Vernal Pool

On the first rainy night in spring, students, teachers and community members appear with wading boots and flashlights to observe the salamanders begin their mating rituals in the vernal pools of Bolton. "Big Night" is the highly anticipated activity in students' efforts to collect necessary information regarding the study and certification of vernal pools. Time is of the essence as communities like Bolton hurry to protect their fragile environmental habitats from encroaching development. Knowing the attitudes and resources relative to conservation in your community will help in understanding how to best organize a vernal pool certification project.