AWLS Experience 2008

AWLS – An Awfully Great Time

By: Julie Spalding

What happens you gather 25 teachers from 14 states in Granite Creek, Wyoming? Learning, Laughs, and Lots of fun.

I heard about AWLS from a fellow teacher several years ago. She talked about her awesome experience and said that if I truly wanted to experience nature, attend AWLS. Well, it just so happened that my husband was going on an African safari that he bid on at an SCI banquet, so I thought I would go on my own Safari, Wyoming style.

After a long day of delayed flights, I finally arrived in Jackson and was greeting by director, Don Brown. We hopped in the van and headed to camp. The next morning I met 24 other excited teachers from all around the United States. It reminded me of the first day of Kindergarten! After introductions, we spent some time getting to know each other participating in several group ice breakers and games. It was fun being the student for a change!

The first two days we spent time in the classroom learning about the natural resources of Wyoming and their conservation practices. Along with lectures, we were introduced to several environmental education resources that we could take back to our student s in the fall. We even had some opportunities to complete these activities as though we were students. One of the most popular resources was the SCIF-Sables’ K-12 education kit, Safari in a Box. We used the items in the box and completed an activity called, SCI –CSI. We worked in cooperative groups and analyzed various animal crime scenes. We had to figure out the cause of death and the human impact. We all knew that this was an activity our students would love.

The beauty of Wyoming truly takes your breath away. Fortunately, we were able to spend some time in Wyoming’s outdoor classroom. One day we completed a Granite Canyon ecology walk to study native plants. Throughout the week we went on several field trips to meet with experts from the Bureau of Land Management and Wyoming Game and Fish. I found this to be so beneficial because we were able to hear from the experts. Many of discussions revolved around environmental issues and concerns.

One of the not so beautiful areas of Wyoming is the massive local gas/oil exploration sites. We got to see for ourselves the impact of these wells on native plants and wildlife. Many of the mule deer on the western side of the state are dying due to the massive interruption of their migration routes. The sage grouse is also experiencing disruption in their mating cycles. It was one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen.

After much learning, the day we had been anxiously awaiting had finally arrived….Outdoor Skills Day (SHOOTING DAY for all of us hunters)! We broke into teams and rotated to stations including, archery, .22, shotgun, and muzzleloader. At each station the staff reviewed the basics as well as safety procedures. We were fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and caring staff. FINALLY, we all had our turn. I greatly enjoyed all the stations, especially archery. I’ve been a hunter for several years but never had the opportunity to learn archery. What a great experience! The staff did a wonderful job of introducing me to the sport. I even bought my own bow when I returned home and have been doing some bow hunting. THANKS AWLS.

Our week of fun concluded with a spectacular white water rafting ride down the Snake River and a wonderful BBQ made by our fantastic cook (personally she was more like a chef)! The evening ended with a tomahawk throw and some songs around the campfire.

I want to thank everyone associated with the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter of SCI. Without your support, I never would have been able to attend AWLS. The people and the experiences will stay with me forever. The lessons I learned have already been passed to students and staff at the Fox River Academy, the environmental charter school that I co founded. Opportunities like these help everyone learn about the importance of conservation and our environment.