“Every realm of nature is marvelous…so we should venture on the study of every kind of animal without distaste; for each and all will reveal to us something natural and something beautiful.” – Aristotle, Parts of Animals.
Students in Bugs and Botany have a natural curiosity about the living world around them. Mr. Foster has the experience to turn this curiosity into knowledge, having studied the world of plants at the graduate level. All students who can stand in wonder at the delicate shape of a fern frond or intricate complexity of a wood thrush’s song should join.
Events & Topics
There will be opportunities for field trips to nearby natural areas, where the whole of natural history (birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, as well as plants and insects) can be explored.
Skills & Benefits
In this club, members will learn how to identify insect and plant species common to this part of Illinois. They will also become familiar with the major orders of insects and families of plants, enabling them to give an organism a name no matter where they are in the world. This will occur through hands-on learning, outdoor expeditions, the use of dissecting microscopes, and instruction in the use of field guides. Students will also have the chance to experience and care for insects and plants in the classroom. Ultimately, students will help build a physical record, in the form of plant and insect specimens, that documents Northridge’s world of life.