This exercise, held on the shore of Big Donahue Lake, right behind the Lowenwood Recreation Center, or LRC, was part of a long-block afternoon lesson that focused on selecting appropriate clothing for Exploration Week, our week-long backpacking or canoeing trip, which is coming up soon. (Students can choose whether to canoe or backpack.)
The most important messages from this Field Instruction lesson included: 1) Cotton is bad (it loses its insulating properties and gets heavy when wet — and it stays wet forever); 2) Synthetics are good (they dry quickly and stay relatively light and warm even when wet); and 3) Winter caps and long underwear need to go on the packing list (below-freezing weather in September is common in the Northwoods).
In addition to the rain-gear splash party and the discussion of Exploration Week clothing, students learned about nutrition on backpacking and canoeing trips (plan for extra calories) and got their heart rates up with a fast-moving game of amoeba tag.
- Mary Anna Thornton, Assistant Head of School
-
- Friday Field Instruction class in the LRC with Conserve School Field Instructors Rob Stuart and Rebecca Deatsman.
-
- Brian, Kevin, and Kaia work on the small-group activity, constructing a packing list for Exploration Week.
-
- Field Instructor Rob Stuart leads a discussion of nutrition on backpacking trips.
-
- Field Instructor Rebecca Deatsman leads a discussion on clothing for backpacking trips.
-
- Samir, Julia, and Carolyn are accompanied by a grizzly as they do their small group work.
-
- Shelby, Dexter. and Danielle do their group work outside, on the patio behind the LRC.
-
- Rebecca leads a class discussion. That’s Kevin at left.
-
- Samir, Dexter, and Aaron listen to the Field Instructors introduce the lesson.
-
- Alex, Kelsie, and Rachel work together to construct a packing list for Exploration Week.
-
- Hailey, Meghan, and Aaron work in a small group in the LRC.
-
- Julia and Danielle write their group’s list on the white board.
-
- Students don their rain gear.
-
- Kelsie and Rachel show off their rain gear.
-
- On the beach of Big Donahue Lake with Field Instructor Rebecca Deatsman, preparing for the Rain Gear Challenge.
-
- Modeling for the students: Field Instructor Rob Stuart douses Field Instructor Rebecca Deatsman.
-
- Small versus tall: Rob has to bend his knees so Rebecca can reach above his head, even though she’s above him on the dock.
-
- Kevin, Alex, Samir, Carolyn, Kelsie, and Rachel wait for their drenching on the shore of Big Donahue Lake.
-
- Field Instructor Rebeccan Deatsman soaks Meghan while Field Instructor Rob Stuart looks on.
-
- Meghan, Hailey, Aaron, Julia, and Dexter wait for their turns.
-
- Danielle prepares for being drenched by covering up as much skin as possible with her rain gear.
-
- It’s Danielle’s turn.
-
- Rachel soaks Kelsie as Brian and Aaron watch the show.
-
- Students take off their rain gear.
-
- Students listen to Rebecca’s explanation of amoeba tag.
-
- Dexter, chasing his classmates, takes a turn being “it.”
-
- Meghan and Danielle run from Julia and Dexter, who are now an amoeba “it.”
-
- Meghan, Danielle, Rachel, and Samir
-
- Meghan and Danielle
-
- Rachel, Julia, Kaia, and Aaron
-
- Julia and Dexter are one amoeba and Meghan and Danielle are the other.
-
- Thursday afternoon Field Instruction class: testing gear.
-
- Some shots from the Thursday afternoon lesson: Brooke stays dry!
-
- Chase seems to enjoy the downpour.
-
- Sune’s gear withstands the shower.
-
- Kate’s rain gear gets a work-out.
-
- Katie and Gwen get Field Instructor Rob Stuart.
-
- Katie Wettberg – More like Katie DRYberg!
-
- Megan, dry under her gear: success!
-
- Molly helps Chase try out his gear.
-
- Saige cringes, but stays dry.
-
- Teahelahn has a turn.
-
- Zeki’s rain gear gets a workout.
Recent Comments