trees and acorns on a school day

Sandia Mountain Learning

Today Fifi is on a school field trip to the Cibola National Forest in the Sandia Mountains.

What a lucky girl to be able to have class in the fresh air and open skies.

She is with her honors science class. I had to miss the opportunity to chaperone because the van is making some strange sounds.

Any how, she is on a PBL (Problem Based Learning) ecological monitoring field trip.

They are examining and studying the trees; measuring in kilometer, the height and distance of the trees on average and in comparison. Then they factor in the annual rainfalls. They also add to the equation the annual forest fires and their affect on the ecology and growth of the vegetation and wildlife habitat. 

They hiked and identified leaves of various species of trees along an open path.
They drew pictures of the area in an eagle or birds eye perspective as if they were high above the tree tops. Then they had lunch in the picnic area of the reserve.

Fifi was excited because it is a rare opportunity for field trips in middle school. It's not like it was when they were in elementary; where they go on field trips often. Although this isn't the first time Princess Fifi has gone to this ecological reserve site. She's been on a similar field trip with her Science class in the 5th grade to the same area Although she says the field trip today was much more interesting and fact filled compared to then. At any rate she gained skill, acquired knowledge and comprehension of the environment and came home with a smile and a pocket full of acorns.