Rogers City students are becoming experts on threatened and endangered species at Thompson’s Harbor State Park! Middle school students are researching and writing reports on threatened and endangered species that can be found at Thompson's Harbor State Park. Upon becoming experts on threatened and endangered species, middle school students partnered with elementary grade level students to teach them about what they learned. Partnering with elementary students has allowed this project to span across all school levels. High School woodworking students are involved in the project by building blue bird houses to be placed at Thompson’s Harbor State Park; which will enhance the habitat for aerial migrants at the park.
Upon researching and becoming experts on their chosen species, middle school students presented their species profile to their fellow classmates and the public. The species profile consists of the organisms description, habitat, life cycle, diet, and more. Student’s reports are currently in the process of being published for display in each cabin at Thompson’s Harbor State Park.
In order to help educate the local community on threatened and endangered species students presented at the Friends of Thompson’s Harbor State Park’s Silver Anniversary Celebration in May of 2013. This gave students the opportunity to share their project with the public and help create public awareness regarding threatened and endangered species in the area.
As a final wrap up to this exciting project 70 elementary, middle school and high school students took a field trip to Thompson’s Harbor State Park this spring to learn more about the DNR, wetlands and coastal fens, dunes and swales, soils in the area, forestry, endangered species, and more! Stations were set up throughout the park from the Michigan DNR, Presque Isle Conservation District, Huron Pines AmeriCorps, Michigan Sea Grant and Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative. Without the support from the local community and Friends of Thompson’s Harbor State Park this annual project would not be possible.
Click here to learn more about what Rogers City Middle School students are up to at Thompson's Harbor State Park.
