On Tuesday, our second-grade adventurers embarked on an exciting field trip to Southgate Coastal Reserve with the wonderful Ms. Olivia Walton from SEA (St. Croix Environmental Association)!
Students dove into the importance of nature reserves, learning how these protected spaces help preserve biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural resources for future generations. With keen eyes and curious minds, they explored the landscape, identifying local flora and fauna such as White Manjack trees, Seagrape trees, tan-tan, and mangroves—key players in St. Croix’s coastal ecosystem!
Armed with mini journals, our budding scientists recorded their observations, just like true field researchers. They also collected soil samples from two distinct ecosystems, analyzing their differences and gaining a deeper understanding of how soil composition supports different plant life.
But the highlight? Students gathered key ingredients to prepare a beloved local tradition—bush tea! This hands-on experience connected them to the cultural and medicinal uses of local plants.
And the adventure isn’t over yet! Ms. Olivia will soon visit the classroom to help transform their collected treasures into a warm, soothing cup of medicinal bush tea. What a fantastic way to blend science, culture, and hands-on learning!
Way to go, second-grade explorers!
