I love leading hikes. I love seeing what's out there. I love when students point out things that I missed. I love the new growth and the sound of the birds. This was my first time to teach WW. The fact that it was my first time made me somewhat more nervous than those last 4 weeks of Sugar Bush. I found the lab time challenging, from the standpoint that after about 4 scopes the students seem ready to do something else. The first group was especially fidgety due having spent time on the bus, watched the power point and then be asked to sit yet again. The second group, having hiked first, seemed much more ready to sit and look at the specimens. I did like having two halves prior to lunch and then the other two, rather than trying to do rotational stations. Logistics is critical, and can make a huge difference in the flow of the day. It was also especially wonderful to have support (Jane) to care for the fire and prep some pieces between groups. I learned the importance of thinking through all the pieces of the day, this is why lesson planning is important. During Sugar Bush, so much of that was done for us, that I didn't get that same sense.
My highlight was seeing the goslings with both my hiking groups.
To reply to your comment, when students in a group do not have cohesive desires in regard to hike options it then becomes the educators job to step in and manage the situation. Basically do what is intended. But when students in a group are relaxed and enjoying exploring that makes our job extremely fun and less of a management situation.
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