Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club Embarks on a Year of Exciting Scientific Exploration

The Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club members have launched their activities for 2025 with a series of engaging and educational sessions that showcase the club’s commitment to hands-on science education and environmental stewardship.

At their inaugural session of the year, twenty-five enthusiastic members delved into the study of daphnia, a type of small crustacean that is a crucial part of the food web in many aquatic environments. Under the guidance of their instructors, the students used compound light microscopes to observe and record the surprisingly rapid heart rates of these transparent creatures, with some heartbeats reaching up to 300 beats per minute.

The exploration continued outdoors at the Benjamin Logan Land Lab despite the winter chill, where students engaged in observing and recording the subtle beauties of nature during winter, guided by Catherine Carter, Director of the Logan County Land Trust. Carter introduced the students to the practice of keeping a nature journal, encouraging them to record and reflect on their surroundings with a scientist’s eye.

The session culminated in a creative display of the students' observations through various art mediums back in the classroom. This artistic endeavor was complemented by the warmth of hot chocolate and the comfort of homemade cookies, making the scientific inquiry a delightful experience for all participants.

The club, now in its eighth year, continues to offer a diverse range of activities, including guest speakers, dissections, and service projects like constructing habitat structures on school grounds. It is co-sponsored by the Benjamin Logan School District and the Logan County Land Trust, with leadership from educators Bruce Smith, Bob Stoll, Spencer Reames, Ryan Kerns, and Catherine Carter.

For more information about the Environmental Science Club or to support its activities, please contact Bruce Smith at [email protected]. To learn more about the initiatives of the Logan County Land Trust and how you can contribute, visit logancountylandtrust.org.