Nature Connection: March 2026
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March 28
Weekend Warriors
We are looking forward to our first schoolwide Eco-Schools community event, scheduled for April 10th. With time running short, some extra weekend help arrived to shovel mulch and complete the Bean Teepee in the garden.
It has been encouraging to see that the native plants installed last fall survived February’s frigid ice storms, and there are even a few tiny pumpkin seedlings that managed to survive the compost pile! The kindergarten class studied the decomposition of this pumpkin closely last fall, so discovering these surprise seedlings felt especially meaningful.
Perhaps these little pumpkins will grow strong enough to survive the summer’s inevitable squash bug invasion — and perhaps they won’t. Either way, what a wonderful opportunity for students to witness life cycles, resilience, decomposition, growth, and change unfolding right in front of them.
Nature is always teaching and providing a little hope when you need it most
March 27
Kindergarten has Gone Batty
Kindergarten has Gone Batty
You can always count on Ms. Alyssa and Ms. Cat to teach ecological principles in ways that truly stick with young children. It is a genuine gift.
This year, they have done an excellent job inspiring both enthusiasm and righteous indignation for the plight of our beloved bats! After reading classic books about bats and participating in a variety of art and science activities, students began learning not only about the lives of bats, but also about the critical ecological role they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
From pollination to insect control, bats are remarkable creatures — and the students were eager to advocate for them once they understood their importance.
The class then wove this newfound passion into their core classroom learning standards through early writing activities. These first drafts are absolutely precious: heartfelt, thoughtful, and full of the earnest conviction that only young children can bring to environmental advocacy.
Nature Intensive Class: Stream Analysis Follow-Up
This Friday, the Nature Intensive Class traveled to Alum Spring Park for a follow-up stream analysis with Master Naturalist Mimi Dempsey.
Mimi is certified in macroinvertebrate monitoring and is highly skilled at taking a close look at the living organisms found in our local streams and listening carefully to the stories they tell about the health of our river systems. As usual, Mimi shared a wealth of knowledge about the creatures we discovered, along with an excellent app that helps determine the taxonomy of aquatic organisms through a series of dichotomous keys.
One of the things we appreciate most about this process is that it teaches students how to think through identification rather than simply providing quick answers. Students learn to observe carefully, compare traits, ask questions, and work methodically through possibilities — skills that are valuable far beyond science class.
By studying aquatic insects and other tiny stream inhabitants, students begin to understand that water quality is not measured only by test kits and numbers, but also by the living communities supported within the ecosystem itself. Healthy streams support biodiversity, and every organism has something to teach us if we are willing to slow down and pay attention.
This group of seventh and eighth grade students is always a joy to work with, so naturally, it was a great day.
A Neighborly Visit
Part of our day included checking in on the garden at the Thurman Brisben Center. Several weeks ago, students spent the morning carefully weeding the garden beds, so we were happy to see that the weeds had not taken over since our last visit.
We are looking forward to planting seeds once all danger of frost has passed, but for now, tiny lettuce seedlings are already thriving after reseeding themselves from last year’s crop.
Moments like these are simple but meaningful reminders that gardens — and relationships — continue to grow when they are tended with consistency and care.
March 26
Weekly Student Leadership Meeting: Off-Campus Learning Experience
This week, our Eco-Schools Student Leaders were invited to participate in a special off-campus learning opportunity.
For those who are new to the Eco-Schools program, our Student Leaders are self-selected volunteers in grades 3–8 who choose to meet weekly from 2:30–4:30 p.m. to help support Eco-Schools certification projects and planning efforts.
Much of this work is not glamorous — and sometimes not even particularly nature-related — but it is both necessary and important. As a student-led program, Eco-Schools encourages students to participate in the communication, planning, organization, and preparation needed to accomplish larger community goals. Leadership often looks less like recognition and more like consistency, teamwork, and a willingness to help where help is needed.
It has been incredibly encouraging to work alongside families who support opportunities that promote service, responsibility, perseverance, and hard work. We are grateful for students who continue to show up each week ready to contribute in meaningful ways. This week, we wanted to celebrate all of the hard work and dedication by taking a special trib off campus, combining a meaningfulf connection with nature and a meaningful connection with a local environmental champion, Dr. Brad Hatch, an enrolled member of our local Patowmeck Tribe.
Patowomeck Preserve, Caroline County
Dr. Hatch is a professioinal archaeologist and serves as traditional knowledge keeper for the local Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia. He is a quiet but deeply respected leader in the community, and we are grateful that he volunteered his personal time to guide us through part of the 870 acres recently returned to Tribal stewardship.
The Patawomeck people have lived and worked on this land long before Colonial contact. It feels especially meaningful that The Nature Conservancy recently transferred this property, located near Belvedere Farm, back to the Tribe. Under Patawomeck stewardship, the land remains open to the public while also protected through a Conservation Easement. The tribe is, and has been, very active in environmental conservation efforts. Please see this article and YouTube video for more information about their dedication to biodiversity and the health of the land and local river.
Understandably, our students were eager to walk the forested corridor along the Rappahannock, listen carefully, and celebrate the beauty, history, and ecological importance of this remarkable place. However, I was equally impressed by the family members who offered three hous of their time after school to learn alongside our students.
Manageable Risk and Social Emotional Growth
Although this tract of land has been well traveled by Brad and his family, I was happy that it does not provide the manicured trails often found in public parks. Curiosity, awareness, and engagement are naturally heightened when coupled withthe all-important elements of manageable risk and adventure- something we highly value at BCS.
While the terrain offered challenges — especially for younger students — it remained well within their physical abilities, creating opportunities for personal growth alongside the obvious ecological learning. Students scrambled over logs, navigated uneven ground, and explored the wetlands with excitement and determination.
We hoped they would embrace the natural setting and appreciate the environment that supports a ten-acre beaver pond, marshland, and an undisturbed river’s edge. In early spring, these habitats are teeming with wildlife and bird species of all kinds, offering endless opportunities to observe, wonder, and connect more deeply with the natural world.
Classroom Connections
The discussions throughout the day were informal, and the experience itself was intentionally centered on sensory awareness and meaningful connection with the natural world. Even so, it is important to acknowledge how much educational value we place on experiences like these.
Our students will be able to draw directly from the day’s observations, conversations, and experiences as they return to work in their classrooms. Good educators understand the importance of prior knowledge (see this article for context) and the powerful role it plays in deep and lasting learning. Experiences in nature give students something real to connect new information to — something they have seen, touched, heard, wondered about, and remembered.
Our trips are valuable on many levels. While students certainly learn about ecosystems, history, and science, we also believe that developing thoughtful, observant, reflective human beings is equally important.
Students, parents, and mentors learn about the ecosystem of the wetland and how beavers play a critical role, as a keystone species, in the survival of our wetlands. Finding a beaver-chew on the hillside generated many questions about these reclusive creatures and their talents.
Environmental Advocacy as a Way of Life
During our hike, Dr. Brad Hatch explained that, traditionally, the Patawomeck Tribe often lived on land that was difficult to pass through or cultivate, such as this tract along the Rappahannock River. Farmers frequently viewed these areas as useless — nearly impossible to plow or manage as cropland — and were willing to give them over to Indigenous communities.
Ironically, Indigenous people have long understood the intrinsic value of ecosystems like the wetland we visited, which is absolutely teeming with life and biodiversity. The Patawomeck people have maintained a deeply reciprocal relationship with the land, recognizing not only what the environment provides, but also the responsibility to care for it in return.
To this day, Dr. Hatch carefully hand-selects White Oak trees from Tribal lands to harvest for creating beautiful and functional baskets and traditional eel pots. Listening to Brad speak about the land and its resources gave students a meaningful opportunity to consider stewardship, sustainability, and the importance of maintaining respectful relationships with the natural world.
Our students will one day play a critical role in the future health of the Rappahannock River and the many interconnected waterways that make up our ecosystems. It is essential that we learn from those willing to share their knowledge and wisdom — and equally important that we pass those lessons on to others. That responsibility belongs to all of us.
See THIS article for more information about the health of the Rappahannock River.
Connecting Cultural Practices with the Classroom
During the past year, Dr. Hatch has collaborated with Dr. George Meadows, retired Professor of Education at the University of Mary Washington and board member of Crow's Nest Research Center, along with his wife Shin, a local artist and author, to create Patawomeck Cultural Boxes for area schools. We were recently given the opportunity to use one of these boxes in our fourth grade classroom.
The eels themselves are fascinating creatures. Brad taught us that the eels found in Fredericksburg — like all freshwater eels in Europe and North America — begin their lives in the Sargasso Sea before making an incredible journey inland. What an amazing reminder of how deeply connected ecosystems truly are. (Check out THIS article, THIS article, and THIS article to learn a little more about Eels.)
This video is a great introduction to the cultural value of Eel pots.
Gratitude for Sharing and Learning
The opportunity to visit the preserve was greatly appreciated. We are thankful that Brad took time to share his knowledge about the land and I feel fortunate that he has extended an invitation to return in the fall so that we can visit other habitats within the 870 acre preservation. What an incredible beginning to our learning journey.
We look forward to sharing more about this experience — and many other meaningful connections still to come. It was a remarkable day, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn from both Brad and the land itself. Dr. Hatch has invited us to return in the fall so that our students and their families can continue learning and sharing what we discover with the community.
Third Grade and Eco Schools : YOU are cordially invited!
Our third grade class worked hard to create invitations for our Nature Connection Celebration. So much of what we do at Brompton involves spending meaningful time outdoors, but the Eco-Schools program also emphasizes the importance of sharing what we learn with others.
Inviting members of our community onto our campus to appreciate, learn about, and connect with nature is no small thing. Through projects like this, students begin to understand that caring for the natural world also means helping others notice it, value it, and protect it.
These invitations may seem simple, but they represent something much bigger: students learning how to welcome others into a shared experience of curiosity, connection, and stewardship.
March 19
Weekly Student Leadership Meeting
During this week's Eco Schools Student Leadership Meeting, the students worked hard to prepare for next month's Nature Connection Celebration. Everyone leaned into their strength(s), getting to choose the activity that they thought might best fit their skill set. For example, our fourth grade girls LOVE working in the garden. It's no surprise to find themworking there. I wish the picture could accurately describe how hard it is to dig in the clay and concrete that makes up our soil in our garden patch. They are really working hard to knock back the invasive weeds and clear the way for some mulch, generously donated by our PTO President, Stephanie Jarrell and Treasurer, Ashley Burchett.
The Eco-Schools Framework emphasizes the importance of both hands-on work and creative information sharing.
These second and third grade Student Leaders are creating posters for our Nature Connection Bulletin Board. Because Eco-Schools values student-led environmental action, we are continually learning how to strike a healthy balance within our leadership groups.
As adult mentors, we try to provide a clear purpose and desired outcome for each gathering, while also giving students the space to make decisions, solve problems, and take ownership of their work. This is often easier said than done!
Truthfully, through our Eco-Schools Schoolyard Habitat project, the mentors have learned just as much as the students.
Although the finished poster was beautiful, the real value was found in the process of creating it. That is where student leadership truly comes into play.
These girls are in two different grade levels, which meant they had to learn to collaborate, communicate, and compromise while creating art together. That is not always easy — especially for young children who are still learning that a shared project does not “belong” to one person or another.
The purpose of their work was bigger than themselves. They created this poster to help invite others to our Nature Connection Celebration and bring the community together. Even something as simple as making a poster can become an act of service when it is done with generosity, cooperation, and care for others.
Leadership Skills
The Eco-Schools Framework emphasizes the importance of encouraging students to operate slightly outside of their comfort zones in order to build resilience and a greater capacity for challenge. Leadership skills grow when students learn to sit with discomfort, work through uncertainty, and learn from mistakes.
Once again, the process of creating a video is more important than the finished product itself. Students practiced communication, collaboration, flexibility, and problem solving in real time. They had to listen to one another, adapt their ideas, and keep going even when things felt awkward or imperfect. We started with a short video, but it still took courage, and I was very proud of our elementary school kiddos.
Growth rarely happens when everything feels easy. Sometimes leadership begins with something as simple — and as brave — as trying.
Mountains of Mulch
We have had several loads of topsoil and mulch delivered from Acor’s Topsoil & Mulch, and I cannot say enough good things about this local business. Their customer service has been absolutely delightful, and it has been a joy working with them throughout this project.
This load of mulch will help cover parts of the hill as we continue shaping the vision for our garden: a welcoming space where people can come to learn about the plants that were purposefully chosen for this habitat. Students will be able to observe the biodiversity supported by native plants, alongside a few non-invasive annuals such as zinnias and sunflowers that provide nourishment for our hardworking pollinators.
The mulch is intentionally laid thick to help smother invasive grasses while also creating pathways where visitors can wander slowly through the narrow garden spaces. At this point, the mulch piles and scrubby pathways are still a little roughshod, but that feels fitting somehow. Nature connection is not always neat and polished. Sometimes meaningful learning begins by stepping into a messy space with curiosity and wonder.
We hope students of all ages will move close to the garden beds, make careful observations, ask questions, and build meaningful connections with the living world around them.
What are those insects eating on the squash leaves?
Do you notice the fungal growth?
What does it look like under a microscope?
Did you see the tiny trumpet shapes hidden in the center of the flower?
For now, we are simply grateful for the hard work of the students and adult volunteers as they work their way through a mountain of mulch. Because of their efforts, we can look forward to next August, when students once again amble down the messy mulch pathways, pause quietly, look a little closer, and ponder what they see.
March 13
Eco Schools: Sustainable Steps
As spring approaches, we are preparing for our Nature Connection Celebration in April, inspired by our work with the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools program.
We are working hard to create outdoor spaces that are welcoming and accessible for people of all ages. In this photo, you can see orange flags and paint placed by Miss Utility during our safety check. To protect that area from accidental digging, we decided to turn it into a balance course for younger students.
The logs were cut from juniper wood that had fallen on campus. They are sturdy, beautiful pieces of wood, and we are excited to give them new life as part of a playful nature path.
One sustainable step at a time!
March 6
Nature Intensive
Nature Intensive
We had a great day on Friday! Our students worked hard to prepare the garden bed at Thurman Brisben Shelter. We will be working on the bed regularly throughout the year, managing weeds and planting flowers and veggies for the residents. Let us know if you'd like to join in!
March 4
Plant Sale Preparations are Underway!
Look at these gorgeous baby tomatoes! Our elementary classes have begun nurturing plants for our annual plant sale.
It’s often hard to imagine spring in March. The weather is certainly living up to its reputation—snow, wind, and rain have all made appearances in a single week. Yet beneath it all, life is stirring. Plants are waking underground, ready to begin their seasonal dance. Look closely and you may spot ephemeral flowers on the forest floor or tiny nests tucked into the trees. Oh, how I love spring!
The elementary students planted their first round of seeds this week in preparation for Saturday, May 2nd. Mark your calendars and start dreaming up your garden beds—we’ll have a variety of plants ready for you to take home and tuck into warm soil.
It's going to be here before you know it- such fun!
March 1
In Like a Lion...
In Like a Lion...
The end of February brought us some challenging weather — beautiful in its own way and full of lessons. Still, I find myself longing for throngs of birds, delicate ephemerals, and early spring flowers pushing bravely through the soil, and for the quiet swelling of buds along the tree branches.
March, as always, is a fickle girl. This first week alone seems determined to give us all four seasons in just seven days! I look forward to it all.
This week, our Nature Connection programs are back in full swing. Add the following activites and dates to your calendar:
Sign up to be a part of our Nature Connection Celebration on April 10th! Learn more HERE or contact kathy@bromptonschool.org for more information. Families and members of the community are invited to help build biodiversity on campus, learn about natural history, and appreciate the beauty of the natural world.
Monday, March 2nd: Tree Fredericksburg will begin taking orders for FREE Native Trees and Shrubs. Each household is eligible for up to 6 species. Don't have room in your yard? Consider ordering some for Brompton's garden. (contact kathy@bromptonschool.org to inquire).
Wednesday, March 4th, 6pm: PTO Meeting; Eco Schools Budget Proposal
Thursday, March 5th, 3-4:30 pm: Eco School Student Leadership Meeting, Gather near 4th Grade stairs; Focus- Developing School Eco Code from gathered data.
Friday, March 6th, 8:30-2:30: Nature Intensive Class, Thurman Brisben Garden Prep, Brompton Campus Garden Ecology
February 27th
Mud Season
This happens to be one of my all-time favorite photos, courtesy of the wonderful Ms. Karolyn.
There really isn’t much need for commentary. This picture will always remind me of Brompton — certainly a classic.
Thank you to all the families who embrace the March mud, dress your children in boots and waterproof pants, and applaud the time spent outdoors. Childhood is fleeting, and relationships, attitudes, and values toward the natural world are developed within a relatively narrow window of time.
Children’s interactions with mud can feel a bit like the hard-packed ice of February — an inconvenience on a busy day. Yet that deep ice slowly soaks into the ground, little by little, nourishing plants and animals both now and in later seasons.
The children, too, are nourished by their time outdoors — positively impacted in the present and in the many seasons of development still to come. So this March, may we trade inconvenience for wonder — and let them get muddy.
Nature Intensive Class: Spring Salamander Study
We were fortunate to spend Friday morning with Wildlife Biologist, Virginia Master Naturalist, Tim Stamps. Tim shared his knowledge about the salamanders students might encounter here in Virginia, explaining their fascinating life cycles and emphasizing the critical role of vernal pools in their survival.
Several of our students are true salamander enthusiasts and have become remarkably skilled at spotting — and gently catching — these elusive, secretive creatures. Watching their confidence and curiosity in action was a beautiful reminder of how meaningful hands-on experiences in nature can be.
Stream Survey
After spending time learning in a formal setting, our Nature Intensive students set out for the stream to conduct a salamander survey close to campus. For an hour, students carefully searched the aquatic environment, collecting observational data and documenting the species they encountered.
As predicted, we found mostly Two-Lined Salamanders, like the one pictured below.
Our young scientists understand the critical importance of gentle handling Salamanders breathe through their skin (although some species also have lungs) and are highly sensitive to toxins on our hands — such as bug spray or sunscreen — as well as pollutants in the environment.
Students also learned that salamanders may drop their tail if frightened, a defense mechanism that allows them to escape predators. While they can regenerate the lost appendage, this process requires a significant amount of energy.
Beyond the stream, salamanders have played an important role in scientific research because of their remarkable ability to regrow complex body parts. Scientists hope to one day learn from salamanders in ways that may help patients who have experienced limb loss or spinal cord injuries.
This little guy survived loss, or partial loss, of his tail and is in the process of growing it back.
Gently coaxing a salamander into a small container for observation. All animals are safely returned to where they were found after careful and mindful observation.
Master Naturalist, Mimi Dempsey, provides a plethora of containers for safe viewing and study.
Students worked together to locate the wonderfully camouflaged salamanders.
Metamorphosis
In the illustration below, you can see an example of how some salamanders will use gills as a means of pulling oxygen from the water, when they are young. The drawing shows how the spotted salamander gradually loses its gills as it goes through a metamorphosis. You can see that the salamander we found in our stream has a lovely set of gills.
Data Collection
Data Collection
Our students know that Virginia is a global hotspot for salamanders. In fact, there are between 55–56 different species of salamanders found in our state. In our region, we focused on ten of the most common species in order to build identification skills and deepen our understanding of local biodiversity.
One of our primary goals was to practice careful data collection in scientific notebooks. Students recorded species, measurements, weight, and habitat observations — just like field biologists.
In a single hour, students found over 30 salamanders in our stream. The smallest measured only 2.5 centimeters and weighed less than a tenth of a gram. Our largest salamander measured 11 centimeters and weighed 2.7 grams.
Moments like these remind us that even the smallest creatures can tell powerful ecological stories. Salamanders, who are strong indicators of water quality, and we are happy to see so many living in the stream behind the school.
Different species of salamanders lay their eggs in different locations depending on habitat and life cycle.
When people discover eggs in water, salamander eggs are often mistaken for frog eggs. However, there are important differences.
Salamander eggs found in a vernal pool are typically enclosed in a jelly-like casing that surrounds a clustered clutch of eggs, similar to the illustration below. The entire mass often appears clear or slightly milky, with individual embryos visible inside each small sphere.
Afternoon Forest Walk
Afternoon Forest Walk
Time spent away from the stream was equally fascinating. One student carefully lifted a log and discovered a Red-Backed Salamander tucked beneath, while another student uncovered a large skull, many of the teeth still intact — a powerful reminder of the forest’s ongoing life cycles. Wrapping up the day, one of our eighth-graders proudly found the tail feather of his favorite bird, the Northern Flicker.
What a gift it is to witness budding naturalists noticing extraordinary details. It was a perfect day to learn in the woods.
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