GARNA completes YELP Fall 2014 Fieldtrips

Salida School District 6^th graders participated in GARNA’s Youth Ecological Literacy Program on September 26^th. They enjoyed a beautiful day at Mt. Ouray State Wildlife Area rotating through stations facilitated by volunteers and public land agency representatives. Students learned about animal adaptations from wildlife biologist Stephanie Shively of the USFS Salida Ranger District. Bob Hickey and Jeff Rangitsch of AHRA Colorado Parks and Wildlife facilitated a geology station with help from GARNA volunteer John McCarthy. Forrest Whitman and Monica White of GARNA taught students how to reflect on nature. Wendell Winger of Collegiate Peaks Anglers and Jane Jolley of GARNA helped students learn about aquatic biology, and Christy Fitzpatrick of 4-H and John Sztukowski of Wild Connections facilitated a GPS scavenger hunt.

Third grade students from Longfellow Elementary School ventured out to Maysville and Monarch Pass on October 2^nd to learn about life zone ecology. Classes braved a couple inches of snow for a fun hike from the Monarch Crest to the Continental Divide to learn about Sub-Alpine and Alpine ecosystems and glacial geology. Matthew Coen, Jaime Tackel and Bob Hickey of Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Jane Jolley of GARNA led the hikes. Students took a break from the snow in Maysville to learn about Foothills and Riparian ecology. Janine Prout, then of the BLM, helped students learn about compasses and cartography with GARNA volunteers John McCarthy and Paul Smith. Sally Waterhouse, zoologist, facilitated a station on predator/prey relationships with Lisa Garvey of the USFS Salida Ranger District. Many thanks to all the volunteers and agency personnel who made the field trips a success. GARNA’s Youth Ecological Literacy Program would not be possible without funding from the BLM, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Partners in the Outdoors Program, New Belgium Brewery’s Environmental Education Grant, Salida Sunrise Rotary Club, and membership from people like you!