By Kat Hall
Last year, The Lands Council excitedly received its official “SnowSchool” designation. SnowSchool is a national education program of the Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) and a bridge connecting kids to the world of snow science and winter recreation. Its curriculum is designed for kindergarten to high school students and combines a field trip to the snow with classroom presentations. Students learn about hydrology, winter ecology, wildlife, and snow crystals. They also make a vital connection between the snowpack - the largest reservoir in the West - and the water they drink every day.
This winter, we’ve re-configured SnowSchool to be COVID-safe and to take place in the East Central, West Central, and Northeast neighborhoods of Spokane. Instead of taking kids up to Mt. Spokane State Park, our goal this winter is to bring SnowSchool to the kids!
How does it work? To start, we will 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 designated locations (all locations will be 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. And of course, COVID-safe protocols will be enforced (i.e. wear a mask, social distance, and limit 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!
Additionally, be sure to check out the WWA’s collection of winter-long K-12 “SnowSchool at Home” for activities and experiments that can be conducted right in your backyard, local park, or schoolyard. Each activity has a short introductory video and corresponding curriculum guide. For more information, visit: www.winterwildlands.org/snowschool-at-home.
Please join us and help us spread the word about this fun, free, and family-friendly winter recreation and educational adventure!