Learning in the Great Outdoors

This fall, I accompanied the Heritage High School AP Biology students on their first field trip of the year. We met at Lewisville Park and after a brief introduction to the day’s activities, we picked up our gear and headed down to the river to collect and study the macroinvertebrates. The students had studied the insects in advance and came prepared with notebook in hand.


Although the water was cool, students who didn’t have boots just took off their shoes and went into the water barefoot. A bit too chilly for me. They collected lots of insects and took them back to the bank for study. Some students drew a picture of their insects and some read all about them. They recorded everything in their notebooks. It was great seeing the kids having fun and learning at the same time. And because most high school students can get instruction and work independently, I got to study the insects alongside them.

Aside from insect identification, the students did some water testing and hiking. As an added bonus, Chinook were spawning in the river. So, excellent weather, excellent students, and salmon made for a great day out in the field.

Submitted by Donna Allard