Etowah High School Students, Teacher Participate in Summer Earth Studies Program

From the Cherokee County School District:

Four Etowah High School students and one of their science teachers recently participated in a Summer Earth Studies trip, where they learned in the “classrooms” of Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

The 21-day experiential learning environment taught students how to “read the earth like a textbook,” according to Etowah HS teacher Denise Danielson, who coordinated this opportunity for students with support from CCSD’s Office of Educational Programs. The Etowah HS students were part of a group that also included students from Cobb County.

“The stunning granite mountains of the Grand Tetons, surprising sand dunes of Saint Anthony's and magnificent red sandstone rocks of Moab provided a spectacular classroom backdrop,” Ms. Danielson said.

Students learned how to read topographical maps, use compasses and read field guides to propose hypotheses and collaboratively solve daily field problems as they related to geology, meteorology, ecology and astronomy.

“The outside classroom was my favorite part because you were actually observing what you were learning,” Etowah High School rising junior Hector Guerrero said.

The rigorous academic program in which students earned an Honors Earth Science credit also featured hiking, caving, fossil digging, star gazing and white water rafting.

“We also had time to enjoy swimming in natural pools, kickball and Frisbee games and singing while making s'mores by the fireside,” Ms. Danielson said.

Students interested in attending next summer can email Ms. Danielson at denise.danielson@cherokee.k12.ga.us.