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Each year, DNS offers
the popular Surviving & Thriving (STW)
in Winter program on the public lands near Haviland Lake and Chris
Park north
of Durango. STW is an outdoor
science education program for students in grades 3-8
that allows students to experience the physics of snow and ecology
of life during the harsh
winters of the Colorado high country.
As with all DNS programs, STW supports state and local education
standards, and gives students the opportunity to participate in
hands-on science education while having new (and fun!) experiences
in the outdoors.
. Classroom sessions are
approximately 60 minutes
. Classroom sessions are scheduled one (1) week before your field trip
Each STW program includes a classroom session to prepare students for
their field trip. The classroom visit introduces concepts to students
about winter ecology and snow science that complement the field trip.
. Field sessions are 3
hours long, typically from about 9:00-12:00
. Schools often stay to enjoy a lunch outdoors and in the snow
Working in
small groups,
students
explore the
winter landscape
on snowshoes
to search
for animal
tracks. They
dig snow
pits to investigate
crystal shapes
and temperature
gradient,
and explore
basic concepts
of avalanche
safety.Playing
active games
that focus
on animal
behaviors
and strategies
for winter
survival, students learn that migration isn’t the only way to make it through
a Colorado winter.
The Microclimate Experiment helps students synthesize concepts when they
are challenged to use the Scientific Method to design and build a warm winter
home for an imaginary animal.
Schools
should plan
to arrive
at the entrance
to the Haviland
Lake area
at
9:00
am on the
morning of
your field
trip. Some
classes arrive
a bit later
depending
on where
they are
coming from,
but
no classes
arrive past
9:30 due
mostly to
bus schedules.
Your exact
program time
will be listed
on your confirmation
form.
Your class will be met by a DNS Lead Educator
who will guide you and your students to the starting point of your
trip and introduce the volunteer naturalists for the day. After
your 3-hour field trip, you are invited to enjoy a picnic lunch.
Please plan to pack out your trash as
we do not have trash service onsite.
All CDN field sessions are lead by trained volunteers!
These are incredible people who have participated in a 10-hour
training program that includes curriculum, natural
history, and child management techniques. Volunteers
generously donate several mornings throughout the season to
work with area school children. Letters, notes, and drawings
from your students are a great way to thank these incredible community
volunteers.
. No dogs are allowed during programs
. Cell phones younger siblings are distracting to the learning
experience of students
.
Please turn off cell phones,
and leave Fido and wee ones at home
We ask that you supply at least one adult chaperone (parent
or teacher) for each group. We will let you know how many groups
you will have, but plan on the students being split
into groups of about 10. Chaperones are there to assist volunteer
naturalists and make the experience as meaningful as possible.
Go to the STW Registration page.
Thanks so much! We look forward to working with
you and your students.
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