Over two chilly November days, Croydon Woods Nature Preserve came alive with the energy of nearly 200 sixth graders from Ben Franklin Middle School. Students rotated through hands-on outdoor learning stations, observing and exploring the ecology of one of Pennsylvania’s last remaining Atlantic coastal plain forests.
For Lauren Stevens, a 6th grade science teacher at Ben Franklin, the work to bring students into the field is worth the effort it takes to plan this event.
“Planning a trip like this requires a lot of work, but the rewards are incalculable,” Stevens says. “Coming back from this trip, the kids have experiences that they will carry with them for a lifetime. Just exploring nature and being with each other is an opportunity that you can’t replicate in the classroom.”
A Partnership Rooted in Environmental Literacy
Ben Franklin Middle School and Heritage Conservancy have partnered for several years through the school’s Environmental Literacy Committee, which works to bring outdoor educational opportunities to students across the district.
Shannon Fredebaugh-Siller, Heritage Conservancy’s Director of Education and Community Programs, attends monthly committee meetings to help align programming with Pennsylvania’s STEELS (Standards for Environment and Ecology Learning) standards and support projects on school grounds that provide both environmental benefits and opportunities for outdoor learning.
Why Croydon Woods Matters
Students look on as Environmental Educator, Rick, rolls over a log to see what’s living under it.
At 80 acres, Croydon Woods Nature Preserve in Bristol Township is one of the last remaining Atlantic coastal plain forests in Pennsylvania, making it an important ecosystem to protect. Located close to the Delaware River in Lower Bucks County, the preserve is home to a diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. It also serves as a stopover site for migrating birds.
Heritage Conservancy owns and maintains the preserve as a publicly accessible green space, while also using it as an outdoor classroom for schools in the Bristol Township School District, and especially for the adjacent Keystone Elementary School. Croydon Woods was designed with young explorers in mind. The preserve features easily walkable trails, engaging natural features, and plenty of opportunities for discovery, making it an ideal outdoor classroom.
Rotating Stations
A group of students searches for various leaves during the scavenger hunt.
Heritage Conservancy educators organized the program into five rotating stations (including lunch), each lasting 20-25 minutes. Students moved through the preserve in small groups, experiencing different aspects of forest ecology and conservation efforts.
Nature Walk:
On the nature walk, students learned about our Tree Guardians program and discovered the hidden world of “Life Under Logs,” home to salamanders, beetles, and decomposers that keep the forest healthy. Even on the cool November day, some students responded with awe and wonder at the amazing creatures they saw simply living under a log. Educators discussed the wildlife that call Croydon Woods home and introduced students to vernal pools, seasonal wetlands critical to amphibian reproduction.
Macro Mayhem:
In this active tag game, students learned about macroinvertebrates (tiny aquatic organisms that can indicate water quality) by pretending to be mayflies, caddisflies, and other pollution-sensitive species, avoiding “pollution” threats.
Treevial Pursuit:
Students spun the pinwheel and attempted to match the chosen native tree with its identifying attributes and characteristics, helping them to learn about tree identification and the benefits of these important ecosystem resources
Nature Escape Room:
Students worked in small groups on an escape room-type challenge, where they had to complete certain activities or solve clues before moving on to the next challenge. This helped to build their teamwork, problem-solving, and observation skills.
The Bigger Picture
Educational programs like this are more than just a break from the classroom; they’re investments in environmental literacy, community connection, and lifelong memories. By welcoming schools and families to Croydon Woods, Heritage Conservancy hopes to inspire stewardship and encourage outdoor experiences for generations to come.
Want to bring your students to Croydon Woods? Contact our Education Department at education@heritageconservancy.org to learn about our educational programs.
Explore Croydon Woods Nature Preserve on your own here.