AXL Academy 8th Graders Embraced Wildlife Exploration as they Searched for Crawdads and Practiced Observing Local Plants and Animals like Naturalists
Written by AXL CAP Instructor Hannah Posedel. On Thursday, August 27th, AXL Academy 8th grade CAP students embarked on their journey to Castlewood Canyon for a day that would include wildlife exploration. The first thing students asked was, “are there bears and snakes?” Like all natural and wilderness areas in Colorado, the answer was “maybe.” We started off our day ensuring students were safe and prepared, including lessons about bear and snake safety. Students were feeling more confident about their journey as we began the day off trail, playing our favorite game called “Camouflage”. This was the first time the majority of the students experimented with camouflaging themselves behind brush and rocks, imitating the predator and prey dynamic as they tried to quietly reach the “rabbit” in the middle without getting caught.
After our morning game, we began our descent into the canyon, surrounded by beautiful cliff views. Students were curious and inquisitive of all the local flora and fauna, including the wild sunflowers, poison ivy, the prickly pear cacti, and more! Our first stop was at a sandy creek edge where we dipped our feet in to cool off and caught crawdads of all different sizes. Some leaders in the group ventured off with the other instructors to scout our lunch spot and set-up camp, so when we finally grouped together again, a lunch spread was ready for each student to share their sentiment of gratitude, via tradition, and grab their plate.
As our trip was coming to a close, we had to hike out before it was too late. We were able to sneak in a few more moments of crawdad hunting and catching before the hike out of the canyon. Even though the instructors had planned lessons and activities to entertain our students, the students autonomously immersed themselves in nature, engaging with the plants and animals, and ultimately practiced observation and appreciation the whole day – solidifying the natural connection between humans and the natural world.
Thanks to the funders and supporters who make the CAP class possible, including: Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado, Patagonia, PeyBack Foundation, Strear Family Foundation, Thorne Nature Experience, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Xcel Energy Foundation.
If you are also passionate about getting students outside for unique outdoor experiences and wildlife exploration, please consider making a donation or becoming a monthly donor! You’ll help invest in our students, programs, and long-term sustainability and success!
