Food Chains and Food Webs Activity for Teaching Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Understanding food chains and food webs is one of the most important concepts in ecology. Models of food chains and food webs help students see how energy moves through ecosystems and how living organisms depend on one another for survival.

However, many students struggle to visualize these relationships when they are only explained through lecture or textbook diagrams. A hands on activity can make these ecological relationships much easier to understand. This food web activity for high school students helps students build and analyze ecosystem relationships through hands-on learning.

In this lesson, students explore producers, consumers, trophic levels, energy pyramids, and energy flow through ecosystems while building their own food chains and food webs. Students also learn how energy flows through ecosystems and how trophic levels organize feeding relationships within a food web.

A Hands On Food Chains and Food Webs Activity

This activity helps students move beyond memorizing vocabulary terms and instead apply their knowledge to real ecological models. Students classify organisms, analyze food chain diagrams, construct food webs, and explore energy flow through ecosystems.

The lesson is designed for students in grades 8 through 10 and includes both printable worksheets and a digital version for Google Classroom.

The complete activity is available here: Food Chains and Food Webs Activity

Introducing Producers and Consumers

This part of the activity helps students develop a strong foundation in basic ecology vocabulary.

Students learn the definitions of important ecological terms such as:

• producers
• consumers
• herbivores
• carnivores
• omnivores
• decomposers

Students then apply their understanding by sorting organisms into these categories. This helps reinforce the concept that organisms occupy different roles within an ecosystem.

Building Food Chains from Different Ecosystems

Once students understand the roles organisms play in ecosystems, they begin constructing food chains.

Students are given sets of organisms and must arrange them into food chains that occur in different ecosystems including:

• ocean
• woodland
• salt marsh
• arctic
• desert
• freshwater pond

This section encourages students to think critically about feeding relationships and the order of trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Creating a Complex Food Web

Once students understand food chains, they are ready to build a food web.

Students cut out fifteen organisms and place them into a freshwater pond ecosystem. They then draw arrows between the organisms to represent feeding relationships.

Food webs help students understand that most ecosystems are not simple linear chains. Instead, they consist of many interconnected feeding relationships that form a complex network.

Energy Flow and Trophic Levels

The final section of the lesson introduces the concept of energy flow through ecosystems.

Students read about how energy moves from one trophic level to another and explore how only a portion of energy is transferred between levels.

Students also work with an energy pyramid diagram and calculate how many Calories of energy are passed from one trophic level to the next.

This helps students understand why ecosystems can support fewer organisms at higher trophic levels.

What Is Included in this Activity

This no prep lesson includes everything needed to teach food chains and food webs in a clear and engaging way.

The resource includes:

• 9 page student worksheet with 50 questions
• Colorful diagrams and illustrations
• Cut and paste organism cards
• Critical thinking questions
• Energy pyramid calculations
• 9 page teacher guide with answer key
• Printable version and digital Google Slides version

Students classify organisms, build food chains, construct food webs, and analyze energy flow through ecosystems in one complete lesson.

More Ecology Activities for Your Classroom

If you are teaching an ecology unit, you may also find these related blog posts helpful.

FREE Ecology Crossword Puzzles
These puzzles help students review important ecology vocabulary such as ecosystems, population ecology, and energy flow while reinforcing key concepts.

Ecology Warm Ups and Bell Ringers
These quick daily activities help reinforce ecological concepts and provide an easy way to begin each class period.

Backyard Ecology Freebie
This activity encourages students to explore ecosystems in their own environment.

Population Ecology Lab
In this lab, students estimate population size using a mark and recapture simulation and apply mathematical calculations to ecological data.

Food Chains and Food Webs Activity

If you are looking for a comprehensive lesson that helps students understand how energy moves through ecosystems, this activity is a great addition to your ecology unit.

Students classify organisms, build food chains, construct food webs, and analyze energy flow through ecosystems in one engaging lesson.

View the complete Food Chains and Food Webs Activity here: Food Chains and Food Webs Activity.

If you are teaching an ecology unit, you may also be interested in these related resources:

• Outdoor Ecology Lab: Exploring an Ecosystem
• Ecosystems Task Cards
• Ecosystems Complete Teaching Unit

Outdoor Ecosystem Lab Activity for High School Biology Students

Spring is the perfect time for an outdoor ecosystem lab, but a successful outdoor science activity requires clear structure, strong expectations, and a meaningful assignment.

If you are looking for an outdoor ecosystem lab for high school biology, spring is one of the best times of year to do it. Students are ready to get outside, ecosystems are active and changing, and it is much easier for students to observe real relationships between organisms when they can see them in context. This outdoor ecosystem lab activity is designed specifically for high school biology students studying ecosystems, food webs, and ecological interactions.

This outdoor ecosystem lab activity is designed specifically for high school biology students studying ecosystems, food webs, and ecological interactions.

One challenge with outdoor learning is that it can easily turn into unstructured time if students are not given a clear purpose. That is why I like using a detailed ecosystem field study instead of simply sending students outside to observe nature. When students have a specific area to study, a clear set of directions, and focused analysis questions, outdoor time becomes meaningful science learning.

My Exploring an Ecosystem activity gives students a structured way to examine a small outdoor ecosystem, map what they find, and analyze the interactions between living and nonliving factors.

What Students Do in This Outdoor Ecosystem Lab

In this activity, students work in small groups to study a 5 m x 5 m outdoor ecosystem. They mark off the area, map the physical features, identify living organisms, and record evidence of ecological interactions. Students then use their observations to answer detailed analysis questions and create food chains and food webs.

This lab goes far beyond a simple nature walk. Students are expected to observe carefully, think critically, and support their ideas with evidence from the ecosystem they study.

During the activity, students:

• map the physical features of an outdoor study site
• identify biotic and abiotic factors
• look for evidence of predator-prey relationships, competition, camouflage, and symbiosis
• identify producers, consumers, decomposers, autotrophs, and heterotrophs
• construct food chains and food webs based on what they observe
• analyze how the ecosystem may change over time

Because the assignment is detailed and structured, students are much more likely to notice the interactions happening around them instead of treating outdoor time like a break from learning. If you want a structured, ready-to-use version of this activity that saves you time, I’ve put everything together for you.

Ecology Concepts Covered

This outdoor science activity works especially well during an ecology unit because it reinforces so many important concepts in a real setting.

If you are looking for additional ways to reinforce these ideas, you may also like reading this blog post on food chains and food webs activity or this one on  population ecology lab.

• ecosystems
• biotic and abiotic factors
• autotrophs and heterotrophs
• herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detritivores, and decomposers
• predator-prey relationships
• symbiosis
• food chains and food webs
• trophic levels
• limiting factors
• human impact on ecosystems

Pros and Cons of Outdoor Science Activities

Pros of outdoor science activities:

• Students are highly engaged when they are working outside.
• Ecology concepts become more concrete when students can observe real examples.
• Students practice careful observation and real-world data collection.
• Students begin to notice patterns and relationships they would normally overlook.
• Outdoor labs support visual learners through mapping, drawing, and labeling.
• Students develop stronger awareness of their surroundings.
• Group work feels more natural and collaborative outdoors.
• These activities often create memorable learning experiences.
• Students build appreciation for nature and environmental responsibility.
• An ecosystem can be studied almost anywhere.

Cons of outdoor science activities:

• They can be time consuming.
• Classroom management requires planning and clear expectations.
• Students may treat outdoor time as free time if structure is weak.
• Weather can impact the activity.
• Some environments limit what can be observed.
• Students may need more guidance with open-ended observation.

What This Looks Like in Your Classroom

This project is easy to set up and requires simple materials.

• an outdoor ecosystem
• poster board or white paper
• colored markers
• 4 stakes
• string
• meter stick
• magnifying glass or hand lens

More Ecology Activities for Your Classroom

• Food Chains and Food Webs Activity
• Population Ecology Lab

Have fun teaching outdoors!

Paul Rossi: Wildlife Photographer

The Amazing Photography of my Friend and Neighbor, Paul Rossi

Few places in this world can be both majestic and ethereal at the same time.  I have had the good fortune of getting to visit one such place every summer for the past 50 years.  As unspoiled and commercial free as any place we have left, I imagine this slice of our country to be much like Yellowstone or Yosemite before the crowds. Where is this place?  The eastern upper peninsula of Michigan (EUP)!

I can't believe the north shore of Lake Huron is much different today than it was a hundred years ago when my family first homesteaded in the area.  Sure, getting around was much more difficult since with no Mackinac Bridge, everyone had to take a ferry or a boat through the straits.  Still, the lake, forests and wildlife were surely much the same.  For that reason, I have trekked to the EUP as often as I could.  The one downside to this scenario is that eventually I have to come home.

When I was a child visiting the lake one summer, I became friends with another child by the name of Paul Rossi.  Years later, Paul and I have rekindled that friendship and, in so doing, he has done much to relieve that one downside (coming home) by allowing me to take a little of the magic of this place with me when I leave.  

Paul, a professional wildlife photographer, has authored a book entitled "Beautiful Birds of the Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula". He has not only captured the beauty, behavior and color of the birds of this region, he has also captured the natural harmony and symbiosis of the entire area.  

A few of my very favorite photos are seen below.

In Paul's own words, "Studying birds can require work, patience, and research, but it is rewarding.  The practice from doing this, or any activity in which you observe and learn from nature, transfers to other activities such as finding other animals, beautiful rare wildflowers, wild edible plants, berries, mushrooms, etc.  I hope to inspire people to responsibly enjoy and live in harmony with nature at some level because it is an innate part of being human.  We are genetically programmed to derive satisfaction from doing this because our ancestors did this for thousands of years in order to survive."

These stunning photographs can be found in Paul's newly published book, "Beautiful Birds of Michigan's Easter Upper Peninsula."  This link will take you to Paul's website where you can view more images and download an order form for this incredible book.

In addition, Paul has a second web site, Paul Rossi Birds, where you can view (and purchase!) individual prints.  I will be having a few of these framed for myself ... If I can ever decide which ones I want!

Click the above image to view Paul's prints at his website "Paul Rossi Birds."

SaveSave

Zoo Wild!

"Zoo Wild" is a free game found on Google Play.  I love the way it teaches conservation to budding young scientists (ages 3 - 10) and fosters a love of nature and the environment.  This project has been a labor of love for Clint Clark and his entire family. Below, Clint describes the game and how its development has impacted his family.

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When my son was born, my wife and I desired to be parents that empowered our children, built empathy and encouraged creativity. This has sent us on quite a wild adventure which has led to our latest creation Zoo Wild, a free mobile game on Google Play.

As parents, we are put off by the amount of ads and purchases in kids mobile games and vowed not just to make a free game, but one without ads and purchases. Not just that, but we desired to have learning embedded amongst all the wild fun. If you teach any kids between ages 3-10 or have children of your own, install it and join in on our adventure.

We desired to set our animal game apart from the other million or so that have been made.

• First, we opted for realistic depictions of the species. Not smiley, big-eyed animals.
• Second, we focus on learning facts about the species including their classifications, diets, the world regions in which they live, and most importantly their conservation status –- how endangered they are.

• Third, we decided to create five different “mini-games” as opposed to one play style to keep kids engaged that build a variety of skills. There are opportunities to learn and apply their knowledge.
• Fourth, we found a tremendous lady to provide narration for the game so pre-readers can still play and learn.
• Fifth, we wanted to include more species than just the familiar favorites that are included in every zoo, animal book, bedspread and backpack.

We have taught our children a great deal about endangered species and conservation and we’ve found it is a tremendous empathy builder. The idea that an animal might die and not exist anymore, really hits kids. We share how conservation efforts are made and together we’ve learned about deforestation, pollution, global warming, poaching. All before they went to kindergarten.

In addition to the mobile game, my wife has built hundreds of resources around each species that are available on TPT.  (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Zoo-Wild). We also had some fun and Kickstarted an animal conservation card game, Zoo Webs.

All the while, we’ve included our kids through the entire process so they can learn they can make a difference for animals and our environment. Our kids choose all of the species, critique the art, look up the facts and decide where to donate the profit. They eagerly await choosing the next animal.

We hope our game can help some kiddos learn about different species, about conservation and perhaps activate a passion for the next generation of zookeepers, wildlife biologists and environmental activists! 

Nature Works Everywhere: Virtual Field Trip to Coastal Peru

Witness the Amazing Biodiversity of a Coastal Ecosystem

The next LIVE virtual field trip is just around the corner!  You are not going to want to miss this exciting trip into the most productive marine ecosystem in the world.

Virtual field trips provide the perfect way to travel with your students to exotic destinations without having to leave the classroom.  Brought to you for free by The Nature Conservancy and Nature Works Everywhere, these virtual experiences combine science, history, culture and geography into a integrated unit of study that truly packs a punch.  The resources being provided to classroom teachers by Nature Works Everywhere are truly incredible.  Use this link to view videos with accompanying lesson plans, as well as the five previous virtual field trips.

Now for the essential information about the upcoming field trip:

Title:  How Nature Works in Coastal Peru - The Amazing Biodiversity of a Coastal Ecosystem

Date:  Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Time:  12:00 noon Eastern Time

Length of virtual event:  45 minutes

How do I sign up?  Use this link to register now for the live virtual event.

What if I can't watch on March 16?  Register anyway to receive the YouTube viewing link.  This will allow you to watch anytime after the live event has concluded.  The virtual field trip will also be posted at a later date on the Nature Works Everywhere web site as well as on Vimeo.  Once these versions are ready, you will be sent the links in a newsletter.

How much does it cost?  FREE!  Participation in the live event and all of the high-quality downloadable lesson plans, worksheets, and activities are absolutely free!

Tell me more about the upcoming field trip!  Your host will be fisheries scientist, Matias Caillaux, from The Nature Conservancy.  He will lead you on an exploration of the Humboldt Current Ecosystem off the coast of Peru.  The Humboldt current is a cold ocean current that flows north along the west coast of South America from the southern tip of Chili to northern Peru.  It is one of the major upwelling systems in the world, supporting an incredible abundance of marine life.

The Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem is the most productive marine ecosystem in the world, as well as the largest upwelling system.  Because of its high rate of primary and secondary productivity, approximately 18-20% of the world's fish catch comes from the Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem.  This forms the basis of a unique and abundant ecosystem of fish, sea birds, penguins and marine mammals.

Students will learn about biodiversity, explore ancient island carvings, examine the region's fishing industry, and discover what is being done to conserve this valuable and vulnerable ecosystem.

In additional to the virtual field trip, take advantage of the free downloadable teaching materials, videos, and interactive web sites to prepare your students.  These materials will enhance the field trip experience and provide excellent resources for your students.  Two interactive web sites include:

Click image to view this interactive web site.

Click image to view this interactive web site.

Free downloads for your classroom include:

• Fishing For A Future:  Teacher Lesson Plan
• Student Handout on Fisheries Management
• Student Handout on the Humboldt Current
• Student Handout for Anchoret Socratic Seminar

Click image to view this interactive web site.

In these activities, students will explore sustainable fishing through a specific case study in Peru.  The lessons include interactive story maps that explore the Humboldt Current, El Nino, and artisanal fishing.  Students can complete a fisheries management activity using data and a socratic seminar that explores the challenges of open access fishing areas.

As a science teacher, I love that these exceptional field trips, videos, and teaching handouts are made available to us for free.  Thanks to The Nature Conservancy and NatureWorks Everywhere for providing us with these outstanding opportunities!  

Keep Wild Animals Wild!

Fantastic curricula for multiple grade levels!

We, as science teachers, must do more than just teach science.  We absolutely should teach the important concepts that are appropriate to our subject areas and grade levels.  But doesn't our responsibility go further than that?  Shouldn't we also be charged with giving our students a global awareness of societal and ecological issues?  The students we teach today will be the decision makers of tomorrow.  Let's make sure they have a solid foundation in the ecological and environmental issues that we are currently facing.

Click image to view curriculum.

To that end, I am proud to tell you about an exciting curriculum called "Keep Wild Animals Wild."

The International Fund for Animal Welfare and We Are Teachers have teamed up together to bring lesson plans, printables, teaching guides, and lesson plans that teach our students the importance of preserving wildlife.  The materials have been developed with different age groups in mind.  Teaching lessons are available for grades K- 2,
3 - 5, and 6 - 8.  Each curriculum contains a student magazine, a teaching guide, lesson plans, and an age appropriate video.  I will be focusing on the  grade 6-8 curriculum, but you will find a consolidated list of links to all components of each grade level at the end of this post.

The threats to wildlife and Earth's fragile ecosystems are real.  Many of these threats, if not most, are from human causes.  The "Keep Wild Animals Wild" curriculum focuses on the important ecological concepts of habitat destruction, climate change, the commercial wildlife trade, poaching, and how the extinction of one species can affect the entire ecosystem.

As stated above, each curriculum has several components:  A teaching video, a student magazine, a teaching guide, and lesson plans.  Let's take a look at each component.

First, the teaching video.  This is a 26-minute video, which is the perfect length for middle school students.  The video is packed with fantastic footage of wild animals in their natural habitats.  Students from around the world are included which gives a rich cultural flavor to the video.

Highlights and concepts covered in the video include:

• Differences between wild and domesticated animals.
• What happens when wild animals are kept in captivity.
• The illegal wildlife trade.
• The effects of logging and habitat destruction.
• The role of animals in the ecosystem.
• How the loss of biodiversity effects all populations in an ecosystem.
• What we can do to protect the animals on Earth.

When this teaching video is used in combination with the printable student magazine, these wildlife and environmental lessons will really come to life!

Click image to download student magazine for grades 6 - 8.

The student magazine is 20 pages in length.  I read it from top to bottom and found it to be entertaining, engaging, colorful, and extremely informative. The magazine is packed with great photos, animal facts, age appropriate vocabulary terms and interesting infographics.  If you are required to demonstrate the teaching of common core standards, this magazine is a great source for informational text readings.  Your students are going to love both the video and the magazine!

And what has been included for the teacher?  Just everything to make your lesson planning stress free!  There are two separate documents to be used by teachers:  A Teaching Guide/Program Overview and a Lesson Plan Guide.

The 18-page Teaching Guide/Program Overview provides just what you need to put together a fantastic unit for your students.

Click image to download Teaching Guide.

Highlights include:

• An introduction to the curriculum.
• Rationale for the "Keep Wild Animals Wild" program.
• Objectives.
• An overview of the curriculum components for the three different age groups.
• How to teach sensitive issues.
• Activities.
• Pre- and Post-assessments.
• Worksheets.
• Answer Keys.

And, finally, this brings us to the Lesson Planning Guide.  This 22-page guide brings you instructional goals, lesson objectives, essential questions, discussion, activities, reflections, and extensions.  Lesson plans are included for 9 separate lessons.

Click image to download the Lesson Plan guide.

Folks, to put it simply ..... These are quality materials.  Your students are going to benefit from these lessons, and you are helping to develop well-rounded science students who will possess the knowledge and skills needed to make important decisions about the environment when they are older.  It's win-win all the way around.

Remember, the links above are for the grade 6-8 materials.  Here are links to all grade levels:

Students ages 5 to 7 (grade K-2) are introduced to the concepts of what makes an animal wild and how people can observe and appreciate wildlife responsibly.

o   Lesson plans http://ow.ly/UBNGE

o   Student magazine http://ow.ly/UBNMW

o   K-2 Video http://ow.ly/UBPDG

Students ages 8 to 10 (grade 3-5) learn about wildlife trade, how it is relevant to them, and how they can take action to help protect wild animals from wildlife trade.

o   Lesson plans http://ow.ly/UBPJK

o   Student magazine http://ow.ly/UBPPg

o   3-5 video http://ow.ly/UBPTU 

Students ages and 11 to 14 (grade 6-8) also learn about wildlife trade and its relevance to their world.

o   Lesson plans http://ow.ly/UBQ0r

o   Student magazine http://ow.ly/UBQ5r

o   Classroom poster http://ow.ly/UBQdu

o   6-8 video http://ow.ly/UBQjl   

Get your students excited about the curriculum by using this great classroom poster.

Click image to download poster.

Many thanks to We Are Teachers and the International Fund for Animal Welfare for providing these valuable resources to our students.  Enjoy!

Let's Take a Virtual Field Trip to China!

Want to hang out in China with The Nature Conservancy and NatureWorks Everywhere?
  

YES, PLEASE!

Then this virtual field trip is for you!  Few things excite me more as a science teacher than teaching my students about how to protect and conserve our natural world.  Education is the key, and it is our responsibility as science teachers to make sure that our students are well educated about ecology and the environment.

I am extremely proud to be teaming up with The Nature Conversancy and NatureWorks Everywhere to bring you news of the 4th upcoming virtual field trip.  I have watched each of the first three virtual field trips and they are truly wonderful experiences that need to be shared in your classrooms.

Students love a field trip!  This special treat is usually reserved for the end of the school year.  But this December 4th, you can give them a live, virtual field trip experience that they will enjoy and remember!

Click image to go to the sign up page.

"Join our expert scientist Yue Wang, a conservation planning officer for The Nature Conservancy, on a virtual field trip across the world to two stunning provinces in China—Sichuan and Yunnan—where we will explore majestic forests, towering mountains, and other iconic landscapes. While examining the role these vital natural areas play in the carbon cycle and climate change, as well as the benefits of reforestation, we will learn about the magnificent creatures who call these habitats home: giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, and the elusive and odd-looking takin.

Exploring these critical areas will help students understand how important all habitats are for both people and animals—no matter where you are in the world. Our journey will demonstrate how scientists work with local communities to protect nature and create new wilderness."

The content of this virtual field trip is aligned with the  Next Generation Science Standards and the National Geography Standards. 

Ready to take the plunge and take your students on this amazing virtual field trip?  

This is what you need to do:

Step 1:  Sign Up!  Click this link to jump to the sign up page.  Sign up is quick, easy, and FREE!

Step 2:  Remember this is a live event!  Put the time and date on your planning calendar and start getting your students prepared for great lessons about our fragile environment.

Step 3:  Prepare yourself!  To aid in your preparation, download a copy of the standards that are being met.  This virtual field trip is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and National Geography Standards.  The downloadable standards page will help in your lesson planning.  Click here to download:  China Virtual Field Trip Standards.

Click to view video.

Step 4:  Prepare your students! Help your students get the most from this unique experience. In the days before the virtual field trip, use these free resources to teach your students the concepts of deforestation and reforestation, the carbon cycle, greenhouse gases, and climate change. Don't worry!  All of this has been prepared for you.  This video, "Reforestation: Impact on Climate Change" has everything you need to ensure that your students master the concepts.

While you are visiting this video link, be sure to download the FREE Climate Change Lesson Plans. The 17-page lesson plan includes lesson overviews, time frames, vocabulary, background for the teacher, activities, self-assessments, extensions, infographics, and evaluations.  This is truly a teacher treasure trove of great lesson plans in an easy-to-use format.  What a gift for the busy teacher!

Step 5:  You should be all ready now!!   Let your students know that on December 4th they are going on a field trip!

PSSSSSSST:  Want to get an idea of the treat you are in for?  Take a look at the 3rd virtual field trip that occurred last May:  The Coral Reefs of Palau: Nature's Amazing Underwater Cities.

Disclosure:  This post has been sponsored through a partnership with WeAreTeachers and NatureWorks Everywhere.

Congaree National Park

Congaree:  The largest old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States.

I absolutely LOVE national parks.  In fact, one of the things that tops my bucket list is to visit all 58 national parks!  This past week end I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to mark another national park off my list:  Congaree National Park.

Located near Columbia, South Carolina, this floodplain forest lies along the Congaree and Wateree rivers.  The park protects over 26,000 acres of old growth bottomland hardwood forest.  This is a wetland system and the vitality of the area depends upon the flooding and receding of the rivers with seasonal rains. Until the late 1800s huge areas of South Carolina were covered by these floodplain forests, but in the 1880s the lumber industry began to harvest the trees.  In less than 50 years most of these forests had been cut.  The area now protected by this national park was spared cutting because logging was especially difficult in this area.

Congaree National Park is known for its unusual array of giant trees that hold the record for size of their species.  Species include loblolly pines, hickories, and bald cypress.  The combination of loblolly pines with hardwoods is an uncommon forest association in floodplains.

Bald cypress trees grow in abundance at Congaree.  The largest bald cypress in the park is over 27 feet in circumference.  The cypress trees thrive in this area despite their strict growth requirements.  Look for the characteristic wide trunk base and cypress knees.  This gives the tree stability during floods.  The bald cypress is different from most conifers in that they shed their needles each winter.  The "knees" are roots that have grown upward.  Their function is not completely understood, but may help anchor the tree in the soft soil.

Loblolly pine and two daughters
who eagerly share in all of my "mom" adventures.

My favorite is the loblolly pine.  Unlike most pines, the loblolly can thrive in this wet ecosystem.  The tallest in the park is over 170 feet and has a circumference of over 15 feet.

Congaree became a protected area in 1976 when a public campaign was launched to protect it from logging.  It obtained National Park status in 2003.

Hiking through this old growth forest was a snap. The boardwalks and trails are well maintained.  Signs and directional arrows are placed in such as way as to provide excellent information without being overly intrusive. There are many different trails to choose from, ranging in length from 1 to 12 miles.  The photo collages below will give you an idea of some of the highlights of our walk.

I especially loved the activities designed for the kids.  A science teacher living in this area would be remiss not to take advantage of this marvelous field trip opportunity.  The brochures for children are attractive, engaging and provide fun and informational activities.

While perhaps lacking the grandeur of Yellowstone, Grand Canyon or Yosemite National Parks, I enjoyed visiting Congaree National Park very much! My only regret is that the visitors center was closed on the Sunday that we visited.

Now to find that next national park to mark off my bucket list........