Wild Ways

Sixth graders focus on traditional tools and technologies with hands-on lessons including weaving a variety of containers from local materials, starting a fire using friction, using heat to straighten sticks for tool construction, making cordage, and more.

Seventh graders focus their Wild Ways studies on plants, animals, habitats and ecosystems. Through extended study of the Wildcat Creek Watershed, students learn about the native flora and fauna of our area and study how interactions with humans and invasive species impact important ecosystems.

Building on their learning from sixth and seventh grade, students turn their attention to practical wilderness skills. Under the supervision of a professional naturalist, eight graders learn navigation and compass reading, wilderness first aid, trail building and maintenance, shelter-building, and more. The year culminates with a weeklong wilderness backpacking trip where they put their learning into practice.