Sep 25, 2013.
By Janet Muniz VoiceoftheValley.com
Maple Valley, WA – As the Earth fully embraces the fall change of season this week, the Arboretum welcomes second grade students from Rock Creek for their annual field trip.
The students are studying Native American culture, which includes a tour of the Tribal Life Trail led by a Master Gardener, native plant rubbings led by Arboretum volunteers, and story time led by teachers as part of the curriculum.
A project of the Washington State University Extension Master Gardeners with the support of the Lake Wilderness Arboretum Foundation and the Tahoma School District, the trail lets visitors experience nature through the eyes of native peoples of the Pacific Northwest. Educational signs describe how plants found along the trail were used in daily life for food, medicine, utility, clothing and ceremony.
“I am always impressed by the kids’ interest in learning about how Native Americans used the plants,” says Arboretum Garden Manager Susan Goodell, who volunteers on the field trips, along with Master Gardeners Ursula Paine, who also coordinates the event, and Ankie Strohes.
Goodell says the students also enjoy identifying native plants by the leaves, then making a rubbing on paper.
Visit LakeWildernessArboretum.org, emailinfo@lakewildernessarboretum.org or call 253-293-5103 to volunteer or donate.