Sensory Walk (1.5 hours)

Led by the instructor, the students will experience the environment through their various sensory inputs.  Smell, sound, taste, touch and sight will all be explored in this experience.  Various plants will be examined, and then passed around for students to touch, smell and (in some cases) to taste.  Birch, sassafras and skunk cabbage are just some of the plants that the students will have the opportunity to experience.  Ground litter of leaves and detritus contribute to the aroma of the forest and students will be invited to inhale the essence of the forest.  Students will be asked to sit quietly with their eyes closed and to listen to the sounds of the forest.  Sounds, both natural and man made contribute to the ever present din of a forest. Clear, cold streams, mud, spaghnum moss, dried leaves and tree bark are all their own tactile experiences.  Students will discover the sensory experiences of a Connecticut forest, learn the natural history of some of the local plants and animals and gain an appreciation for the natural world.