In honor of Rachel Carson's centennial celebration, Americorps VISTA Sara Kenney and refuge environmental education specialist Erika Scarborough, worked with local librarian and science teacher, Ms. Dottie Raffaele at Interbroro Kindergarten Academy in Delaware County, PA., to start a Rachel Carson book club with students and their parents. The aim of the book club was to "instill a sense of wonder" in both the parents and their children by reading about the life and work of Rachel Carson and exploring nature together.

Academy Principal Mrs. Bernadette Reiley generously supplied books for each student that attended. About 35 people including kindergarteners, their parents, and a few siblings read "Rachel Carson: Pioneer of Ecology" by Kathleen Kudlinski and participated in activities and discussions about Carson's life and work. They also read together at home and completed homework assignments. Their artwork called "Shapes in Nature" is displayed in the Cusano Environmental Education  Center at the refuge and their Nature Scavenger Hunt books are on display.

The book club met two evenings at the Academy in March and April and had a culminating outdoor celebration of Carson's centennial at the refuge on Saturday May 26^th.

Contributed by Sara Kenney, Americorps VISTA

John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge

215-365-3118

Saraa.kenney@gmail.com