Our Second year 2016/17
A Student's Perspective -by Sarah
The students began the year outside doing field sketches, setting up the school’s aquaponics system and rooftop wind turbines, making apple cider, and meeting with local foresters and soil experts. They conducted tests on the soil and nearby bodies of water as part of an annual record added to by the students each school year. As winter settled in, the class focused its effort on boat construction which primarily took place on the stage in the small gym. The students began by making scale models, then applied their design to their very own boats and paddles. The class has worked together on every boat during each step of the process: from frame-building, to putting the sides and bottom of the boat together, to rasping and sanding, to adding fiberglass. “My favorite part of the process so far has been applying the fiberglass to the boats. I liked spreading the epoxy to wet out the cloth, and I like how we all work as a team on the boats. It’s cool that we’re all just as excited to see each other’s boats turn out well as our own,” Elizabeth said.
The students began the year outside doing field sketches, setting up the school’s aquaponics system and rooftop wind turbines, making apple cider, and meeting with local foresters and soil experts. They conducted tests on the soil and nearby bodies of water as part of an annual record added to by the students each school year. As winter settled in, the class focused its effort on boat construction which primarily took place on the stage in the small gym. The students began by making scale models, then applied their design to their very own boats and paddles. The class has worked together on every boat during each step of the process: from frame-building, to putting the sides and bottom of the boat together, to rasping and sanding, to adding fiberglass. “My favorite part of the process so far has been applying the fiberglass to the boats. I liked spreading the epoxy to wet out the cloth, and I like how we all work as a team on the boats. It’s cool that we’re all just as excited to see each other’s boats turn out well as our own,” Elizabeth said.
Scale Model Construction
Exact scale models of the pirogues are built by each student to help visualize the construction process. These models are also painted with whatever colors and patterns each student has designed for their own boat.
Exact scale models of the pirogues are built by each student to help visualize the construction process. These models are also painted with whatever colors and patterns each student has designed for their own boat.
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Each year our students participate in MiCorp Aquatic Macroinvertebrate sampling in the Slapneck River. By identifying the organisms living in a body of water, the quality of that water can be inferred. Our data is sent to a state data base so this most important natural resource can be monitored.
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Follow the construction process in the above slide-show.
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Taking a break on the shores of the Autrain Basin during our spring trip.
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Independent Projects
Rena restored 4 nature trails in the school forest and created signage for this trail system that was established in the year 2000.
Cole and Luke pruned several of the school's apple trees to improve production for our annual fall cider production.
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Mitch and Kole maintained the aquaponics system. Growing and harvesting both perch and watercress.
Tori researched the life cycle and habitat needs of loons then placed a nesting platform in the Autrain Basin during our spring trip.
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Sarah created a 6 page foldout brochure to promote the school's nature/ski trail and also contacted the local TV show "Discovering" who came out to tell our story.
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Katlyn planted 200 conifers and 4 apple trees in a whitetail bedding and travel area. This habitat improvement was made possible by U.P. Whitetails of Alger County.
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Emma and Elizabeth created the class slideshow used in our spring presentation night and created the foundation for this website.
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Maggie researched the needs of pollinators and with the help our our 8th grade class, created a native flower garden that will offer food to our pollinators throughout the summer months.
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Enjoy the slideshow of our Spring Trip and we hope you enjoyed our journey.
