Local schools trade screens for skies
Rob Morris of Idaho Fish and Game leads an October "bear aware" presentation for Farmin Stidwell sixth graders featuring a taxidermy grizzly and an inert bear spray demonstration.
Photo by DARREN SVAN
SANDPOINT — The spark for Lake Pend Oreille School District’s outdoor education initiative came by happenstance.
During the thick of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, the district faced uncertainty about a return to classrooms in the fall. With schools across the country experimenting with distance learning, the limitations of virtual classrooms were becoming apparent. Educators needed a way to teach their students in-person.
Washington Elementary Principal Natassia Hamer recalled a meeting among district educators during the tumultuous time. “We were really trying to think outside the box,” Hamer said. “If they don't let us go back to school, could we go back to school if we went back to school outside?”
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