To further the study of natural science, this year's outdoor school focused on geology and astronomy. Our adventure to Sun Lakes began a day earlier than the rest of the class.

Traveling down the highway with my dad driving his newfound toy (a diesel truck that you had to climb up into), my mother kept referring to the outdoor school assignments while Anna, Christina, Olivia, and I happily chattered away. However, several miles later, the four of us turned from talking and towards the windows where we surveyed natural river and rock formations while my mom read from several books that theorized on how they came to be. I can fully say that not one of us had fallen asleep (partially because the diesel motor kept us up!). Nearly 4 hours after we had taken off (including several trips to amusing museums), we arrived at the windy campsite that we were to call home for the next 5 days.

The next day, while the rest of the class began their descent over the mountains and towards Sun Lakes, we headed to the Lenore Caves where the adventuresome Olivia led the way to the saddle of the basalt formations. That night our class witnessed a lunar eclipse and looked for different star formations. The next couple of days we spent driving around and looking at the basalt formations and the huge gashes in the earth that could only have happened through a catastrophic flood. However, some scientists reckon that several ice-dammed floods created the gashes. (Editor's note: Grand Coulee, Moses Coulee, Dry Falls, and the whole area known as the "Scablands") Most of the students held their tongues, giving general respect to several or the gust speakers, when they explained how these gashes in the earth were formed (Editor's note: worldwide flood vs. local flood)

Not only did we learn about geology and astronomy, but also about the native people who first used this land as their home. Former State Senator Nat Washington told us of the plants and roots that the Nez Perce Indians would use to survive. After acquiring the knowledge of the plants that were edible, Olivia identified a camas plant on a hike and proceeded to dig up an enormous root. However, after taking a bite of it, she found that it had a disgusting taste, so we decide not to have it for dinner. At one of the many museums that our group went to, we met the great-great-great-grandson of Chief Joseph. With a slow, solemn and respectful voice, the curator of the museum told us of the old ways and how he grew up as a child.

This trip not only opened our eyes to different cultures and to the world of geology and astronomy, but also grew friendships between us girls. During free time, we would talk about our beliefs, our futures, our hopes, and our dreams. 2003 Outdoor School will most certainly be one of my fondest memories of spending time with my friends and parents.

Outdoor School Itinerary

Thursday
Leave home for Sun Lake Resort: (Driving notes for geology/history tour over the Hwy 2 pass)
Cashmere museum and rock/crystal exhibit
Ephrata/Grant Co museum
Briefing: ground rules, overview of outdoor school, intro to geology and astronomy
Stargazing session #1/ lunar eclipse

Friday
Reclamation driving loop (Grand Coulee to Long Lake)
Debriefing of the dayÕs learning
Local natural and Native American History Ð guest speaker: Sen. Nat Washington
Stargazing session #2

Saturday
Dry Falls Museum
Geology tour of the Scablands with Geologist Vic Gilleland Big Bend Community College
Debriefing of the dayÕs learning
Stargazing session #3

Sunday
Worship at an outdoor church on Blue Lake
Options: rock/fossil hunting, hike to the Blue Lake Rhino cave (or Crystal Cave, or Horsethief Cave or Lenore Caves)
Return home