OUTDOOR LEARNING

There's nothing like the great outdoors. During these short, dark, dreary winter days, nothing brings a body to life more than the feeling of cool, crisp air tingling cheeks, noses, fingers and toes.

The deep snow and balmy 25-degree weather did not stop Noxon or Thompson Falls schools' 46 junior high students from participating in the annual Winter Tracks program, sponsored by Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) last Thursday. In fact, it appears that these conditions are beneficial for the task at hand...identifying animal tracks, snowshoeing and celebrating the winter season.

The morning at North Shore Campground in Trout Creek was a beauty; welcomed by glorious, though temporary, sunshine and blue skies as volunteers Glenn Garrison, Robin Chisolm, Dave Kretzschmar and Sandy Compton hosted 50-minute station sessions on mammals, orienteering, birding and tracks respectively.

Garrison taught students how to identify different mammal antlers and what the proper terminology was for parts of the antler and how to estimate animal age based on antler growth. Garrison shared that the "velvet" found on antlers is alive during the warm months and serves the purpose of cooling. "As the antlers grow, blood vessels throughout the velvet pull warm blood away from the animal's body" cooling it. He shared that as fall approaches and cooler temperatures arrive, the blood vessels die, and the antlers become "itchy," causing the animals to "rub" the velvet off.

The use of maps and a compass may seem like a thing of the past in this modern day of technology. But what happens when your GPS runs out of battery power, malfunctions, or leads you on that straight path and there are barriers in the way? What do you do when Google Maps doesn't navigate you to the right location and simply does not have the means to do so?

Chisolm taught the important life skills of reading topographic maps and compass operation. Orienteering, finding one's way from check point to check point, was practiced by students as they applied their newly learned compass and map reading skills while trekking through the snow. Instruction was given by Chisolm on reading topographic contour lines and placing "the dog in the house" when they were using a compass to find direction.

Students also enjoyed walking the campground looking for different tracks in the snow. Compton fed that ambition by sharing his knowledge of animal tracking. Students learned what characteristics to look for when identifying tracks. Taking a close observation of claw and pad alignment and overall size can not only indicate the animal's identification, but also says a lot about their behavior, diet and habitat. "I am certain I know them all now," Thompson Falls seventh-grader Tyler Easley enthusiastically said. Swiftly, he correctly identified the raccoon, snowshoe hare, frog, squirrel, skunk, turtle, muskrat and porcupine foot specimens on display.

"Kraa-Caw, kraa-caw!" Kretzschmar mocked a crow calling loud and clear signaling it was time to return to the birding station after students took part in "a bird sit." They were tasked with spreading out, remaining silent and still (as much as seventh graders can) and waiting to see birds come into view. He shared that being motionless and quiet, signaling that we are "not a threat to the bird," is key to a successful bird sit. Kretzschmar encouraged the youngsters by telling them of a story when he had a bird land on him during a "sit."

A set of binoculars were passed around so everyone could take a gander from the reservoir shoreline searching for aviation life. Kretzschmar announced that earlier in the morning he saw loons on the reservoir. Interesting enough, he researched their winter range and it just barely reaches the area. Most loons spend winters along the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts, but some will winter on inland reservoirs, making it quite a special find.

During their lunch break, students agreed that Thompson Falls' Sydnee Wilson said it best, "One of my favorite things about today is drinking warm things," referring to the cup of hot cocoa, inclusive of a peppermint stick, pupils were enjoying while gathering around one of the three warming fires; more examples proving that The Friends did not leave out a single detail.

"I got irritated with the compasses," shared Danielle Bednarcik of Noxon, "but, I think feeling the chicken feet, all the different bird feet, that was odd," reciting the bird specimen discovery as her most memorable experience of the day.

Before heading back to school, students had the opportunity to strap on a pair of snowshoes and challenge one another in a "graceful" foot race. Whoops, hollers and giggles were quickly followed with good-byes as newly made friends hopped aboard warm busses and departed in opposite directions along Highway 200.

FSPW introduced their Winter Tracks Program in 2014 when the winter carnivore study FSPW was involved in came to an end. During their rookie year, they visited only 3 schools. Since then the program has grown extensively, reaching 12 schools in three states and four counties last year. "Everywhere we touch," Ray Brown, FSPW Outreach Coordinator, stated after listing off the Idaho and Montana counties where they share their outdoor programs with the public.

Many educational programs and outdoor events are sponsored by FSPW. The Friends agree that without their support system, also known as volunteers and donors, they would not be able to provide these experiences to the public.

"Avista deserves a big shout-out because they helped with site preparations and put up and took down all the teaching canopies that are borrowed from Green Mountain Conservation District," Mindy Ferrell FSPW volunteer said with gratitude. "The county road crew was a huge help in cooperating to keep the boat launch road open" and The Wild Coyote Saloon also stepped in and provided metal fire pits.

Brown added that Thompson Falls High School students Jasmine Pearson, Sarah Detlaff, Angel Whiting and Maycie Anderson volunteered for the day as part of their Jobs for Montana Graduates Program course work. Adult group leaders who shared the experience, and provided insight, were Doug Ferrell, Jen Kreiner, Bev Brambaugh, Angelo Alderete, Kathleen Hubka, Doug Padden, Kelly Wheeler and Jason Colyer. "My super hero and savior was Mindy Ferrell," Brown said, reassuring that Winter Tracks would not be possible with out her, of all people, because "she just gets stuff done!"

Not only are field trips fun for students, breaking the mundanity of indoor, classroom learning, but research has shown that holding class settings outdoors, surrounded by Mother Nature, increases students' abilities to focus and be more productive indoors. "The Surprising Benefits of Teaching a Class Outside," by Jill Suttie, featured in Greater Good Magazine: Science-Based Insight for a More Meaningful Life, shared the scientific basis of this claim and why it works. This is just one of many studies supporting this concept.

More Winter Tracks program information can be found by visiting http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org.