explore self-expression, problem-solving, and storytelling through art, language, music, writing, movement, and more!
Thania adds that,
“Milbridge Elementary School has a short hiking path we use for outdoor learning opportunities and we are also planning field trips to beaches and outdoor spaces around the area. We often have the students partake in scavenger hunts similar to the hike we did at Pigeon Hill so that students can learn about their surroundings and have fun. It is so important for children's development to feel connected and safe in their environment, and we are excited to provide additional spaces for students to do so.”
If you want to learn more about the Migrant Education program of the Blueberry Harvest School, please visit the Programs Page our website.
For more information about the Maine Outdoor School including hikes in the area, check out their website.
