“We want to have fun with you, but we need your respect and your listening ears,” we responded. “If you show us respect, good things will happen. We can promise you that.” Despite their obstinacy, we marched down to the buses.

After leaving a couple of students behind due to continued bad behavior, we managed to make our way to the Urban Ecology Center. That’s when we revealed our “secret plan” to win them over… sledding! After numerous trips down the hill, some serious “180°” air flips off the mogul and even a few races, their point of view on the field trip changed.

With smiles plastered all over their faces, we made our way inside and worked with them to understand why winter happens. We explored the cause of the seasons and the animal adaptations that respond to winter. They didn’t need any convincing to go back outside for the next part of the class. We were hot on the trail of any animal evidence we could find. Logs were flipped, bark was ripped and tracks were examined. Their minds buzzing with their detective work, we eventually had to make our way to the bus. But now the Center was the place they didn’t want to leave!

Now fast forward to spring time — warm weather, flowers, buds on the trees, temperatures in the 50s — and our return to pick up the same group. It was the type of day we all dream of in the cold of mid-January, yet they asked if we were going sledding again! It was almost heartwarming enough to consider investing in a snow machine. Somewhere during those 180° spin flips on the sleds, these kids’ hearts turned around too. Going outside can be scary, we understand. We are very proud to teach kids how to have fun and learn outside in any condition and appreciate the unique opportunities of all seasons and all weather.

co-written by Erick Anderson, Community Program Coordinator and Dan Graves, Environmental Educator