On Tuesday, April 2nd, sixth grade students spent the whole day in the snowy woods around Spooner Lake. Led by naturalist and lower school science teacher, Madelyn Rios, students learned about the various birds living in that area, including Steller’s Jays, northern flickers, ravens, white-breasted nuthatches, American robins, and red-tailed hawks. They investigated white firs, red firs, cottonwoods, Jeffrey pines, and quaking aspens. Quite a few of the aspens had bear scratches on them. Students identified different animal tracks – black bears, coyotes, racoons, and gray squirrels; most they found were made by cottontails. A highlight of the trip was building snow shelters. One even had a hot tub; sixth graders are creative.