Students explore outdoor classroom

Learning is not confined to an indoor classroom in Sisters. Each year, Sisters High School students venture into the high country for learning experiences they can enjoy nowhere else.

Great weather and trip planning made this year's IEE excursion a great success. IEE (Interdisciplinary Environmental Expeditions) is a program run through Sisters High School, designed to promote awareness and appreciation of the outdoors.

The program integrates a curriculum of Science, English and Physical Education. Using a hands-on approach, Juniors are able to learn about the natural environment unique to the Sisters area.

Groups set off early in the morning at the beginning of this month, beginning at the Pole Creek trailhead. Upon reaching Soap Creek, the students got to know local botany in a plant identification session with high school instructor Karen Withrow.

The trip continued until afternoon, at which time students got familiar with their gear and set up their tents, cooked their own dinner, and practiced using the layering system to stay warm.

The next morning was a sleepy one, with wake-up at 4:45 a.m. and breakfast eaten hastily in the dark. That day, participants got the integrated experience. From sun-up to sundown, they climbed Hayden Glacier and learned about mountaineering safety and the effects of climate change.

Rappelling down to Demaris Lake, they studied the diversity and resilience of sub-alpine plants with science teacher Glen Herron. Hiking on to "base camp," students were greeted by English teacher Samra Spear and refreshed with hot muffins and a chance to record their thoughts about the experience in their journals.

Junior Seth Schneider feels that IEE, as a whole, has "made me realize we have a beautiful mountain to climb in our backyard, and I appreciate the opportunity IEE has given me to experience that."

Rand Runco, IEE instructor, said "my goal as an IEE teacher is to help students gain a sense of place, or appreciation for their surroundings. I want to help students achieve this through service, activities, and learning."

By inciting interest in students, and integrating dynamic outdoor activities with traditional classroom lessons, Sisters High School's IEE program seems to be fulfilling Runco's goal.