By Donna Stiglmeier and Adina Lang
July 17, 2025
On July 17th, our Casserly House children enjoyed a day of fun, teamwork, and exploration — a day that perfectly blended active play, curiosity, and hands-on learning.
We began our morning at nearby Healy Field, where our wonderful volunteer, Michael, led a two-hour experiential, immersive learning session filled with engaging and cooperative activities for our group of nine children, ages 6–13. The games were designed to encourage teamwork, trust-building, problem-solving, and cooperation. The morning was filled with a lively treasure hunt, colorful parachute games, ball challenges, and dancing. Thank God that we had a nice patch of shade on this sunny day.
After returning to Casserly House for a well-deserved lunch, we headed to the Boston Nature Center — with safe and reliable transportation generously provided by the Boston Police Department District E-5.
At the Nature Center, our enthusiastic guides, Sall and Quincy, welcomed us and sparked the children’s curiosity about the natural world. The group learned about local wildlife, ecosystems, and even had the opportunity to touch and examine fascinating nature items — an eagle’s wing, animal furs, feathers, pinecones, and more. Equipped with binoculars, the children explored the outdoors, spotting birds and other wildlife.
One of the day’s most memorable moments was meeting a corn snake. The snake was safely kept in a glass enclosure, but Sall gently took it out, holding it in his arms so the children could touch it carefully. While a few were a little nervous at first, almost everyone reached out — and the excitement on their faces showed just how proud they were of their bravery.
Throughout the visit, our guides patiently answered the children’s many questions, making it a truly interactive and memorable afternoon.
To end our day, we returned to Casserly House and surprised the children with a selection of donated books. We encouraged them to dive into reading during their summer holiday — continuing the spirit of exploration and discovery from our field trip.
We are so grateful to Michael for leading the morning activities, to the Boston Police Department District E-5 for their invaluable transportation support, to the Boston Nature Center team for their warm welcome and inspiring guidance, and to all who donated books. Most of all, we are proud of our children, whose curiosity, teamwork, and courage made this day one to remember.
