Fifth graders from West Penn Elementary School turned over rocks in Locust Creek in search of tiny critters.

“I caught a fish!” one student said.

Another spotted a frog.

But a creature captured by teacher Laryssa Moyer in the shallows really caught their eyes.

“This is a dragonfly nymph,” said Robin Tracey, naturalist at Locust Lake and Tuscarora State parks.

The find brought exclamations of “Cool,” “Neat,” and even “Ewwww!” from the children, who spent Thursday at Locust Lake State Park in Barnesville as part of the Schuylkill County Conservancy’s Youth Outdoor Learning Day event.

The hands-on event offered students the opportunity to learn about a variety of nature and science topics.

In addition to exploring the stream for aquatic life, the children heard about — and touched — plants that are common in the area from Audrey Wells, a former Schuylkill County parks educator, and tried their hands at Wildlife Art with Anna McGonnell, a state park educator.

Master naturalist Sue Reier encouraged students to peek into the fallen leaves for signs of life, and Hanna Kulbitsky, a Schuylkill Conservation District educator, talked about hibernation. Frank Snyder, retired forester and conservancy volunteer, spoke about trees and forestry.

“For many years, the Schuylkill County Conservancy has proudly coordinated this youth program to provide students with meaningful outdoor experiences right here in our local environment,” said Julia Sophy, conservancy president. “Our goal is to spark curiosity and appreciation for nature in young minds. We hope that by engaging with the natural world, students not only enjoy themselves but also develop a deeper understanding of wildlife and conservation.

“These experiences can shape how they think about nature — not just today, but as they grow into adults making decisions that impact our planet.”

Tamaqua Elementary School fifth graders visited the park for a similar event Wednesday.

More than 90 students were on hand each day.