Interlaken Post-Fire Recovery Volunteer Day
October 29, 2024
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The Salida Middle School 6th Grade Class gathered at Mount Ouray State Wildlife Area for the annual GARNA Youth Ecological Literacy Field Trip. With the newly snow-capped Collegiate Peaks as the backdrop and the wildlife-rich riparian bottomlands of the Arkansas River as their classroom, students rotated between 4 environmental education stations designed to engage the senses, hone scientific exploration and analysis skills, and encourage stewardship. Topics included bat ecology, water quality and aquatic insects, erosion and the rock cycle, and GPS navigation. During lunch, students discussed conservation ethics and enjoyed a fly fishing demonstration.
A huge thank you to: Michelle Orlowske, AHRA Land Ranger, Christy Fitzpatrick, Chaffee County 4H, Maggie Gaddis, Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Keith Krebs, Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Debby Powers and Paul Smith, GARNA volunteers; the 6th grade teaching team: George Mossman, Jean Dyer, Cory Scheffel and Michael Williams; and all of the 6th grade SMS students.
Some press from The Mountain Mail:
The Longfellow 3rd grade class gathered at Monarch Pass and Maysville Picnic Area for the annual GARNA Youth Ecological Literacy Field Trip. With Monarch Pass as their classroom at 11,312 feet, students hiked up the Pass and directly observed the geology and life zones of the treeline. Below, at the Maysville site, students practiced compass navigation and explored behavior and ecology of our friend, the bat. Rotating between four environmental education stations designed to engage the senses, hone scientific exploration and analysis skills, and encourage stewardship, students became more aware of the natural world around them.
A huge thank you to: Linda Skinner, BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner, Bob Hickey, AHRA Volunteer, Kate Spinelli, AHRA Naturalist, Debby Powers, Patty Powers, Sally Waterhouse, Paul Smith and Claire Mechtley, GARNA volunteers; the 3rd grade teaching team: Mark Tameler, Carol McIlvaine, Jaime Giorno, April Holdinghaus and Janee Martinez; and all of the 3rd grade Longfellow students.
GARNA works with communities of the upper Arkansas River valley to foster the stewardship of the region’s natural environment and the resilience of our communities.
