Last month the Lee Vining High School principal and teachers invited me to participate in a three-day outing to Yosemite National Park with the whole school. I felt very happy with the offer since I’ve wanted to do such a trip with the local high school for a long time. For many years I have worked with Lee Vining Elementary School doing environmental education outings, but never with the high school students. The field trip was divided into day-long outings and we went to places like Olmsted Point, Pothole Dome, Yosemite Valley, and Lembert Dome.
For me it was a great opportunity to represent the Committee with the local school, to talk about watersheds, geology, and natural and human history, and to reinforce connections created with students in years past when I took them on outings when they were in elementary school.
Every day I had a great time with the students hiking, laughing, and teaching; we learned about glaciers, Native Americans, and even wrote and read a vertical poem. But best part was the chance to spend a few days in one of the most spectacular places in the world with old and new friends.
I am looking forward to keeping the Committee’s connection with the Lee Vining Schools alive and I am already planning more environmental education outings with the teachers. My plan is to share the amazing Mono Basin with them and to teach the local students so together we can preserve this place for the seventh generation!
