March 15 – Leave No Trace

March 15, 2013
Leave No Trace Principles

Planning skit using PCTA Map

First, I want to give a BIG shout out to the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Jack “Found” Haskel from the association was very generous to send a heavy box with PCT stickers, large PCT maps, and beautiful calendars for each student completing our PCT course. We have been using the materials during our class time. On our last day together students will be bringing the valuable materials home. This will be a great reference, motivation, and memory in the future from our time together.

I have really looked forward to sharing “The Seven Leave No Trace Principles” with our class. Last Friday with the help of Wandering the Wild’s blog entry “Leave No Trace“, we first discussed the basics of the hiking and outdoor ethics and why they are important. My personal favorite was the look of horror as I demonstrated how to poop in the woods by digging a proper hole and how to stash the used toilet paper. The majority of students connected with and had experienced the opposite of some of the principles while camping with their families.

Students were then divided into groups and given a scenario featuring one of the principles to act out for the class, what to do and what not to do. I provided possible props to choose from to be as creative and fun as possible. It was a great activity and very entertaining. I think they will be a good example for others and be able to educate and explain the principles to their families and friends.

At our conclusion, I shared the results from Sunshine’s and Monkey’s interviews. I cannot express how valuable this experience was for all of us. I think the group as a whole gained a real respect for what it takes to accomplish something BIG, how much is given up, how to persevere through discomforts, and finish no matter what.  Now that is priceless.

The students have continued to write on-line Trail Journals using a Google Document. Love this one. Just had to share:

So how was everyones snow day!!!! Mine was great but I really was bummed we didn’t have enrichment Friday! Can’t wait for Friday !!!! I’ve been hiking, camping, and I love being in the wilderness!!!! I am recently in 4-h and I am doing these projects chickens,horse,sheep,and shooting sports! This class is helping me with education and my skill in the wilderness I want to thank Mrs. Rosander for starting this class this is a class you have got to join!!!! This has been a paragraph from Gizmo see you Friday!!!!!

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Interview with Thru-Hiker Monkey

March 12, 2013
I’d like to welcome our second interviewee, Monkey. She is another dynamo young lady that is packed with energy, adventure, and determination. Enjoy this heart-warming and truly inspiring interview. Thank you Monkey for sharing with our class!

Monkey and Mama Bear on the PCT 2012

Nine-year-old Monkey and Mamma Bear at the PCT Terminus

From Heather and Sierra’s PCT Thru- Hike Journal

Heather aka “Mama Bear” and Sierra aka “Monkey” are a mother and daughter who successfully hiked the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada in 2012, starting in late April and finishing in Manning Park, British Columbia on September 23. We passed several unique milestones along the way: Sierra finished third grade, celebrated her 9th birthday, and started fourth grade all on the trail, becoming the youngest person on record to complete a continuous thru-hike of the offical PCT!

Pacific Crest Trail Association blog entry “Nine-year-old Monkey competes the PCT”

Read about their PCT 2011 journey at Heather and Sierra’s PCT Thru Hike Journal

Interview with Monkey, 4th grade PCT record holder
~by the middle-school class “tHInK outsidE”

tHInK outsidE – What did you miss the most from home while on the trail?
Monkey – “I missed my dad, my cats, and sleeping in my own bed.”

tHInK outsidE – Did you ever feel lonely?
Monkey – “No, I was with my mom, and I enjoyed meeting the other hikers on the trail.”

tHInK outsidE – What did your friends think about you finishing the whole PCT?
Monkey – “My friends were really excited and amazed.”

tHInK outsidE – How was homeschooling while on the trail?
Monkey – “Homeschooling on the trail was fun, but some days it was hard to do school work on the trail because we were hiking so many miles. I worked on math every day at lunch, and some days I wished I could just relax like the other hikers. But I loved reading in the tent at night.”

tHInK outsidE – How does it feel to break a record?
Monkey – “It felt really incredible to have accomplished my goal.”

tHInK outsidE – Is there something really important that you forgot to pack?
Monkey – “I didn’t forget to pack anything, but I did lose two things on the trail. I lost my purple Snow Peak titanium mug near Wrightwood, California and my sunglasses a day or two before Crater Lake in Oregon.”

tHInK outsidE – Name the three most awesomest animals and wildlife you have seen on the PCT?
Monkey – “The three most awesome animals I saw on the PCT were baby bear cubs, silverback marmots (I called them “Grandpa marmots” because they had silver hair), and a baby rattlesnake.”

tHInK outsidE – What was the worst weather conditions along the trail? How did you get through it?
Monkey – “The worst weather conditions on the trail were during a three day storm in Washington. It rained and hailed throughout the night, thunder boomed, and lightning flashed across the sky. During the day we hiked through a cold mist, which made our teeth chatter at times.

I got through the storm because I was determined to hike the PCT, and a little weather could not mess up my plans. We also received some incredible trail magic during the storm, including hot food and drinks, candy bars, and other snacks.”

tHInK outsidE – What was your favorite part of the hike and your least favorite?
Monkey – “My favorite part of the hike was reaching Monument 78 at the border because I was really excited to have accomplished my goal. I also really enjoyed hiking through the mountains. One of my favorite days was when we hiked over Muir Pass and passed by the yellow-legged frogs at Wanda Lake and stopped to investigate the tadpoles and aquatic invertebrates at a pond near Evolution Lake.

My least favorite part of the hike was hiking on really hot days in the less scenic parts of the desert. One day it was so hot it melted the sour gummy worms in my mom’s pack! Of course, we laughed a lot about that, which made it fun.”

tHInK outsidE – What hike do you want to do next?
Monkey – “I really want to hike the Continental Divide Trail and the Appalachian Trail to complete the Triple Crown. This summer I plan to hike the Colorado Trail with my mom. It is shorter than the others (about 480 miles), so we can hike it without taking time off from school.”

February 22 – Super Kids on the PCT | Compass

February 22, 2013
Super Kids on the PCT/Finding your Way Part 2

Students worked in groups to generate interview questions for Sunshine and Monkey

A snowstorm foiled our plans for the kids to practice compass skills outside. Our “Compass Treasure Hunt” is now rescheduled for next week.

Great news! Seventh grader, Sunshine, who hiked the PCT in 2011, the AT in 2012, and is now starting the CDT in 2013 AND 4th grader, Monkey, who is the youngest person to thru-hike the PCT have graciously agreed to answer interview questions from our class. After presenting a little bit about the two famous hikers using the web page  Super Kids on the PCT, we divided into groups of 4. Teams brainstormed and generated possible questions to ask the two young hikers. They then decided on two separate questions. Next week, in class they will be posting questions on a live Google Document, that way Sunshine and Monkey can answer online. The finished interview will be posted on this site. Some of the questions they came up with were pretty unique. The kids are excited to find out what Sunshine and Monkey  will say.

Next, we viewed 2 videos by Green Mountain Club reviewing topographical maps found on Finding Your Way.  Students then used their compass  brought from home to learn about compass parts and navigation.

At the end of class, I left the kids with some challenges. One was to try commenting to another student’s journal entry on our ongoing online trail journal. The following is an example of a recent thoughtful journal entry:

2/7 Well, this isn’t recent, but about five months ago i went to this awesome camp called Camp Kern. Now, this is a 5 day camp by Huntington Lake (up in the CA sierra’s) and it is amazing. Though the most memorable of all the things we did is have to climb a hill called “Cardiac Hill” (dun-dun-DUN!) it is a hill that is steeper than you can imagine and it curves for about a ¼ mile. you had to climb and descend it to go back and forth from the actual camp to the lake for swimming and fun activities. I loved how since it was my third time going to the camp i was prepared for the hike, and also watching the newer people struggling the first time up the hill :P. This is kind of a “veteran camper” secret, but in the middle of the trail there are two trees, and if you have a good nose you can smell the bark and it smells like vanilla! So that is my favorite memory of camp kern. Please answer to this if you have a memory of camp or any trip you loved. And also, ( I know I am going to regret this ) any trail name suggestions for my me? Thanks!

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