Nature club a success with middle school students

Students in the Nature Club at the A.D. Oliver Middle School, along with many of their parents, recently had the chance to learn how to make an arrowhead by flint knapping, found edible spring plants, and practiced friction fire-making during a field trip to Northampton Park. In March students in the club, overseen by teacher Mary Pittman, visited Mendon Ponds Park to feed the chickadees and nuthatches. In addition to the field trips, students attended after school opportunities throughout the year and learned to make baskets, acorn pancakes and weave materials using a ground loom. Darrell Birchenough, a naturalist, taught students about primitive skills. Sixth-grader Ethan Sentiff works with his dad to make a primitive friction fire using a bow and drill.