Big Backyard 2009-10

• Introduction

• BBY Materials

• 2009-10 Calendar

Bridge's Big Backyard Program 2009-10

The Big Backyard is a seasonal program that relies on parent volunteers to lead small groups of children from their child’s class on nature walks around Bridge School.  These walks take place outside during the school day in areas around Bridge.  Most of the walks last 30-45 minutes.  The theme of each walk is coordinated with the classroom science curriculum for each grade and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.  Big Backyard walks are great fun and provide a way for parents to support the classroom teachers and also interact with their own children.  No previous experience is necessary.  First time parents are always welcome.

If you would like to lead a Fall walk, please come to the following training:

Meet at the Bridge Big Backyard/Parent Resource Room.  We will be going outside rain or shine, so please dress appropriately.

These walks will train parents specifically in the material to be covered on the Fall walks in Grades K-3. All walk descriptions and materials are available below.

If you would like to volunteer, but are unable to make the above training dates, or if you would like more information, please contact the Bridge Big Backyard Coordinators:  Wendy Ernst at wendyernst@verizon.net or Laurie Curtis at lauriecurtis@yahoo.com.

(Note: This training is separate from the Big Backyard Basic Training offered at the Harrington School and Central Office by Fran Ludwig on September 21st and repeated on September 22nd.)

Important note:  All parents who work with children in the Big Backyard program must have submitted a CORI form and a picture ID to the Main Office (see Marcia Cavatorta for details) at least 2 weeks before the actual classroom walks. CORI checks are good for 3 years, so if you have submitted a form within the last 3 years, you do not have to reapply.

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Big Backyard Program 2009-10 Materials

Descriptions and supplementary documents for the Big Backyard walks for 2009-10 are available below.
(Please note, that all the documents below are in PDF format. Some are rather large and can take a while to download.)

Supplemental Materials:
        Track Identification - 1
        Track Identification - 2
        Animal Scat Identification
        Common Galls
        Diet of Native Animals, Common Bird Identification

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Big Backyard Program 2009-10 Calendar

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