RANGELEY — Mingo Springs Golf Course is partnering with the Rangeley Lakes Regional School fourth and fifth grade enrichment reading classes for the 2011-2012 academic year. The students and their teacher, Shirley Schrader, have adopted the Mingo Springs Trail and Bird Walk as a year-long educational and community service project.

A birdhouse-building workshop for each grade was held recently at the Mingo Springs Golf Course maintenance garage. Fred Dubay, a seasonal resident of Gull Pond, donated and prepared the pine wood pieces for 10 birdhouses. John Bicknell and Kris Ohlson of the maintenance crew, Sharon Williams, manager, and Melba Chodosh, owner, were on hand as the students made the houses.

The birdhouses are designed for use by nuthatches and chickadees. Informational sheets on the two birds were given to the students to study and discuss back in the classroom.

October plans are for the students to put each birdhouse into place on designated trees throughout the trail, learning about safe locations for birds to nest. Schrader plans to take the students hiking along the trail, photographing plants and trees for identification and further study during the year.

Winter plans are to snowshoe various sections of the trail, observing and identifying animal tracks. Frequently seen tracks are those of white-tailed deer, red fox, snowshoe hare and red squirrels. Students will study the winter habits of the animals and learn to recognize their paths.