Hutsell's second graders went on a field trip to the Kenneth D. Welch Outdoor Learning Center (OLC) in Katy ISD. The students loved being in the outdoors, learning about the different native trees and trees that were brought here from other countries.Students learned about trees like Yaupon Shrub, also called Texas Holly. They learned how the Indians used the dry leaves as medicine to cure a stomach ache. Students were shown a container of the dry leaves and the black tea. One of the many educational opportunites of a field trip like this was to teach students how nature can be kind to you, but also how it can harm you if you're not careful. Students were taken on a nature walk and shown what poison ivy looked like. It was explained to them how poison ivy affects the skin and what to do if they contracted it. During our nature walk students were allowed to observe the different animals at the OLC, including the nice big lake stocked with fish. Students loved feeding the chickens and following the ducks around. As we took the tour around the OLC we learned about the pigeons and how they have a keen sense of direction. We took a pigeon back to campus and released it so it could find its way back to the OLC. Many of our students never get the opportunity to be up close and personal with animals. Once we finished our nature walk we headed inside to learn about the different exhibits in the Science building. Exhibits included fossils, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and fish. Students were able to be hands on with the exhibits.