Hike with Camino Real Academy students: Mr. Tyson’s Fourth-Graders

Our first school field trip was a wonderful success on Sept 25, 2014, thanks in particular to coordination by Shawna Jones of Communities in Schools and funding for transportation from the Gimbel Foundation.  SFCT trails program manager Tim Rogers met with Mr. Tyson’s fourth-graders at Cerro Gordo Trailhead – 25 kids along with three parents, one sibling, Mr. Tyson, and Ms. Jones.  Following orientation at the trailhead map, we crossed the river diversion, Upper Canyon Rd., the Acequia del Llano, and the Hydropower Ditch on the way up toward Picacho Peak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Rogers provided some of the background to Dale Ball trails, land conservation by SFCT and its public and private partners, and the history of this particular area, in English and Spanish for this bilingual class.  We made it up to the ledge below Picacho with an incredible view of the city.  We had a snack and talked about the various mountains we could see, then we headed back down.  Lots of smiles and laughter, some diverse places for Mr. Tyson and the kids to experience and to think about in their study of different animal habitats, and quite a workout for the kids and grown-ups alike.

Thanks, all!  Maybe next time we will make it all the way up the peak!