U.S. Army Environmental Command hosts nature walk for kindergarteners

By Troy Darr, U.S. Army Environmental CommandMay 11, 2021

Fran Coulter (left) and Pat Gonser explain the difference between predator eyes and prey eyes at the Skins and Skulls station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. Coulter is a geologist, and Gonser is a retired school teacher and spouse of a USAEC employee.
1 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fran Coulter (left) and Pat Gonser explain the difference between predator eyes and prey eyes at the Skins and Skulls station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. Coulter is a geologist, and Gonser is a retired school teacher and spouse of a USAEC employee. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Coral Eginton, an archaeologist, shows how prehistoric hunters used an atlatl to increase the range of their spears at the Archaeology station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
2 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Coral Eginton, an archaeologist, shows how prehistoric hunters used an atlatl to increase the range of their spears at the Archaeology station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Damon Cardenas, a microbiologist, leads a group of children in jumping jacks at the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
3 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Damon Cardenas, a microbiologist, leads a group of children in jumping jacks at the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bill Miller, an entomologist, talks about the difference between insects and spiders at the Insects station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
4 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Bill Miller, an entomologist, talks about the difference between insects and spiders at the Insects station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Scott Weber, a geologist, explains geometric patterns and stratification to Col. Alicia M. Masson, USAEC commander, during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
5 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Scott Weber, a geologist, explains geometric patterns and stratification to Col. Alicia M. Masson, USAEC commander, during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Terri Thomas (left), an environmental scientist, and Susan Elrod, a geologist, give the children an opportunity to participate in arts and crafts during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
6 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Terri Thomas (left), an environmental scientist, and Susan Elrod, a geologist, give the children an opportunity to participate in arts and crafts during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Matt Mattox, a range scientist, talks about different types of grass that can be found on ranges at the Insect stations during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
7 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Matt Mattox, a range scientist, talks about different types of grass that can be found on ranges at the Insect stations during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Kelly Norwood, a geologist, helps with a little hands-on learning at the Geology station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
8 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Kelly Norwood, a geologist, helps with a little hands-on learning at the Geology station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Chris Leach, a conservation biologist, shows arrows at the Archaeology station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
9 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Chris Leach, a conservation biologist, shows arrows at the Archaeology station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr ) VIEW ORIGINAL
Jennifer Rawlings, an environmental scientist, leads a group of children in an exercise during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
10 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Jennifer Rawlings, an environmental scientist, leads a group of children in an exercise during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cathy Kropp, a public affairs specialist, runs the Horns and Antlers station at the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
11 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Cathy Kropp, a public affairs specialist, runs the Horns and Antlers station at the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Scott Weber, a geologist, asks children if they know the definition of geology at the Geology station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
12 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Scott Weber, a geologist, asks children if they know the definition of geology at the Geology station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sam Klein, a civil engineer, and Jennifer Rawlings, an environmental scientist, talk to the children about recycling at the Recycling station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School.
13 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sam Klein, a civil engineer, and Jennifer Rawlings, an environmental scientist, talk to the children about recycling at the Recycling station during the U.S. Army Environmental Command Nature Walk held for about 140 kindergarteners from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Troy Darr) VIEW ORIGINAL

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – In celebration of Earth Day this year, employees from the U.S. Army Environmental Command hosted a Kindergarten Nature Walk to teach 140 kindergarten students from the Fort Sam Houston Elementary School about nature and wildlife at seven hands-on learning stations at Salado Creek Park on May 6.

The hands-on learning stations, sporting names such as Skins and Skulls, Horns and Antlers, and Archaeology, were run by some of the Army’s top experts in their fields.

“Encouraging kids to become interested in science at this age is such a value,” said Kelly Norwood, a geologist. “Even if they don’t become scientists themselves, they will start their science learning with a positive outlook and interest."

Norwood and Scott Weber, also a geologist, ran the Geology station where children had an opportunity to mine for rocks and fossils.

“For me personally, I love to show the girls that we girls like to play in the dirt too," said Norwood.

Weber said many of the children were already quite knowledgeable about geography and were often able to identify the sample rocks and fossils.

“We need to teach kids an appreciation for the environment,” said Weber. “We also need to work together to improve the environment and be good stewards of what we have a responsibility to protect and preserve for future generations.”

The U.S. Army Environmental Command is officially partnered with the school through the Fort Sam Houston Adopt-A-School Program.

According to the USAEC Commander, Col. Alicia M. Masson, the partnership between the two organizations focuses on supporting the school’s science curriculum.

“We want to help foster future scientists by supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based activities such as today’s nature walk or the school’s annual career days,” said Masson. “They give our scientists the opportunity to share with students their knowledge of the environmental sciences and a genuine love of lifelong discovery. My hope is that today’s activities will have an impact on the children’s academic accomplishments down the road.”

Bill Miller, an entomologist, said the event was important to him because he has a passion for teaching. He also said it is important for children to understand that there are both good and bad insects and spiders.

“I think too many kids look at science and believe it’s too hard for them, but where there is interest, there is learning,” said Norwood. “Kids who love science will grow up better able to understand and improve the world around them.”