On April 15th, 2011, we celebrated our first Heinz Refuge nature drawing, hike, and art workshops at Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum with the installation of our “Duck Stamps Mural” over the door for the first national park stamp celebration in PA.
Kevin, our art college student volunteer, worked with young artists from Pepper Middle School and helped them learn about the natural habitat of wildlife drawing on an enormous dock that bridges the width of the creek. At our tables with make and take art projects, youth from other local schools made and decorated origami ducks and miniature folded marshland habitat.
Even though neighboring schools were only a few blocks from the park, most of the youth had never been there. This rare and unique opportunity gave the students meaningful insight into the value of their local natural surroundings.