Field trip to Trees for Tomorrow immerses St. Mary’s students in nature

EAGLE RIVER – St. Mary’s School 4^th and 5^th grade students recently had the opportunity to spend three days and two nights immersed in hands-on learning and outdoor adventure.

Principal Juanita Skubal said Tomahawk’s Packing Corporation of America (PCA) mill and the Home and School Association sponsored the students’ field trip to Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River.

While at Trees for Tomorrow, the 4^th and 5^th graders explored fascinating topics, Skubal said, including beaver habitats. The students even built their own dams, she added.

“A nighttime hike challenged them to rely on senses other than sight, while lessons on nocturnal animals brought the experience to life,” Skubal stated. “They also learned how to use a compass and put those navigation skills into action, studied birds of prey like owls and eagles, and explored animal and fish adaptations, along with wetland ecology.”

Skubal noted that the students also discovered the world of logging, learning about different careers and types of wood, as well as the important work loggers do.

“It was an unforgettable experience filled with learning, exploration and fun,” Skubal said. “We are so grateful for the support that made this opportunity possible.”