From Fear to Curiosity

Week of May 17, 2026 – May 23, 2026

by Amelia Gross, Environmental Educator

I have to start with a confession. As an environmental educator, and general animal lover, I’m reluctant to admit I was less than excited to lead Nature in the City lessons focusing on aquatic insects. I’m not afraid of bugs per se, but leeches or beetles have never been my particular environmental interest. Alas, with the final two third grade lessons being focused on animal adaptations and using insects to assess water quality, I knew I was going to have to find a way to come around. 

With the support of my fellow educators back in March, I geared up (both mentally and physically) to collect aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates from Baltimore Woods to bring into classrooms. At the pond, I questioned how the students would react to the different insects and wondered how my co-educator was so confidently sorting through leaves to find dragonfly nymphs and snails.

As I expected, many students expressed shock and fear when we announced we had brought live insects to their classroom. But to my surprise, they were braver than me, and it only took a few minutes for fear to fade away to curiosity. Although these insects were unfamiliar, once they looked closer it was easy for the students to see just how interesting macroinvertebrates are. Watching their excitement grow as they gazed upon speedy backswimmers, I realized I too could push away my unease and find a passion for our pond critters. 

My newfound appreciation for insects came just in time to start the final third grade lesson of the year, a highly anticipated field trip to Elmwood Park where students determine the health of the stream based on the insect species they find. After a demonstration on how to safely collect and transport creatures to a collection bin, students get equipped with a net and wade into the stream. Usually not more than a minute passes before a student exclaims “I caught something!” 

Inspired now, I am just as excited as the student as I help them gently move the insect to a bin for them to identify. Together we observe how the insects move and how well they camouflage with their surroundings. The excitement of identifying one tiny scud is contagious, and soon enough I hear a chorus of “Look what I found!” 

All around me students are independently scooping and identifying macroinvertebrates, only pausing to share their discoveries with their classmates. By the time we exit the stream, even the most hesitant of students have overcome their fear and unease of potentially unsettling creatures. They see stoneflies squirming around or the large wiggly craneflies, and instead of being afraid, they are excited to learn these are signs of a healthy stream. 

I probably won’t change careers to become an entomologist, but I am excited to keep learning to appreciate aquatic macroinvertebrates along with the students. And, I can say with full confidence that I can’t wait to see what we find in the stream next week!

We invite our members to enjoy a weekly blog written by our naturalists. Every blog will be uniquely different but always inspired by nature. We may share a memory from a recent hike at The Woods or teach you about an animal or plant that lives on the preserve. No matter the topic, we will be sharing with you our passion for nature and celebrating the connections we all have to the natural world. Each blog will be connected to a weekly set of activities and ideas to help you put nature in your hands, even if you’re at home!