Boothbay Region Elementary School third and fourth graders are learning about Wabanaki history and culture through kits from Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust in Damariscotta. Fourth grade teacher Jennifer Lassen reached out to CRCT, formerly Damariscotta River Association, when she learned it was providing classrooms with the kits.

In a classroom visit rare in the pandemic, the Boothbay Register met with teachers and students. Fourth grader Kaden Bishop demonstrated the birch bark etching project inspired by designs on Wabanaki artifacts. “We drew our own designs and we're using these paper clips to scrape one of them on here,” said Bishop, wielding a small piece of water-saturated bark.

Two classrooms of each grade participated in the program and CRCT donated all the materials, said Lassen. The project was a great way to connect the students with the Trust and with Wabanaki history, Lassen said. “To be able to do this is spectacular. We had gone to the DRA, which is now the CRCT, every other year and I was just worried this was going to be an experience that these guys had to miss because of the restrictions.”

CRCT also provided books for teachers to read to their students, set up a nature walk on one of BRES’s trails and set up a Wabanaki canoe in the BRES lobby. The boat mesmerized students. Lincoln Academy students built it in 2017 under master boat builder Steve Cayard’s supervision, and took inspiration from its etchings, Lassen said.

The students’ etchings will be on display; Lassen was not yet sure where or how.

Said Lassen, “I'm so glad we were able to do this. The people over there are just amazing.”