We kicked off our new program, Dias del Agua y Tierra, last week! Working with the Bureau of Land Management, we took 5th graders from Dual Immersion Academy to Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. Learning in both Spanish and English, 5th graders explored the ecology, watershed, agriculture, and history of the landscape.
See the program for yourself! Check out our photos below.
The land portion of the field trip took place at the Upper Dominguez Campground in Dominguez-Escalante NCA - a perfect spot to escape the summer heat of the desert!
The students went on a hike into the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. After learning the Leave No Trace principles in Spanish, the 5th graders were ready to take on the trail.
BLM Resource Specialist, Iris, taught the students about yucca, a native desert plant. Along with being an important plant for the landscape, we learned it is also an important plant for humans as it is edible and nutritious!
The group concluded their hike at the beaver ponds. CCA’s Program Coordinator, Annie, taught the kids about local wildlife and ecology of this unique landscape.
Walking through sagebrush and wildflowers, students had the chance to enjoy being outside.
Time to create art! Each student has their own learning style and interests. Having the space to learn and reflect about the landscape through art was interactive and engaging for the kids.
Students had fun drawing and painting animals, plants, rocks, and more. Look at their awesome creations!
Time to raft! After a day spent on the land, students got ready for a day-long rafting trip on the Gunnison River in Dominguez-Escalante NCA. Before getting on the water, the CCA River Team went over river safety and etiquette.
For many students, this was their first rafting trip. CCA strives to make every trip fun, memorable, and educational - we want every kid to go home with long-lasting memories!
This 5th grade Dual Immersion Academy class is ready for a fun day on the river!
Along the 6-mile rafting trip, the students learned not only about the river, but also about the cultural significance of the area. The group’s favorite stop was seeing the petroglyphs on the canyon’s sandstone walls.
The group concluded their rafting trip at Honey Rock Landing, a beautiful orchard along the Gunnison River. The 5th graders took a farm tour to learn about the agriculture of the area - and as an added bonus got to pick their very-own fresh pear!
We hope each and every student left Dias del Agua y Tierra with a new sense of appreciation and understanding for their public lands. CCA will continue to implement and improve our bilingual programming for more kids to enjoy!