Outdoor learning at its best

The Naegeli Ranch seems to be the epicenter for outdoor recreation. For more than 20 years, the ranch has provided an outdoor learning center for Thompson Falls kindergarten students.

Thompson Falls Elementary students always finish out the school year with class designated field trips. Kindergarteners get to top off their first year of school learning about the great outdoors while visiting the Naegeli's Ranch.

This year almost 30 students spent the day going on forestry walks collecting gifts from nature and making sun catchers with these findings, building bluebird houses, discovering insects, crafting pet rocks and bird feeders, discovering turtles and other pond life, and learning about fish while visiting Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' fish trailer.

When Sarah Naegeli was asked how many years the ranch has hosted the kindergarten field trip she said, "Over 20. Maybe about 22," unsure of the exact amount. "I think we had a daughter this year whose dad had been on the field trip," she shared, giving depth to the nostalgic character growing with the Naegeli Ranch Kindergarten Field Trip.

Over the years, Naegeli Ranch has also held the Reach/GEAR Up Conservation Camp activities, Naegeli Ranch Run and Outdoor 3D Archery Shoot.