Tracks, Tails and Bones in Community Garden

The design calls for adding a sand plot to identify animal tracks and bones as part of a community garden growing at the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center. A small plot of weeds and dirt has become a delightful living classroom filled with sunflowers and pumpkins. The garden was started with the goal of providing a hands-on, interactive natural resource classroom for public use. Its participants range from youth garden clubs, scouts, or schools to groups, such as the Upward Bound TRIO program and Girls on the Run. "We see this as an enhancement to existing custom tours and programs that the Nature Center currently offers," AmeriCorps volunteer Cass Meissner said. "Even the deer are curious," she said, referring to recent deer tracks trailing through the area. Long-term goals include a native nursery, ongoing and seasonal plantings of vegetables, flowers and pumpkins and partially fencing the area. In addition, plans call for an outdoor structure for informal instruction, and, of course, that promised plot of sand for animal tracks and bone discovery. But the power behind the program is volunteers, such as Eagle Scout Nick Coppinger who is building a three-bin compost area, a tool shed and raised garden beds. He hopes to complete the projects by October. The Nature Center community garden is accepting new volunteers as well as donations of cash or materials to continue development of its structure and support of its unique teaching opportunities. For information contact Brenda Beckley at 208-287-2901 or at bbeckley@idfg.idaho.gov; or Cass Meissner at 208-287-2904 or at cmeissner@idfg.idaho.gov.