![[left] Aerial view of Jet Set nightclub after roof collapse. [right] Rubby Perez doing a live performance there. Thumbnail done on Canva.](https://dmhsherald.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/HH-Thumnail-38-1200x777.png)
On April 3, 2025, the Doherty Memorial High School Envirothon Team stepped into history—and into nature—on an immersive field trip to the Fisher Museum at Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts. Accompanied by their advisors, Ms. Hill and Ms. Racine, the team explored a living classroom where the past, present, and future of New England’s forests converge.
A Journey Through Time and Trees
The heart of the trip was a visit to the Fisher Museum, an educational gem that’s been open to the public since 1941. Known for its 23 world-renowned dioramas, the museum tells the complex story of New England’s forest ecology, land use, and conservation. The first seven dioramas transport visitors back to 1700, showing how European colonization transformed the landscape over 230 years. The remaining displays dive into 20th-century forest management techniques, highlighting conservation challenges like erosion and wildfires.
More recently, the museum has expanded its storytelling to acknowledge the essential—and often overlooked—role of Indigenous land stewardship. In partnership with the Nipmuc tribe, the museum now features a 2022 panorama honoring Native collaboration and care for the land. This modern initiative bridges the gap between ecological science and cultural history, ensuring a more inclusive narrative.
Other exciting additions include a high-tech digital “modern diorama” built from LIDAR scans and rare behind-the-scenes footage of the original dioramas’ construction in the 1930s. A scavenger hunt added a fun and interactive layer for students to closely examine the intricate displays.
Into the Woods
Following their museum visit, the team, guided by trail leader Catherine, hiked the Black Gum Trails—a forest path rich with biodiversity and ecological study. Students observed land plots not unlike the one they created themselves behind Doherty, making the trip feel like a full-circle moment of learning in action.
As they walked, the team identified various tree species and learned about threats facing local forests, such as invasive diseases impacting Massachusetts’ trees. In a particularly memorable moment, the team entered a black gum swamp where they observed ongoing experiments led by scientists from around the world. Although Shrek was nowhere to be found, the real magic lay in witnessing active research happening just beneath the canopy.
Because of the morning rain, the students had the chance to search under logs and rocks for salamanders—an important indicator species of forest health. And thanks to trail cameras set up around the forest, the team got a virtual glimpse of the wild residents of Harvard Forest: bobcats, bears, coyotes, and plenty of deer.
Looking Ahead
The trip was more than just a nature walk—it was an educational experience that connected the dots between classroom learning, scientific research, and real-world environmental stewardship. The team left the forest more inspired than ever and are now preparing for their upcoming Envirothon competition in May, where they’ll put their knowledge to the test.
Trips like these remind us that protecting our planet starts with understanding it. As the Doherty Envirothon Team continues to grow in knowledge and passion, they also strengthen their role as the next generation of environmental leaders.
