Snakes provide slithery thrills at MarshQuest

Immanuel Christian School Grade 4 pupil Alysson Mantel, right, was handed a corn snake from East Elgin Secondary School Environmental Leadership student Dalton Cain at Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area’s Herb Kebbel Wetland near Sparta during MarshQuest on Thursday, Sept. 24. About 100 private Christian school and London District Catholic School Board pupils had just listened to a presentation by Jenny Pearce of Sciensational Snakes on reptile species that are native to Ontario. Ms. Pearce then let the pupils interact with several corn snakes. MarshQuest is an annual two-day festival held in September where ELP students stage educational activities linking science, technology and the environment for hundreds of Grade 4 pupils from throughout the region. MarshQuest aims to teach Grade 4 pupils in a fun, hands-on way why wetland habitat is important.