Sixth grade’s trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center got cut short by weather, but they had a successful two days of fun and learning. So successful, in fact, in the group picture they are all pointing to a plaque that reads “Wolf Ridge Conservation Challenge Perfect Score 2024-2025.” See more photos on the Heilicher App, Facebook, and Instagram, and keep reading for summaries of sixth grade’s experiences at Wolf Ridge:
Bird Ecosystems: With an emphasis on field observation, sixth grade studied the amazing diversity of birds. Students investigated different bird habitats using binoculars and digital bird identification guides. They explored migration and other bird lifestyles through games and directed observation. They learned that bird diversity and health depends on the health and integrity of the habitat they live in. The Chickadee Landing experience was awesome — students held bird seed in their hands or on their heads and got an up-close look at Chickadees as the birds landed on them!
Naturalist Program: Each year through an intense 10-month graduate program, a cohort of naturalists live, train, and teach at Wolf Ridge while earning graduate credits. Wolf Ridge has trained over 1,000 naturalists during its 50-year history as an organization. Each evening the naturalists offer a different session for groups that stay at Wolf Ridge. Heilicher’s session dealt with the logging history of Finland, Minnesota. You should have seen some of our sixth graders with a two-person crosscut saw!
Planetarium Experience: Inside an inflatable planetarium, students had the opportunity to view and learn about the night sky. After a brief introduction to constellations, students gathered inside to practice finding common celestial shapes, including Polaris and circumpolar constellations. At the end of class, students were challenged to create their own constellations and tell a story about them.
Campfire and Talent Show: The students and teachers gathered around a campfire to conclude their first evening before going back to the dorm for the “first-ever Wolf Ridge Talent Show.”
Weather Science: Class began with some basic weather observation. Using these basic observations, students learned about the major principles of weather. Demonstrations, activities, and games assisted them with an understanding of how heat and cold collisions combine with the rotation of the Earth to create wind, cloud cover, the jet stream, and other components of weather. The weather play was something else, and the students even asked to do it twice!
Sky Ropes Course: Each of the two Wolf Ridge adventure ropes courses (Skyview and Ridgetop) consists of six events separated by towers, roughly 25-30 feet off the ground. Students traversed the course while attached to safety lines. Students used their ropes course experiences as metaphors for their everyday lives. The students were awesome — they are so proud of their accomplishment!