🦦 Fourth graders from W.D. Williams Elementary took learning to the next level with a hands-on adventure along the Blue Ridge Parkway- right in their own backyard.
At the Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters, students rotated through engaging stations where they explored animal adaptations, learned how to treat hypothermia by wrapping up a dummy named “Earl Bob,” and earned free National Parks passes to share with their families. They also watched a powerful film on the rich culture, conservation efforts, and artistic traditions tied to the Blue Ridge Parkway, then hit the trail for a 50-minute hike around the Visitor Center.
“My favorite part was wrapping Earl Bob to save him from hypothermia!” said student Emelia.
For fellow student Finn, the film’s mountain vistas were the highlight.
“All I could say was ‘breathtaking,’” he said.
Victor, another student, walked away with a new perspective.
“I learned the Blue Ridge Parkway is more than just a road, and that hiking is hard,” he said
The field trip hit key learning areas across the curriculum- literacy (with a tie-in to the novel “Hatchet”), science (animal adaptations and landforms), and social studies (North Carolina history and heritage).
“We love this field trip because it connects so closely with what we teach, and it’s just minutes from our school,” said fourth grade teachers Kattia Mayorga, Hannah Harvey, and Julia Moore. “Many students had never hiked a trail before. Showing them a free, fun way to experience nature is crucial for their mental and emotional well-being.”