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Date: 11/9/2023
CHESTER — Second and third graders at Chester Elementary School went on a Nov. 1 field trip hike led by local geologist James Higby to Gobble Mountain, which they see every day right across the street from their school.
The field trip had been suggested by a parent, who asked Higby if he would share his knowledge about the woods with the students. For some, it was their first real hike in the woods.
In preparation, Principal Vanna Maffuccio used Title I federal funds to order compasses for the students, and the trip started with a lesson in the classroom by Higby on how to use them.
“The most important thing is to know how to use a compass,” Higby said. The students talked about a mnemonic for the directions on the compass, “Never Eat Soggy Waffles,” for north, east, south and west.
He told the students to hold it flat, and wait for the needle to stop moving. He said a compass is a magnet, and asked the second and third graders why it points north.
After several guesses, one student said it was because of the magnetic force in the north pole. Higby nodded and said the earth itself is a big magnet that contains iron, and the compass responds to the magnetic pole in the north.
Faculty members who accompanied the hike — Heather Cabral, Julie Gagnon, Elizabeth Hamaoui and Maddy Scott — made sure the students had water, a snack, comfortable shoes, tall socks and warm enough clothes, although the weather was mild, with temperatures in the 50s. One girl added a crown and butterfly wings to her ensemble.
A Chester police officer was stationed on Middlefield Road to make sure the group was safe crossing the road to the entrance of Beacon Trail on Gobble Mountain. One student immediately found a garter snake, to the delight of everyone except for a couple of the teachers.
Higby showed them the map of the trail, which looked a little like a snake, and they used their compasses to see in which direction they would be going. He recommended always carrying a map and compass, because trails are not always well marked. He told the group he hoped to bring them about halfway up the 1,000-foot climb, which gets steeper towards the top.
Not far into the trail, Higby pointed out a stone wall, which he said was 150 to 200 years old, older than the trees around it. He said stone walls were built by farmers as they cleared their fields, and this was the only one they would encounter as they climbed, because Gobble Mountain was never used as a farm.
After climbing the first rise, one child pointed out a dead bird on a log and everyone gathered around. Higby asked if the students knew about raptors — birds that hunt other birds. One student said he had heard about velociraptors. Higby said dinosaurs are related to birds.
Asked what to do if encountering a bear, which was unlikely with the group of approximately 25, Higby said carrying a whistle in the woods is the best deterrent.
The ascent stopped at an old emery mine, Higby told the pupils that Chester is very famous for its emery, mined for grinding and polishing. He also warned them to look at but not explore the mine, which was dangerous and deep.
He showed them a half-polished emery rock that he had brought with him, and let them hold it. He said what makes emery special is the mineral corundum.
“Otherwise, it’s just an iron rock,” he said, and demonstrated a magnet sticking to the iron in the rock.
After a break and a snack near the mine, it was time to turn around and hike back downhill.
Overall, the reviews were very positive, with one student spontaneously saying this was the best field trip ever, and others saying that they had never been on such a long hike. Others talked about adventures they had with their families in the woods. Even the doubters were won over.
“I thought it was going to be bad, but I changed my mind,” said third grader Ellie Drenen.
“I thought they were an intrepid bunch. They asked really good questions,” Higby said at the end of the hike. One thing for certain is the students at Chester Elementary are bound to look at the mountain across the street with new understanding and appreciation.