TRIPS: THE KEYSTONE TRIP/GRADE SEVEN
After the school discontinued the Grasslands and the Marble trips, John Kuntz and Jack McKenna created a winter trip dedicated to involving, to quote Rosemary Fetter, the second chronicler of our illustrious history, “. . . students in outdoor learning activities. The children study snow science while hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing to reach their objectives.” I recall beautiful weather -- blue skies, crisp temperatures, breathtaking scenery, and some activities that stretched me to the max. I was the incompetent faculty member for whom the night ski or snuggling in garbage bags was an odious task. However, the seventh graders almost always loved the trip. My favorite trip was the time I spent with one class-- the class of 1986, I believe. I recall some girls telling me to skip the night ski and read. I did.
A plus for all was building a snow cave. Mr. Rice recalls, “In the early days we focused on wilderness survival, such as how to recognize avalanche warnings or build a snow cave. If you live in Colorado, you might face a situation at some point where these skills are critical.”
There was even a spring trip one year to Keystone Science School-- I loved it, except for the dead flies that kept falling from the ceiling and landing on my white shirts. These days, the sixth graders visit KSS in the fall -- it has replaced the Estes Park Trip; the seventh graders and their teachers now visit Washington, D.C. -- formerly a ninth-grade trip.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
