Outdoor Ed Trips: Big Fun in the Fall!

Last week students returned safe and happy from the first round of '07 Outdoor Ed trips: 6th grade to Camp Worden on the Olympic Peninsula, 7th grade to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and the 8th grade to Mt. Rainier.

This blog is a quick summary of the 8th grade trips, with photos from Ben and Meghan's group at Summerland. Each of three groups hiked 2-4 miles from separate trail heads to alpine sites just above the tree line with views on the shoulders of 14,410 ft. Mt Rainier.


Each hiker carries all they need in order to be warm and safe, in addition to substantial group gear and food. Hiking and camping leadership rotates so that all may share the responsibility of decision-making and looking out for the group.Typical activities over the three day trip include student-made gourmet dining (such as hot oatmeal breakfast, cheese and bagel lunches, and pasta dinner), day-hiking, glaciation journals, drama games, nature watching, storytelling, and council style discussions.

In addition to hearing an elk bugle (it's the fall rutting season), groups spotted mountain goats, deer, a bear, plus innumerable squirrels, chipmunks, pika ("eepers"), and marmots.




Fall at Mt. Rainier can bring all sorts of weather, and it did! After sunny mornings the clouds rolled in. There were rain and snow showers, proving the need for warm and waterproof layers.






One of the trips even featured application of henna tattoos by Explorer West's trip guide (and administrative assistant) Meghan Harris!






No trip is complete without ice cream on the way home!

Thanks to unflappable Outdoor Ed Queen Kristin Moore, intrepid trip guides, supportive parents, and willing students for making the fall trips successful. Exacting gear checks, dramatic Leave No Trace skits, and "I'll try" spirits all paid off.

We can all look forward to getting out again this winter for snowshoeing, x-country skiing, and alpine slope fun!