On May 2, 2012 Lewis-Palmer Elementary School sixth graders departed on a three day learning experience at High Trails. This is a camp in Florissant, Colorado and is part of the 6000 acres of land that is the Colorado Outdoor Education Center.

As a student at High Trails, campers are constantly engaged in learning, exploration and fun. Each day at the camp the sixth graders go on one of the four discovery groups, learning about three different aspects of nature and earth’s history. High Trails offers fourteen different discovery groups while the school attending chooses how many and what groups to participate in, depending on how long their visit is. LPES students were placed in the Time Machine/ fossils, mountaineers/ woodsmen, innovators or prospectors discovery groups during their tim.

Discovery groups focus on the student’s five natural senses, and the sixth sense enforced at High Trails, the sense of wonder as well as an overall respect of the earth.

In each group, students participate in role playing with councelors and staff, action activities, games, hiking with fellow students and experience new locations in conclusion to each lesson taught. While using wonder and knowledge, the students explore the diversity and beauty of natural surroundings.

“Working with the students was fun. As a counselor I got to see them learn and explore nature,” junior Marius Braun said.

The students live together, participate in dining hall duties and share cabin clean up at the end of the visit, making a sense of responsibility, leadership and self-reliance.

Teenage students from Lewis-Palmer and Palmer Ridge high schools were selected to be the counselors. These high school counselors got to work with the High Trails staff and make new friendships. As a counselor, one worked with the students in the cabins as well as at dinner and discovery groups. When working with the High Trails staff one would help teach the students in discovery groups but after the first group, the counselors would be in charge of teaching the students by themselves. Not only does a counselor see the sixth graders learn and grow, one grows and becomes a leader and role model.

“I really liked being a counselor. I got to have fun with the kids while dressing up and acting goofy,” Braun said.