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ENLARGE
Anamarie Pietrafesa, an eighth grader at Cache La Poudre Junior High School looks at insects under a microscope that were collected from the Poudre River during "River Week" at the school on Wednesday. At right, is Jean Carpenter, an employee with Fort Collins utilities. This is the fifth year
that Carpenter has worked with the students as part of the "River Week" program.
As the sun began to stretch into the sky to fend off the brisk morning air, the Poudre River steadily lapped against its banks, welcoming a group of early visitors and guests. Like a newfound celebrity, the river has gained lots of publicity lately from interest groups, government officials and environmentalists battling over issues that affect its future.
But throughout last week, its visitors weren’t there to make any political point. They didn’t dive in naked with signs that spell “Save the Poudre,” and they didn’t conduct any studies to support or oppose future water storage projects. Instead, the dozens of feet that scattered up along the grass and dipped into the cool water were there to reap the knowledge the river has to offer.
In the same week that the Fort Collins City Council officially took a stance against the proposed Glade Reservoir and the Northern Integrated Supply Project, eighth graders at Cache La Poudre paid the river a visit. The river, which stretches just past the football field behind the school, became the students’ classroom for science, English, math and several other subjects.
River Week, in its fifth year, is a week where classes are held outside in pure nature and students participate in a variety of hands-on activities.
“This is part of our culture,” said Jennie Russell, who is in her 27th year of teaching science at Cache La Poudre Junior High School. “It’s expected every year. Parents, teachers and students look forward to it.”
Russell said the event was originally set up as a strictly science activity. When the teacher who headed it up retired, Russell stepped in.
“I think differently,” she said.
She approached the principal about making the event bigger and getting more teachers involved. And though the week can’t exactly be described as interdisciplinary because the teachers do not sit down and plan it all out together, it is somewhat collaborative. Each teacher creates his or her own lesson plans around their specific subject’s objectives and decide how to incorporate the river. Though the school will shift to a middle school configuration next year, staff members said River Week will continue to be a special tradition for the school.
“Our school is lucky,” said Taylor Charvat, an eighth-grader. “We are the only school that gets to have a River Week. It gets us interested in the water.”
In Terri Berger’s English class, students have studied Andy Goldsworthy, the British sculptor, photographer and environmentalists known for his site-specific sculptures and land art. On Tuesday, her classes had the opportunity to take nature and turn it into temporary sculptures. They gathered twigs, leaves flowers and rocks and assembled them into works of art. One class made mountains and a sunset. Another group made a large fish and positioned it in the shallow edge of the river.
“Experiential learning is the key,” Berger said. “It allows them to see the connection between the classroom and the real world. ... We are fortunate to have this magnificent setting where we can bring them out any time.”
She said her students have also studied several eco-poets and will be writing sensory poetry about their sculptures. Because the river is a big part of their community, she said students develop a strong concern for the environment.
In math, students focused on measurement and dimensions—something that fits right into the math standards, according to Randy Ross, a math teacher at Cache La Poudre Junior High. He said the outside activities help students build the connection between the concrete and the abstract in math. The students took cross sections of the river and measured the depth.
Throughout the week, city employees helped lead the activities and instruction. Marcee Camenson, Utilities Education Coordinator, said her department brought out equipment for the students to use in order to calculate the river’s volume.
“Our goal is to educate people on watershed,” Camenson said. “Once people understand the river, they can understand why we have to take care of the land. Pollution prevention is the main goal.”
Camenson said she often gets calls from teachers requesting information on the advancement of the reservoir discussion because it is a topic that comes up in the classrooms. At Cache La Poudre, several teachers said social studies classes have discussed the current events relating to the Poudre River. Russell is planning to have her pre-AP class divide into groups and present the pros and cons of the Glade issue.
“It’s about making informed decisions,” she said.
During River Week, her classes went on a habitat walk, conducted a plant transect study and identified macroinvertebrates under microscopes. Next week, they will use that information to determine how healthy the river is.
“I think it’s fun to be outside. It’s more social. We get to be with our friends and still learn stuff,” said eighth-grader Savannah Unruh.
Even technology classes, drama classes and music classes found ways to learn from the river.
Tony Gezzi, director of bands and choirs at the school, decided to add a musical component to the schedule last year. He planned a concert by the river which drew about 200 people. Because it was so successful, he decided to host another concert this year, which is free and open to the public. He hopes the event will attract about 300 people.
“For every school, it’s important to collaborate,” he said. “This concert is a nice way to conclude the week.”
He compares the concert to Colorado State University’s Lagoon Series and encourages people to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic food. This year, the Montgomery Jazz Group will perform with vocalist Mary Buirgy and trumpeter Kevin Whalen. He said the concert is a great way to draw attention to Cache La Poudre Junior High School. Russell tends to agree.
“This (school) is a little jewel,” Russell said. “We are the only school lucky enough to be on a river. Why not take advantage of the gifts that are here? We have amenities that other schools would die to have.”
But throughout last week, its visitors weren’t there to make any political point. They didn’t dive in naked with signs that spell “Save the Poudre,” and they didn’t conduct any studies to support or oppose future water storage projects. Instead, the dozens of feet that scattered up along the grass and dipped into the cool water were there to reap the knowledge the river has to offer.
In the same week that the Fort Collins City Council officially took a stance against the proposed Glade Reservoir and the Northern Integrated Supply Project, eighth graders at Cache La Poudre paid the river a visit. The river, which stretches just past the football field behind the school, became the students’ classroom for science, English, math and several other subjects.
River Week, in its fifth year, is a week where classes are held outside in pure nature and students participate in a variety of hands-on activities.
“This is part of our culture,” said Jennie Russell, who is in her 27th year of teaching science at Cache La Poudre Junior High School. “It’s expected every year. Parents, teachers and students look forward to it.”
Russell said the event was originally set up as a strictly science activity. When the teacher who headed it up retired, Russell stepped in.
“I think differently,” she said.
She approached the principal about making the event bigger and getting more teachers involved. And though the week can’t exactly be described as interdisciplinary because the teachers do not sit down and plan it all out together, it is somewhat collaborative. Each teacher creates his or her own lesson plans around their specific subject’s objectives and decide how to incorporate the river. Though the school will shift to a middle school configuration next year, staff members said River Week will continue to be a special tradition for the school.
“Our school is lucky,” said Taylor Charvat, an eighth-grader. “We are the only school that gets to have a River Week. It gets us interested in the water.”
In Terri Berger’s English class, students have studied Andy Goldsworthy, the British sculptor, photographer and environmentalists known for his site-specific sculptures and land art. On Tuesday, her classes had the opportunity to take nature and turn it into temporary sculptures. They gathered twigs, leaves flowers and rocks and assembled them into works of art. One class made mountains and a sunset. Another group made a large fish and positioned it in the shallow edge of the river.
“Experiential learning is the key,” Berger said. “It allows them to see the connection between the classroom and the real world. ... We are fortunate to have this magnificent setting where we can bring them out any time.”
She said her students have also studied several eco-poets and will be writing sensory poetry about their sculptures. Because the river is a big part of their community, she said students develop a strong concern for the environment.
In math, students focused on measurement and dimensions—something that fits right into the math standards, according to Randy Ross, a math teacher at Cache La Poudre Junior High. He said the outside activities help students build the connection between the concrete and the abstract in math. The students took cross sections of the river and measured the depth.
Throughout the week, city employees helped lead the activities and instruction. Marcee Camenson, Utilities Education Coordinator, said her department brought out equipment for the students to use in order to calculate the river’s volume.
“Our goal is to educate people on watershed,” Camenson said. “Once people understand the river, they can understand why we have to take care of the land. Pollution prevention is the main goal.”
Camenson said she often gets calls from teachers requesting information on the advancement of the reservoir discussion because it is a topic that comes up in the classrooms. At Cache La Poudre, several teachers said social studies classes have discussed the current events relating to the Poudre River. Russell is planning to have her pre-AP class divide into groups and present the pros and cons of the Glade issue.
“It’s about making informed decisions,” she said.
During River Week, her classes went on a habitat walk, conducted a plant transect study and identified macroinvertebrates under microscopes. Next week, they will use that information to determine how healthy the river is.
“I think it’s fun to be outside. It’s more social. We get to be with our friends and still learn stuff,” said eighth-grader Savannah Unruh.
Even technology classes, drama classes and music classes found ways to learn from the river.
Tony Gezzi, director of bands and choirs at the school, decided to add a musical component to the schedule last year. He planned a concert by the river which drew about 200 people. Because it was so successful, he decided to host another concert this year, which is free and open to the public. He hopes the event will attract about 300 people.
“For every school, it’s important to collaborate,” he said. “This concert is a nice way to conclude the week.”
He compares the concert to Colorado State University’s Lagoon Series and encourages people to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic food. This year, the Montgomery Jazz Group will perform with vocalist Mary Buirgy and trumpeter Kevin Whalen. He said the concert is a great way to draw attention to Cache La Poudre Junior High School. Russell tends to agree.
“This (school) is a little jewel,” Russell said. “We are the only school lucky enough to be on a river. Why not take advantage of the gifts that are here? We have amenities that other schools would die to have.”
To Go
Jazz at the River Concert starts at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept., 5 at Cache La Poudre Junior High School, 2419 W. County Road 54 G, Laporte. Event is free and open to the public.
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