It was a ground-breaking field trip Monday morning for students who walked off their bus and into the great outdoors  for the Sternberg Museum of Natural History’s new education series in the recently opened eco-classroom.  Fourth-graders from WaKeeney USD 208 and St. Mary’s Grade School, along with Hays O’Loughlin students visited several lesson stations scattered throughout the two miles of nature trails. 

At the natural amphitheater, Zoological Collections Manager Curtis Schmidt talked to the classes about ecosystems and food webs.  Schmidt waded into the nearby pond with his net, catching mostly microscopic organisms.  The pond level is dwindling in the drought. 

Students from area middle and high schools will visit the eco-classroom the next two Mondays.