There are many resources available to teachers, students, and citizens. Each state has some general information on vernal pools such as common species that inhabit vernal pools; this list is not exhaustive and we encourage you to check out your state and its neighbors in the NEPARC region.
Below are some resources for vernal pools, books and guides for species identification and habitat information, K-12 curricula and lessons, and other materials that may be useful. Emphasis is on the northeastern US between Maine and West Virginia; however, vernal pools are found in California and other parts of the continent so look for information there also.
Vernal pools can be referred to by different terms (e.g., ephemeral, geographically isolated, temporary, woodland). No matter what vernal pools are called, one thing common across all of them is that kids and people are fascinated by vernal pools. Vernal pools make excellent subjects for hands-on learning in science and other disciplines!
Online Vernal Pond Resources
Books & Guides
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Vernal Pools of Northeastern North America
Colburn, E.A., Calhoun, A.J.K. (2018). Vernal Pools of Northeastern North America. In: Finlayson, C., Milton, G., Prentice, R., Davidson, N. (eds) The Wetland Book. Springer, Dordrecht
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A Field Guide to Animals of Vernal Pools
Kenney, L. and M. Burne
- Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program
- Of Pools and People Kid’s Corner page
- EPA Wetlands Education for Students and Teachers
K-12 Curricula & Lesson Plans
- Water in the Landscape: Vernal Pools, Harvard Forest, Massachusetts
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute Vernal Pool Macroinvertebrates Data Investigation
- GMRI Project Vernal Pools: Just do it! Citizen Participation Project
- Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H
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A Citizen’s Step-by-Step Guide to Protecting Vernal pools
Childs, Nancy, and Colburn, Betsy. Vernal pool Lesson and Activities: A Curriculum Companion to CERTIFIED: A Citizen’s Step-by-Step Guide to Protecting Vernal pools. Lincoln: Massachusetts Audubon Society, 1995.
- Educational Activities with Vernal pools. The Vernal Pool Association
- Mission Vernal Pool by Vital Signs
- Friends of Acadia
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Vernal Pool Education: Learning Modules for Special Needs Children
Lopez, A. G., & O'Donovan, S. M. (2019).
- Pennsylvania Vernal Pool - Getting to Know Vernal Pool organisms - Spring Peeper
- Pennsylvania Watershed Education / Project Wet (National Program)
- Bureau of Land Management – Dive in to Vernal Pools
- Piedmont, North Carolina Ephemeral Pool Project
Training (Higher Ed, Professional)
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Rutgers University, New Jersey Resource Center
Tip: look at area universities with biology, ecology and wetland science programs
- Maine Audubon School Programs
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Society of Wetland Scientists
New England Chapter
