Grade 3 students from Barriere Elementary School (BES) attended the annual 'Snowshoe for Knowledge' event, a fun, educational activity sponsored by the Barriere Outdoor Club (BOC) and a huge hit among students, parents, staff and volunteers.
On Wednesday, February 19, Ms. Kathy Matthew’s Grade 3 students set out on an adventure into the forest hosted by the BOC members at the Barriere Fork’s Trails.
“Many wonderful volunteers and even some parents came out to this annual event, to help the students put on their snowshoes and guide them through the snowy trails,” said BOC vice-president, Mary MacLennan. “Along the way, the students stopped at various stations where they learned fascinating facts about the local wildlife.”
Students had the opportunity to stop at a variety of stations along the way, including one where they learned to match wild animal tracks to the right animal, and another where they explored different types of antlers from the deer family (Cervidae) while learning a bit about the traditional way of life for First Nations in the area.
“At the food stations, the students had the chance to try deer pepperoni, sip warm, wild-berry tea and play a game of ‘Guess What I Am’ in ten questions," MacLennan said. "They were treated to a snowman joke and even had the chance to taste ‘snowman poop—which, of course, turned out to be cranberries covered in yogurt.”
A popular station involved learning how to use slingshots, where students aimed at wild animal targets. This was what MacLennan called “an engaging and fun station,” saying even the parents couldn't resist testing their skills with the slingshots.
Following the snowshoe trek, the group made their way back to the warming hut, where more volunteers served the students homemade cookies, muffins, hot chocolate and some fun prizes for answering challenging wildlife questions. “Many students were able to correctly answer these questions, thanks to the knowledge they gained on their snowshoe adventure,” said MacLennan.
The BES students left the afternoon of learning “with plenty of smiles” according to the club vice-president, and it was “an enjoyable experience” for the students, parents and the volunteers who came out to support the children.
“A big thank you to everyone who helped make this such a fun and educational day and for providing our youth with new skills and plenty of exciting stories and information to share,” said MacLennan.
