Students do forest service projects

Eighth graders re-sided an outhouse at Suttle Lake as part of an outdoor school program.

Sisters middle schoolers helped restore forest facilities and trails and replanted burned areas last week as part of their Outdoor School experience at Suttle Lake.

Ninety-six eighth grade students, 15 high school counselors and a host of adult helpers gathered at the Suttle Lake Methodist Camp for the sixth annual Eighth Grade Leadership Retreat.

"The retreat was started in conjunction with the Forest Service," said Tricia Biesman, who helped with this year's Outdoor School. "Cindy Glick, who works for the Forest Service, kind of got that going. This will be our third year of doing service projects for them."

This year, the students were divided into six anchor groups and assigned various tasks. One group gathered seeds to help replant last summer's burn areas. One team hiked to Scout Lake and counted snags -- dead trees that provide shelter for animals. Another group groomed the trail that loops around Suttle Lake.

At Cinder Beach, students worked with Forest Service employees to restore an old outhouse.

"It's totally cool -- we are re-siding an historic outhouse!" exclaimed Lauren Statton. A junior at the high school, Statton had taken three days away from school to help supervise the younger students.

"It has been so great getting to know the eighth graders," she said. "My kids have really come together and are working as a team on this project."

Biesman also assisted with the restoration of the old outhouse.

"It was built 70 years ago," Biesman said, "and the Forest Service wanted to restore it to its original state. It was built with clear cedar siding -- and that's what we are putting on today."

Steve Summerfied, a counselor at the middle school, also attended the retreat. His anchor group's project was to gather seeds for the Forest Service's reseeding project.

"We are collecting vine maple, alder, and bear berry seeds," said Summerfield as he consulted his field guide. "We are also picking up litter as we go."

After the day's service projects were completed, the eighth graders participated in a variety of team and leadership building activities. Summerfield worked with the students on conflict resolution.

"Through role-playing, we worked on ways to help the students deal with conflict appropriately and manage their anger," said Summerfield. "Conflict is inevitable -- especially in middle school -- but we can choose how to respond."

Each afternoon, the students could choose from a variety of recreational activities like canoeing, spelunking, and hiking. At night, Brad Tisdel facilitated the campfire time, encouraging staff and students to be active participants.

The retreat wrapped up on Friday, September 27, with a hike up Hoodoo. The students were encouraged to take the skills and lessons they'd learned back to the middle school.

"We want the kids to go back to school and follow up on what they've learned," said Biesman. "We are sending them all home with a 'tool box' -- a 'kit' we've made up with some tools to help them deal with teasing and put downs. It can be very intense at the middle school."

Kim Dunaway directed the retreat this year, but had to go home early due to illness.

"We all felt a little stretched this year," Summerfield said. "But there were no 'leaners' here -- everyone grabbed a shovel and pitched in. We got it done."

"It takes a community to pull this off," agreed Biesman.

SHS senior Nate Harpham served as a counselor at the retreat. He felt the retreat developed empathy in him toward the younger students.

"I've been out of the eighth grade for a long time," he said, "and this is good because it reminds me of what middle school was like. I can see how much I've grown -- and can even give these guys some advice."

"I've never been to an Outdoor School before," said eighth grader LynnDee Parsons. "I've definitely learned more about being a leader."