LYMAN — Lyman Intermediate School fifth grade held their annual Bridger Lake Field Trip on Sept.29, which proved to be a beautiful fall day for the excursion.

UCCD organizes this outdoor field trip each year as an opportunity for students to get hands on learning experiences in Mother Nature’s classroom from a request by the teachers,

Sixty-five fifth graders were more than excited to engage in learning at around the Bridger Lake Campground in the Uinta Mountains south of Mountain View, according to UCCD. The students rotated through four educational stations:

• Coniferous Forests & Tie Hacking – Five U.S. Forest Service employees discussed the history of tie hacking in the area and the characteristics of coniferous trees/forests. Students took an educational bike ride around the lake and campground to observe the flora and fauna and enjoy the fresh mountain air.
• Mountain Pine Beetle – UCCD Natural Resource Specialist and Biologist, Grant Redden, taught the students about the lifecycle and detrimental effects of the mountain pine beetle. The students got an up-close look at beetle-killed trees and discussed steps officials could take to slow the infestation in our forests.
• Predator/Prey – Students learned about predator/prey interactions between Wyoming wildlife species as they played a game of ‘Quick Frozen Critters’ and examined fur specimens of Wyoming mammals with Wyoming Game and Fish Education Specialist, Regina Dickson.
• Macroinvertebrates – LIS teacher Lance Perkins discussed the importance of benthic species as an indicator of water-quality. The students collected visible and microscopic macroinvertebrate specimens among the rocks and moss on the edge of Bridger Lake. At the lake, the students used magnifying glasses and field guides to identify their specimens. Specimens were taken back to their classrooms for further identification with microscopes.

This field trip would not be possible without the interest and support of the Lyman Intermediate School teachers, principal and bus drivers, as well as the help of experts from the U.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Game and Fish, and Uinta County Conservation District according to officials. The group hopes to continue providing this great outdoor experience to the students at LIS for many years.

For more information about educational opportunities through the Uinta County Conservation District, please visit us at www.uintacountycd.com. Find us on Facebook @UintaCountyCD.