PIE students build bug abodes

Mountain Lake Park was buzzing (and chittering, trilling, droning, squeaking...) with entomological excitement on Tuesday, as PIE 1/2 students from Sanfordville Elementary gathered to cut the ribbon on their all-new, hand-crafted bug house development! 

The event, at which the students were joined by tons of parents, some town officials, and a few invaluable park volunteers, was a sunny celebration of community, STEM learning, and environmental stewardship. After being bused out to Mountain Lake Park, the students met up with Town of Warwick Recreation Director Samantha "Sam" Walter, who led everyone to a lakeside amphitheater adjacent to the trail head.

“This is one of the most beautiful town parks in Warwick,” said Ms. Walter, recognizing a few familiar park-goers in the crcwod. “I know a bunch of you from the pool in the summertime, right? So it’s great to have you out at the park today!”

The bug house project brought together the students and community members in a creative and collaborative effort. Over several weeks, the PIE 1&2 classes designed and built their bug houses out of wood and other natural materials. The project was a part of the PIE students earning their agricultural learning badges (Ag Badges)! Along with their hands-on activity, the students also learned about habitats, ecosystems, biodiversity, and the importance of providing shelter for beneficial insects. 

As the houses were about to be installed along the trail, Ms. Walter explained, “They are amazing, beautiful houses that insects will love. Not just bugs; frogs, toads, salamanders, even little squirrels, things like that are going to really love those houses!”

She continued, describing the park’s community as a living ecosystem, which is, in turn, part of an even larger ecosystem, the Warwick community: “And you need fresh water, you need open space, you need fresh air, you need the support of people in the community... that's an ecosystem.”

Ms. Walter then introduced a couple of important members of the community who had made the project possible, Sanfordville teacher Donna Denny and Town of Warwick Supervisor Jesse Dwyer. Ms. Denny described how the project was sparked by a collaboration with the school district's Agricultural Education Consultant Nancy Colgan.

“Every time I want to do something involving nature appreciation, she and I collaborate with the other teachers. Something we've come up with is this ‘Ag Badging,'" she explained. "Each year, the students have three things to do that we, then, give them a badge for. This year, insect homes was one of our badges. This earns them their third badge; the last three badges before they move on to [PIE 3/4]."

Building bug houses gave students the opportunity to practice engineering skills, solve problems, and work as a team, core aspects of STEM education that encourage children to learn to ask pertinent questions, make astute observations, and solve problems, while also fostering respect for living things and laying the foundation for lifelong curiosity and learning. Mr. Dwyer also highlighted the importance of shared ownership and stewardship.

“What’s cool about this park, is it’s a town park. And does anybody know what that means?" he asked the students. "It means this is a public place, and you know who owns it? You guys do! This property is all of ours. If you live in the town of Warwick, this is your property, so we have to treat it with respect.”

Mr. Dwyer encouraged the students to care for the park as they would their own homes.

“We have to take a lot of care for this property. We have to clean it. We have to plan. We have to make really cool and fascinating projects like what you guys are working on today," he said. "It's yours and it’ll be yours forever.”

The charming bug houses now line the trail, where they will not only protect the inescts and salamanders who move in, but also delight passing hikers with their detail and creativity. The ribbon cutting was a proud moment for the students and their community, showing how collaboration and imagination can shape both the park and the young people who care for it.

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