South Tahoe 8th Graders on the Snow

Each February, the South Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition (STEEC) runs a field trip for all of South Tahoe Middle School's 8th graders. This unique outdoor education day takes place at Heavenly Mountain Resort, where the students rotate through four learning stations.

The Sugar Pine Foundation's station is arguably one of the most taxing, since for many of the students it is their first time on snowshoes! The pupils not only learn how to snowshoe, but how to identify the different tree species in the forest, the importance of biodiversity for forest health, and how to make some of the most basic forestry measurements.

Foresters measure a tree's height and the "diameter at breast height" (dbh) to calculate the volume of wood (and merchantable timber) in a  given tree or stand of trees. Since wood is a renewable resource that is used for many things, measuring how much wood is available for different uses is economically and ecologically important.

While foresters typically use a laser range-finder to measure tree height, we taught the students a low-tech method using just a ruler and measuring tape; they also measured dbh with the tape and from there could calculate the volume of the tree.
Tahoe Institute for Natural Sciences (TINS) taught the 8th graders about animals' various adaptations to survive winter: migration, hibernation, insulation (by putting on a thicker coat or eating more), and coloration (many animals grow white fur or feathers for winter).

Heavenly Mountain presented about their state-of-the-art computerized snowmaking equipment and process. Students learned the basics of snowmaking  science: air + water = snow, the texture of which varies depending on temperature, humidity and nozzle pressure settings. 

The Sierra Avalanche Center lesson focused on avalanches: the equipment and techniques used to study snow layers and slide potential, how resorts conduct avalanche control, plus a segment on avalanche rescue. The students got to dig snow pits to see how different types of snowflakes and layers adhere - or not. The students also got to meet Heavenly Ski Patrol  avalanche rescue dogs!

As long as they were properly bundled, the students enjoyed their day out on the snow and in the trees. We hope that some of them have been inspired to think about being foresters, avalanche forecasters, wildlife biologists or snowmakers in the future!