By Kat Hall

We are continuing to promote Winter Outdoors, our re-configured, COVID-safe version of SnowSchool! As described in last month’s newsletter, Winter Outdoors will take place in the East Central, West Central, and Northeast neighborhoods of Spokane. To start, we’ll schedule and promote field experiences on Spokane Public Schools “no school” days. Students (and parents if they wish!) pre-register on our website and show up at locations accessible via walking, bicycle, and public transit (including Underhill Park/Ben Burr Trail, Esmeralda Trail/Beacon Hill, and the Spokane River trails at Broadway and Summit). We’ll provide all necessary gear and instruction, including snowshoes, snow kits, and avalanche shovels. COVID-safe protocol will be enforced (e.g. wearing masks, social distancing, and limiting group size).

No snow? No problem! We’ll adapt our hike and its associated activities. Regardless, students can expect to learn about how plants and animals adapt to winter, how our mountain snowpack is crucial in supplying us with our region’s freshwater needs, and how climate change is forecasted to impact both. Students can also expect to participate in fun scavenger hunts. As the season goes on and our days get longer, we’ll offer regular after-school field experiences. And, we’ll make every effort to offer “spontaneous” SnowSchool field experiences to take advantage of fresh powder from new snowstorms!

Please join us and help us spread the word about this fun, free, and family-friendly winter recreation and educational adventure!