Montana State Parks AmeriCorps member Hillary Sward leading the Bonner third graders in their Junior Ranger pledge. The pledge promises to take care of the land, be a steward, and learn about Montana's fish, wildlife and parks. Students also received their Junior Ranger badge.
A group of third graders work together to set up a tent that Salmon Lake State Park rents to campers.
Montana State Park Ranger Brett Zarling leads a nature hike to teach a group of students about forest ecology.
Alicia Dixon, an AmeriCorps member serving with the Clearwater Resource Council, shows a group of third graders how to use the bear-resistant storage lockers at Salmon Lake State Park.
GREENOUGH: Monday, Oct. 4 third grade students from Bonner learned more about their surroundings and the recreation offered at Montana State Parks. Developed by State Parks AmeriCorps member Hillary Sward and led by State Park staff and other AmeriCorps members, the first "Junior Ranger Day" held at Salmon Lake State Park taught students about camping, fishing, water safety and their natural surroundings.
Prior to becoming an AmeriCorps volunteer, Sward taught 5-12 grade bands. She attended the University of Montana and obtained a Master of Science in Geography with a certificate in Environmental Education.
While working with the State Parks, she was able to apply her education background and the flexibility of the position to bring education and interpretive opportunities to the parks.
"Because [the State Parks] are recreation based, the education is kind of lacking just because the day-to-day making sure everyone is following different rules and protecting the resource takes up most of everyone's time," Sward said. "I've had the freedom to go above and beyond the program and just being able to get kids into a state park to be out in the middle of everything learning about different recreation topics."
During Earth Week in April, Sward sent out a mass email to all the schools from Swan to Bonner introducing herself and asking if any of the classes would be interested in hosting her for a class visit to discuss the State Parks or other natural resources. She was invited to a few classrooms including Bonner School.
She pitched the idea of hosting a field day at Salmon Lake State Park this fall after the campground was closed to the public. State Parks Manager Ryan Sokoloski thought it was a great idea.
Sward reached out to Bonner School and the other local elementary schools inviting students from kindergarten through eighth grade to the field day.
"Bonner was super interested and just loving the opportunity to get their kids out somewhere different," Sward said adding she did not hear from any of the other schools. "Having already worked with me a little bit helps. It was just a continuation of classes I did last spring."
Sward planned four stations with an emphasis on placed-based engagement. They covered recreational topics with an educational component.
"If we are just going to sit and listen we might as well stay in school," Sward said. "Making sure it is something where the kids are up and active learning something new and moving all the time and staying busy, that way it makes more of a memorable experience."
The third graders from Bonner learned about water safety, fishing and fish identification, camping and safe camping in bear country and took a guided nature walk to learn about forest ecology and test observation skills.
Sward explained that students were asked what they saw on the nature hike, to pick out things that didn't belong and ask questions about what they saw.
"Even though there were a wide variety of topics ...each station wasn't a total stand alone so what they learned at one they could build on at another," Sward said.
Since Sward's AmeriCorps position ends in November, she hopes another AmeriCorps member in the area will replicate the program and be able to increase attendance from all ages from the local schools.
"Getting out into the state parks is such a great opportunity for kids and recreation topics are something any age can participate in. It is easy to adapt the lesson content to fit into the curriculum and align it with the state and national standards," Swart said. "Any grade, any teacher that is interested would be welcome when we get it going again. Maybe we can get every school in the Seeley-Swan Valley at some point."
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