Fall 2018 6th and 7th Grade Outdoor Education overview

The weather altered our plans slightly, but we lucked out for the most part. For those who haven’t heard much about the trip, here is a brief list of what did. Ask the students about their highlights!  

6th grade

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Wednesday: Day Trip-Rained hard all day and it was cold but we still had a good time!
  • 8:30 to 9:30- How to set up at tent/Practice
  • 9:30 to11:30- Grizzly Encounter- Being Bear Aware
  • 11:30 - 12:30 Hot chocolate and Lunch
  • 12:30 - 1:30 How to pack your Backpack - Packcheck
  • 1:30 to 2:15- Leave No Trace Lecture
  • 2:15-3:15 Hike Pete’s Hill with Pack - Stopped at bouldering rock
  • 3:15 to 3:30- Journal writing
Thursday:
  • 8:45 Departed from school
  • 10:30- Arrived at the tail head
  • 10:35 - 1:00 Hike to meet the 7th graders at camp 2 miles in. Had only our day hiking bag since it was raining and we had planned to stay at the base camp that night. Tree identification - practice using dichotomous keys - Discussed trees and good hiking ethics
  • 1:00 to1:30-  Lunch at 7th grade camp. Ended up hiking back without them since it started to rain
  • 2:15- Back at base camp waiting for 7th graders - drawing assignment (past, present, future)/mindful exercise/scavenger hunt
  • 3:00 Joined 7th Grade and set up tents. All 6th graders slept in the tents!!
  • 5:30 Dinner and campfire - S’mores, cards, free time
Friday:
  • 7:30 Breakfast and campfire
  • 8:30 Packed up gear and cleaned camping area
  • 10:30 Team-building activity - Alpha Beta
  • 11:30 Lunch and final pick up
  • 12:30 Left Mountain Sky for Livingston - ice cream!
  • 2:30 Final reflection at Bogert Park
  • 3:15 Arrived back at HWA - tired, wet, and happy!

7th Grade

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Wednesday:
  • 10:00 to 1:30 Challenge Ropes Course
    -Students completed 3-4 team-building activities/High ropes challenge - ‘The Swing’
  • 2:00 - 4:30 Hiked to campsite, approx. 2 miles
  • 5:00 - 7:30 Set up tents, prepared dinner, and ate around campfire - S’mores and games

    • In tents by 9:00

The rain didn’t start until we got in our tents! We even had sun for much of Wednesday evening. We heard a pack of wolves howling, a special treat and a reminder that we were on the edge of a unique wilderness.


Thursday:
  • 7:30 Woke up and made breakfast - spent the day in a cloud!
  • 9:00 Packed up camp in preparation for afternoon departure
  • 10:00 - 1:00 Exploration hike in the forest around camp
    -Tree identification - practice using dichotomous keys
  • -Searched for animal sign - scat, tracks, antler rubbings
  • -Discussed general forest ecology and succession
  • 1:30 Departed for Base Camp to meet 6th Grade

  • 3:00 Joined 6th Grade and set up cabins - hung out wet gear and prepared for evening
  • 5:30 Dinner and campfire - S’mores, cards, free time

Friday:
  • 7:30 Breakfast and campfire
  • 8:30 Packed up gear and cleaned camping area
  • 10:30 Teambuilding activity - Alpha Beta
  • 11:30 Lunch and final pick up
  • 12:30 Left Mountain Sky for Livingston - ice cream!

  • 2:30 Final reflection at Bogert Park
  • 3:15 Arrived back at HWA - tired, wet, and happy!