Woodlin School once again organized and participated in Summer Ecology. This year’s class was a drastic departure from normal. They had a very young group and lacked experience (after losing several seniors to graduation) so it was decided to take Summer Eco on the road and visit some other places in our country. Mr. Byall, along with sponsor Judy Little, packed 11 students into two SUV’s and trekked 4000 miles in 14 days across the southwest and western states. The trip included stops in southern Colorado and New Mexico before heading into Arizona and staying for a few days at the Grand Canyon. After visiting Hoover Dam outside Las Vegas, the group stayed in southern California for a few nights and then set their sights on the central California coast and Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Big Sur, and Santa Cruz Mountains.
The next stop was the Sierra Nevadas where Sequoia, King’s Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks all afforded the class with countless learning experiences and fantastic memories. Cruising across Nevada and Utah, with stops at Bodie State Park, Mono Lake Recreational Area, and Great Basin National Park, Summer Ecology students got the chance to work with professionals from the National Park Service and Utah State University while assisting in their “Bio-blitz” program.
Our group of intrepid travelers included: Zach,Tony, Tarek, Stormey, Kiana, Conagher, Makayla, and Joe. The class was led by three team captains who were all instrumental in providing a successful experience: Joel, Michelle, and Kaley. Mr. Byall would like to point out that Joel and Kaley are now veterans of three years of Summer Ecology and helped make the program one of extreme importance in Woodlin’s science department. Additionally, Michelle took on the role of captain at a very late date and performed remarkably.
Summer Ecology is often taken for granted by many in the school and community; however, it could not exist without the tremendous effort and assistance of its supporters. We would like to thank the following for making this year’s awesome trip a reality: Debbie Atwater and the Gifted/Talented program at Woodlin; Mr. Tim Sharp for making sure the vehicles we drove were safe, comfortable, and ready to be put to the test—he’ll never know just how severe that test can often be, although we try to be kind to our rides; Mr. and Mrs. Manley for their generous financial contribution; and the school board of Woodlin R-104 for recognizing how great this program is and how desperately our school needs opportunities like this.
For more information, or questions about how your child can participate in future Summer Ecology classes and HERD activities, consult a student that has had experience in these areas, contact Kaley(HERD president) or call the school at 386-2223 and talk with Mr. Byall—HERD and Summer Ecology Director.
