Over the summer, I went hiking with some students at summer camp. On the trail, we ran into a woman taking her goats out for a walk. Yes, GOATS. Goats are great. I was then introduced to Pearl the Goat. As I was gazing into her eyes, I noticed her pupils were horizontal. I thought […]
While Outdoor Education draws in staff that has a passion for being outdoors, working with students, and understanding the natural sciences, one of the continual challenges for us at High Trails is finding new and innovative ways to provide opportunities for our staff to grow. One solution to this problem is to bring in fun […]
I want you to picture a mountain in your mind’s eye. It’s what our students see the moment they step off the bus here at High Trails. From then on, their imaginations (and questions) are inspired by this majestic scenery around them. Soaring peaks, towering treetops, crystal clear lakes and streams, and… bears?! Yes, bears […]
“Camouflage!” I yell, and start counting to twenty. I hear the rustling of students scattering in every direction, rushing to find good hiding places behind thick-trunked trees or downed logs. It is the middle of our “Furry Friends” class, and we have been discussing mammalian adaptations to avoid predation. The activity, Camouflage, is like a […]
What are the characteristics of a mammal? When I present this question to my students, they are instantly excited to share their knowledge of these awesome creatures. We end up with a list of traits describing what makes a mammal a mammal. They are warm-blooded, they have hair on their bodies, they give milk to […]
It’s about 8 o’clock on Monday evening—the first night of program—and my cabin group and I are sitting outside for Nocturnal Nations class. The forest is thick and dark around us, only thinning out above where the stars make silhouettes of the pine trees. We’re bundled up in jackets, hats, and gloves, but I can […]
Tom Brown Jr., a famous tracker and naturalist, said, “We learned to be patient observers like the owl. We learned cleverness from the crow, and courage from the jay, who will attack an owl ten times its size to drive it off its territory. But above all of them ranked the chickadee because of its […]
