Summer at NECC wouldn’t be complete without a visit from Mass Audubon! 

In August, 152 NECC students across multiple grade levels participated in a two-day on-site field trip with Chris Hitchener, Lead Educator with Mass Audubon. Through the “Nature Adaptations & Sensory Exploration” lesson, students explored how animals adapt to their environments through hands-on, sensory experiences with bones, pelts, feathers, plants, and other natural items. They also had the chance to move and sound like different animal species and even meet a live reptile, Boxy the Turtle! 

The lesson also aligned with what students are learning in Academics. Students studying rocks and fossils had the opportunity to observe and handle real rock, mineral, and fossil specimens, bringing classroom learning to life. For students learning about living organisms and their environments, the program offered a chance to explore animal adaptations through sensory activities.  

“It was so special to be able to share this science education with the NECC community and work with the Education Department once again,” said Hitchener. “Those who attended seemed to really enjoy the sensory exploration, hearing the different animal sounds, and interacting with the live reptile. Seeing how each student engaged their senses in their own way was truly impactful and made the experience so rewarding.”