
Natural Literacy
Our mission: To foster understanding and love for nature in youth through experiential learning opportunities integrating science, math, art and literacy.
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We do this by discovering new plants and creatures, making forest tea, learning about bugs and mosses, photosynthesis, and more. Ms. Jenni, our teacher, offers it all in six schools in the region. The schools are: Nickerson, CASS , Searsport, Ames, Weymouth, and Wagner. (She also leads Fish Friends.)
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In 2026, natural literacy classes reached nearly 400 students and involved 4707 hours of student learning time. The classes garnered rave reviews...Like these:
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​Dear Ms. Jenni,
I thank you around the world and back for how much time you’ve spent teaching us. One of my favorite lessons was about deciduous and coniferous trees. I learned that xanthophyll is yellow, carotene is orange and acts as sunscreen, anthosyanin is red, and chlorophyll is green. One of my favorite parts was seeing the tamarack tree’s golden coloration. I didn’t expect it to be as filled with xanthophyll than it is. I didn’t know that pitch pine needs fire to germinate. Sincerely, Kai
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Hi,
I hope you remember me when you leave.
Anyways, I LOVED when you taught us more about animals. My fav thing that I thought was really cool that you taught us about animals is that a turkey has a spur to help them with attacking or defense. I love it because I LOVE animals. Sincerely, Cora
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Dear Ms. Jenni,
I really like the lesson [about the] sun and moon. I learned that the sun is 93,000,000 miles away from earth and how the moon reflects by the sun so that is why the moon is bright at night. I was shocked when I heard about waxing, which means you can see more of the moon and waning means we can see less of the moon. I loved that lesson a lot... I learned how owls can turn their heads 270 degrees... Their eye disks are connected to their ears. Sincerely, Ellery
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Dear Ms. Jenni,
Thank you so much for teaching us all about the Woodcock or Timber Doodle I think that it is really cool that the Timber Doodle wings make a whistling sound, that is so cool. I am very happy that you teached us all about the red eft and its life cycle. My favorite lesson was about the beaver. I think that it is really cool that the beaver has crude castor oil on its fur to make it water proof. Sincerely, Sylvia ​​




Why do we do this? One way—maybe the best way—to preserve the watershed is to help young people appreciate the natural environment and their role in it. Their world, their future.
How do we do this? We’re deeply grateful to the Leonard C. and Mildred F. Ferguson Foundation, Schwartz Family Foundation, Jim Peary Fund, and many generous good-hearted individuals for their support.
New to us? Inspired? We'd love to do even more. You can donate here >

