First and Third Grade Field Trip: Fish & Elk & Art, Oh My!

The adventure began at the Fish Hatchery, which was founded in 1950 as one of 70 national hatcheries across the country. Mrs. Nichols, 1st grade teacher, said “we learned all about native cutthroat trout - how they are spawned, hatched, and raised into 2-year-olds that eventually venture out into dozens of lakes, ponds, and rivers in the region.” The students also had the chance to observe other animals at the hatchery including a muskrat, beaver, and various birds of prey.

 

Just down the road from the Hatchery, the students made their way to the Jackson Hole/Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center where they were met by Kari Cieszkiewic, education and outreach coordinator for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on the National Elk Refuge.

 

“Our own private tour included learning about the numerous species of wildlife one might encounter on the Refuge,” Mrs. Nichols said. “We saw elk, and got to touch badgers, mink, coyotes, moose, and a whole bunch of other animals.” The tour ended with everyone earning their Junior Naturalist Badge after successfully completing a challenging workbook.

 

The group then traveled to see animals in art form at their final destination, the Art Museum. From paintings to sculptures, students were treated to a custom-designed program by the Museum’s Assistant Curator of Education Julia Spencer. Mrs. Nichols said, “Julia pointed out the unique stories behind some works of art, read a storybook about a lion and a mouse, and then had the students make their own story books based on works of art they liked.”