A newly formed snowshoe group at Bennington’s Pierce Elementary School was recently given new equipment that it needs to hit the trails. And now the students are just waiting for more snow to fly before they start exploring nature’s wild places.
“I have always had a love for the outdoors and the winter season. Winter is peaceful and the animals really tell their story in the snow,” Jennifer Sutton, a third-grade teacher at PES and the organizer of the group, said.
“When I have a chance to pass on nature, knowledge and enthusiasm for being outside, I tend to jump on the opportunity.”
Sutton said she has experience with snowshoe programs at local schools through work with the Harris Center for Conservation Education.
She also implemented a snowshoe club at Antrim Elementary School during her tenure there. Now Sutton is creating a group once again; this time in Bennington.
A parent on the school’s PTO committee heard about the idea and corralled the help of two Girl Scout troops – Daisy Troop 10914 and Brownie Troop 20889 – to bring the idea to fruition.
Bethany Craig, the troop leader, said Girl Scouts participate in two sponsored fundraisers throughout the year – a fall product sale and their well-known cookie sale. With the money the troops collected from the product sale this fall, they were able to purchase five pairs of snowshoes to give to the newly formed group.
The VFW Post 8268 also chipped in and donated the money to add a sixth pair of snowshoes to the bundle.
Sutton was presented with the snowshoes during a presentation at the Bennington Town Hall on Jan. 4.
“I was quite surprised and humbled to received six pairs of snowshoes,” Sutton said of the donation.
She said the gift will allow her to begin teaching kids the basics of putting the snowshoes on and moving around in them.
And with a little help from Mother Nature, she hopes to get students outside on snowshoes by the end of February.
“We will first practice using them around the school yard before moving into the local woodlands and trails,” Sutton said. “It is a wonderful opportunity for them to just enjoy being outside and to explore their local landscape.”
Abby Kessler can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 234 or akessler@ledgertranscript.com.