By Doug Flanagan

For the metformin side effects acne past four years, third-grade students at Waterville School have been studying insects as part of a school-wide science curriculum.

At the end of the project, teacher Justin Grillo has taken his students to school counselor Jerry Van Winkle’s orchard in Orondo so they can observe a variety of critters in their natural environment.

This year’s field trip will take place on May 26.

“This fits into the bio-diveristy project that we’re doing,” Grillo said. “The project started three years ago and (involves) every class studying a certain animal. We study insects, while the fourth grade studies reptiles, the first grade studies butterflies and the second grade studies birds. Basically, we categorize and share the animals we find on the plateau with spreadsheets and map data.

“(This field trip) gives the kids a chance to connect their classroom learning with the real world.”

Van Winkle’s orchard, called Desert Rose, sits about a mile north of his home, at the bottom of Pine Canyon. The 30-acre bloc was planted in 1993, certified organic in 2000 and currently features a multitude of apple varieties, including pink lady, fuji and gala.

The students will be led through the orchard by Tory Hanson, a certified entomologist who Van Winkle employs to make sure his trees are healthy and free of insect infestations.

“Tory will have a vial for each student, and we’ll go out and look for bugs,” Van Winkle said. “We’ll talk about their life cycle, bees, pollinating, the importance of the process of fertilizing a flower and the growth process of trees.

“Then we’ll wind up having cider and donuts at the Cider Works, we’ll visit and have fun for a while, and then we’ll go back to school.”

Grillo believes the field trip is beneficial for the students.

“(Hanson) will bring out certain bugs, and the kids will say, “That’s the bug I studied,’ ” he said. “There’s definitely a connection there. We do have some kids (that are afraid of some of the insects), but they’re so interested in them that it kind of keeps their fears at bay.”

As for Van Winkle, he considers himself fortunate to have not one, but two careers that he enjoys.

“I love the kids (at the school),” he said. “I thoroughly enjoy working there, and I thoroughly enjoy being a farmer. I tell most people that I have the best of two worlds. I have all the fun possible being with kids all day, then I get to go home and play around in the dirt. It’s really a wonderful mix for me.

“I look forward to (the field trip) every year. I hope it never stops.”