A group of fourth graders at Shepherdstown Elementary School build an eagle nest out of pool noodles. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — In recent years, it has become a springtime tradition for The Friends of the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) to visit each fourth grade class at Shepherdstown Elementary School, and this spring was no different.

According to Friends of NCTC member Joseph Spurgas, this year’s visit served as an opportunity to encourage the students to develop an appreciation for the natural world.

“Every year, we come to the fourth grade here,” Spurgas, who organizes each event, said. “I’ve been doing it for a fairly long time. It never grows old.”

A number of activities are planned for each visit, including: a talk by NCTC Instructional Systems Specialist and Outreach Coordinator Randy Robinson about bald eagles, streaming on a television of the live footage of the eagle’s nest at NCTC via the organization’s Eagle Cam, an interactive display of confiscated items from the National Conservation Training Center’s “Suitcase for Survival” and a game where the students have to build an eagle’s nest out of pool noodles.

“This is for educational purposes only. That’s why I can have it — to teach you what’s going on,” Spurgas said, as he presented the Suitcase for Survival to a group of fourth graders, which included items made out of ivory, tiger bones, tortoise shell and crocodile skins.

A group of fourth graders at Shepherdstown Elementary School inspect a display of items that are illegal to bring into the U.S., with the help of Friends of NCTC member Joseph Spurgas. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

According to Friends of NCTC Chair Ellen Murphy, her group holds a similar kind of event at a number of other schools in the area throughout the year. However, it is only students at the group’s adopted school who are guaranteed to benefit from their visits at least once in their educational careers.

“The Friends of NCTC adopts Shepherdstown Elementary School as its school, every year,” Murphy said. “It makes sense for us to adopt it like this. It’s the closest school to NCTC and is in Shepherdstown, and NCTC is in Shepherdstown.”

According to the school’s fourth grade teacher, Liz Sutherland, the Friends of NCTC’s annual visit is always something her students enjoy. She said that, between the group’s visits and the many lessons on conservation that she teaches throughout the year, she believes her students all graduate to the fifth grade with a deeper appreciation for nature and understanding of the value of conservation.

“We talk about how one tiny act can lead to other tiny acts, that continue to grow in impact,” Sutherland said. “I hope that they will go and share what they have learned with others. That has the power to make a difference.”

To learn more about the Friends of NCTC, visit https://www.friendsofnctc.org.