Big Backyard is a town-wide program that enriches the elementary school science and social studies curriculum through nature walks. These walks are designed specifically for Hastings by naturalist Bev Morrison and tailored to the Hastings schoolyard. Becoming a BBY volunteer is a wonderful way for parents to share in their child's education. BBY is completely run by parent volunteers who lead small groups of children on nature walks. Volunteers lead 1-4 walks per year and are trained for their walks. All the necessary supplies are provided and no experience is required!
| Grade | Season | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Fall | Plants in Fall |
| Kindergarten | Winter | Nature in Winter |
| Kindergarten | Early Spring | Early Signs of Spring |
| 1st Grade | Fall | Birds and Other Animals |
| 1st Grade | Winter | Animals Tracks |
| 1st Grade | Early Spring | Birds in Spring |
| 1st Grade | Late Spring | Simple Food Chains |
| 2nd Grade | Fall | Native Americans |
| 2nd Grade | Winter | States of Matter |
| 2nd Grade | Spring | Soils |
| 3rd Grade | Fall | Colonial Americans |
| 3rd Grade | Late Spring | Land Insects |
| 4th Grade | Winter | Winter Twigs |
| 4th Grade | Spring | Whipple Hill Geology |
| 5th Grade | Fall and later | Forest Ecosystems |
Each grade has 2 to 4 specifically designed walks tailored to their curriculum. Parent volunteers are instructed on how to lead the walks and are given the appropriate materials. For each class, the Big Backyard Room Coordinator is responsible for coordinating walk times with the teacher and the other parent volunteers.
There is a general 2 hour training session for all teachers and parent volunteers new to Big Backyard. This training session is a general introduction to broad topics such as photosynthesis and the water cycle, and also discusses how volunteers can engage children in the learning process. Additional outdoor training sessions, geared specifically for each walk, will also be scheduled before each walk.
Every classroom needs 4-5 parent walk leader. Each leader is given the necessary equipment for their group from their room coordinator.They should already have their walk sheets (obtained either from the training session, or from the room or grade coordinator). The teacher will talk about the walk to the class (what we are going to do, where we are going to go) before leaving the building. The teacher will remind children as to the correct outside behavior, and make group assignments. The groups are formed, and go to the walk location(s) (teachers may or may not go on the walk as well). After the walk, the groups return to the classroom, where the teacher can give a wrap-up. The volunteers fill out the questionnaires and return the materials to the classroom coordinator.
Leaders needs to be familiar with the walk before the walk day. This is done, preferably, by attending the outdoor walk-through training session.In lieu of that training, the volunteer is asked to go through the walk with another classroom before their class's walk, to familiarize themselves with the material.
Each class also needs a Room Coordinator to organize materials need for the walks and to schedule walk dates with teacher and other volunteers. To volunteer to be a Big Backyard Room Coordinator or Walk Leader, or to find out more about BBY, please contact Janet Lane, 862-7097.
Last update: 08-04-2004/jh