1,350 S.K. Students Take a Winter Hike

The South Kingstown Land Trust took all S.K.’s 1st through 5th graders hiking last December.

Before heading out, the Land Trust’s Claudia Swain established a sense of place. She placed South Kingstown in geographical context, and showed photographs of local open spaces. She asked how students felt about their part of the world, their comfort here, whether it was “home.”

Claudia demonstrated how to prepare for a hike—clothes and shoes, snack, water, insect repellant, camera... And shared a fundamental tenet of conservation: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.” Students then got to hone their observation skills: stare at a partner, look away, and then try to detect what s/he had changed in the interval.

They learned that S.K.’s Land Trust is a group of people who preserve and protect the natural resources and open spaces of our town for the enduring benefit of our community. They work to maintain nice healthy places where we can live and grow, farm and hike… With clean water soaking through the ground of enough open, undeveloped land to fill underground aquifers.

Echoing that they’d rather be hiking and playing in the woods, students finally embarked... On a VIRTUAL hike down SKLT’s Browning Woods Farm trail.
Signs tell the farm’s 200-year history, prevent hikers from getting lost, and mark the original farmhouse’s ruins. Others identify wildlife—red salamanders, marsh ferns, eastern box turtles...

But only close observation brings the trail to life. Low to the ground are wintergreen berries. Looking up, an oak tree; and down again, its leaves and acorns. Not far behind, a squirrel and a trail of acorn caps leading to its nest. Bark above and needles below help identify trees like the triple-needled pitch pine. The American holly grows wild and festive in the winter with its red berries. Some plants like the sassafras vary greatly through the year. Dead trees that might have been culled instead form habitats for animals such as the pilliated woodpecker.

The white pine’s five-pronged needles make a natural cushion for lying with your feet propped up against its trunk, to view its soaring branches. Trail signs also direct attention upwards, perhaps to a great-horned owl’s nest.

Students end their hike animatedly, and are invited to come back any time! To bring friends and family, maybe take photos for SKLT’s annual contest. And to join SKLT’s 600 volunteers, perhaps helping them check their more than 120 properties over 2,000 acres.

Above all, simply to experience a sense of the place that is South Kingstown.

Asked what they would like to see 100 years from now on Browning Woods Farm trail, students answered:

• “The stone walls! The signs! The pond! The trees!” — J. McNamar, Gr. 1

• “… L. would like to see frogs, reindeer, Santa, trees 100 years from now while L. is on the trail.” — L. Robinson, Gr. 1

• “… salamanders, chipmunks, birds, squirrels, and other animals that live in the woods.” — R. Grimes, Gr. 2

• “… the nature trail actually existing and it either having more wildlife or the same amount... I would like it if people protected and gave birdhouses to nature.” — R. Doyle, Gr. 3

1. “… a red cardinal in 100 years. I learned today that near the So. Kingstown Land Trust there are three hiking trails. And there are tons and tons of trees on the three hiking trails. In one part of the trails there is a big open space where people used to live. Sometimes you see root tunnels and rocks that look like stairs.” — T. Wentworth, Gr. 3
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• “… an owl. I also would want to see the white pine tree with my feet on the bark. You don’t need a big load of stuff, you just need a backpack with things you need. I want to go some day! Keep the trails clean…” — A. Wilkinson, Gr. 3

• “… that no trees are cut down.” — S. Rabidoux, Gr. 3

• “… a red-backed salamander, a turtle, and a red-headed woodchuck.” — D. Colllina, Gr. 3

• “… wild animals. Also I would like to see some trees that you don’t see around right now.” — C. Farias, Gr. 3

• “… the same things.” — C. Neary, Gr. 4

• “… old trees not being cut down.” — G. DiMillio, Gr. 5

• “… more holly bushes and more streams and berry bushes. And more animals.” — J. Hagopian, Gr. 5

• “… exactly how it is now, with all the trees and plants. Also I would like to see some more wild animals.” — A. Riggs, Gr. 5

Excerpts from student journals:

ILLUSTRATIONS (above): [1] A. Wilkinson, Gr. 3. [2] M. West, Gr. 5. [3] T. Smith, Gr. 5 . [4] M. Tibbits, Gr. 4. [5] E. Duckworth, Gr. 4. [6] J. Lindstrom, Gr. 3. [7] O. Manni, Gr. 4.

SLIDE SHOW (right): J. McCarty (1st), J. McNamar (1st), R. Grimes (2nd), C. Rekos (2nd), H. Sunderland (2nd), E. Tondre (2nd), S. Briggs (3rd), T. Burnap (3rd), D. Collina (3rd), C. Farias (3rd), C. Fredette (4th), H. Misto (3rd), S. Rabidoux (3rd), S. Calvino (4th), C. Hogan (4th), C. Moffitt (4th), M. Robinson (4th), E. Thulier (4th), G. Dimillio (5th), A. Edson (5th), J. Hagopian (5th), J. Hannafin (5th), L. Leonard (5th).


NOTE TO PARENTS: Just ask your child if s/he wants to go! The Browning Woods Farm trail is off Shannock Road — visit www.SKLT.org and click on Trail Maps. Joining SKLT gets you their newsletter listing events, hikes and SKLT-sponsored programs — and helps preserve S.K.’s open space!














By Rian Smith