Truckee students go beyond basics, into great outdoors
by Melayna Kerton, Outpost contributor
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Tahoe Rim Trail nears completion |
Four years ago, the front entrance to the school was laced with weeds and garbage. But one teacher took this land as an unpainted canvass and began collecting the supplies he would need to change it into a portrait of pride for the Truckee community.
The Historic Nature Trail was started in the spring 1993 after Jeff Froelich, teacher and head of the science department, wrote a grant to the California Educational Initiatives Fund and received nearly $10,000.
"When I first came here in 1972, one of my first questions was why wasn't someone doing something about the front of the school," Froelich said. "I thought why not use some of the nature in our own backyard to teach kids . . . It could be an outdoor classroom."
The trail, located at 11725 Donner Pass Road, was created to bring a cross-curriculum education to the fingertips of students at the high school. The project was developed to give students an environmental respect and a sense of history while teaching them how to create something, Froelich said.
The project also recognizes that students can learn outside the confines of a classroom.
"I'm a kinesthetic person, I learn by doing," said sophomore Jessie Cotton. "For me, the Historical Nature Trail helped far more than just listening to a teacher lecture, or reading out of a textbook -- it's hands on learning. Also, I really look forward to working on it because we get to spend the time outside in the fresh air."
Today the land is a work in progress. Cycles of students have poured their work into the project to add a new dimension to it every year. Currently, a trip on the trail begins with a small walk from the school, down camouflaged stairs made by railroad ties, to a meandering trail introducing all who partake to 70 different kinds of plants, shrubs and trees.
"We try and add a certain component to the nature trail every year," Froelich said.
Since the trail was started 3 years ago, the 1.65 acres of land has had a major facelift. In the first year, students cleaned up the area, limed trees, freed up soil for planting and began to plant the different types of plants native to the Sierra.
Throughout the following years, students have added a watering system, a trail winding throughout the property and more plant life. Plaques have also been added that stand above every plant detailing its name, family name, the year it was planted and those who have contributed to its life.
"We pulled weeds, cleaned the area, made pathways more distinguished, and tended to areas of plants by nurturing them and helping the plant life to grow," said Cotton.
The Historic Nature Trail has been enriching the lives of the students who have created it.
"We are learning about different plants that grow in the high altitude of the mountains," Cotton said. "We each have specifically learned about one species of plant, we made a plaque with the information we learned on it. Now that all the plants are together marked by the plaques, we know about the nature that surrounds us."
Froelich was inspired to develop the trail because of the variety of plant life growing in the mountains. He applied for the grant in 1991 to create a nature trail and was turned down so he developed new aspects to the project.
In 1992 Froelich submitted a request for another grant for the trail. He had added a historical element to the trail, so students could learn about the rich history that once passed through the little town of Truckee, Froelich said.
Truckee High School is located about 30 miles west of Reno off Interstate 80 on the Emigrant Trail that the Donner Party traveled over on their voyage to Sutter's Fort.
The cross-curriculum Historic Nature Trail is the first of its kind, so it was awarded with a $9,984 grant for the new initiative, Froelich said.
The money was needed for ground preparation, trees, plants and shrubs. Other materials also purchased with the money were a watering system and trail markers. Some money has been set aside for the completion of the project, when pamphlets will be produced describing the trail.
Throughout the growth of the project, students and faculty have developed a plan of the history they are going to incorporate into the trail. Literature about the pioneers who traveled over the Emigrant Trail has been studied so the ruts from a covered wagon can be created, duplicating the path that was once taken. Next year, a covered wagon will be brought in, restored and placed in the trail, Froelich said.
Students also want to create a campsite and a pioneer graveyard in memory of those who died on their travels through the rugged Sierra.
"We are incorporating a variety of departments," said Patrick Mooney, head of the English department. "English students will locate pioneer diaries, like the Donner Party and take appropriate quotes from diaries and place them on the plaques around the Historic Nature Trail."
In addition to English, history and science departments, art classes will draw pictures of each plant and shrub to be placed on the plaques, while the woodshop class will be creating benches and plaques.
"By learning about history, science and English at the same time and relevant to the same subject, I feel it was my first taste of the real world," Cotton said. "We were fusing together all the subjects at once."
Next year, Froelich also plans to have his biology classes plant wild grass and fall tree halves as wooden benches for a natural look where students can relax and study, or where classes can be held on a nice day.
After the entire project is complete, a special class will be designed where science students develop age-appropriate literature and activities to teach students of all ages about different trees and shrubs, plus historical aspects. Pamphlets for all grade levels will also be created, Froelich said.
"In the past it was building it, now it's bringing it to the kids," Froelich said. "Outdoor and the environment are a magnet to science where kids will teach other kids about the local environment and history."
Students who have put their energy into the nature trail will be leaving behind something that will always grow and always add to the beauty of the area. They will be able to measure a distance in time from something they created.
"It will be neat to come back after my 25th reunion and see something I have created that has not been destroyed over the years," Cotton said.
Posted Dec. 16, 1997
Copyright 1998 Nevada Outpost
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