When art and nature meet, it becomes an intersection of creativity and the universe.
Inspired by nature, Prodell Middle School art teacher Clare Finnican happened upon a program offered by the Quogue Wildlife Refuge that would bring live animals to the school for an up-close and personal lesson in both art and nature. In it, she found an innovative way to blend her students’ budding skills with the wonders of the natural world.
Quogue Wildlife Refuge’s Nadia Trejo, an environmental educator, visited the school for two programs, in which she shared information on the Refuge and its animals, their adaptations, personalities, histories and more. The students learned about the Virginia Eastern Box Turtle, an opossum, a Madagascar cockroach and the most common falcon in the country – the American kestrel – while they took out their drawing pads and pencils to sketch them.
“Having the Quogue Wildlife animals visit our school was such a special experience for our students,” Ms. Finnican said. “Observing and drawing real animals up close brought a whole new level of excitement and connection to our art lessons. It was inspiring to see the kids so engaged and curious – it’s an experience we’ll remember for a long time.”
Click here to view the When Art & Nature Meet slideshow.
Date Added: 6/9/2025