By Maci MacPherson, Winter Education Intern 2009
During the cold, snowy winter months, school groups from the Flathead Valley in Montana venture out into the white wonderland of Glacier National Park. As a park ranger, I’ve been fortunate to experience this wild place with children ranging from 1st through 7th grade. Even though the ages vary, most of the participants have one thing on their minds: snow! Whether it is playing winter ecology games, watching a wildlife puppet show, snowshoe hiking, conducting experiments and doing snow science, or even visiting Glacier Park for the first time, each student has their own favorite part of the field trip. For the 1st and 2nd graders, a highlight of the field trip is a puppet show that explores what different wildlife species do to survive the
winter season. A crowd favorite is often the big bald eagle that lost his fish, as well as the wolf that hopelessly chases potential “grub.” Our curious audience members often screech and laugh at these funny animals while learning how they live in the winter here in Glacier. The older groups spend the morning being scientists by doing snow stations. They learn about weather, snow crystals, and the insulating properties of snow. They also get to experience a quinhzee hut that is similar to snow shelters used by the Athabascan Indians. I always love how they come back saying “It was so warm in there even though it is made out of snow! I’d love to live in a hut like that.” They also conduct an experiment to see how much water is in the snow. It’s fun to see their shocked faces when they discover that the piles and mounds of snow really don’t add up to very much water. One 3rd grader commented “Wow, this snow is really important then, especially for the fishes. And I guess for us too if we want to swim and drink water”. One fourth grader called the field trip “the best day of my life.” I feel very privileged to be a small part of these children’s lives by exploring this beautiful park with them. The winter education programs at Glacier National Park provide stimulating and intriguing experiences for anyone eager to get outside in this wild winter wonderland.
