Welcome to Outdoor Adventures!
May 11, 2018
Greetings, Outdoor Adventurers!
Starting this June, we will begin an adventure together. You will learn information and skills that will be beneficial to you for years to come. I am excited to share my love of the outdoors with you. We will be in a new building so it will be a learning experience for all of us.
Our class will be a blend of classroom instruction, hands-on learning, and outdoor activities. Our first day will be primarily classroom-based activities, but you still need to bring a water bottle. Proper hydration is a basic part of outdoor preparation, so bring a water bottle daily.
I will give you a class agenda when class starts. Our main subjects will be survival, fishing, recreational prospecting, rock hunting, and other outdoor skills. It is a lot of information to cover and our time together will go by quickly.
Josh Fusco has agreed to be my Teaching Assistant. Josh is a multiple year participant in the Outdoor Adventures class and is a great asset to our team.
I am looking forward to meeting all of you.
Jesseca Fusco
32561 Redwing Ave.
Shafer, MN 55074
Greetings, Outdoor Adventurers!
Starting this June, we will begin an adventure together. You will learn information and skills that will be beneficial to you for years to come. I am excited to share my love of the outdoors with you. We will be in a new building so it will be a learning experience for all of us.
Our class will be a blend of classroom instruction, hands-on learning, and outdoor activities. Our first day will be primarily classroom-based activities, but you still need to bring a water bottle. Proper hydration is a basic part of outdoor preparation, so bring a water bottle daily.
I will give you a class agenda when class starts. Our main subjects will be survival, fishing, recreational prospecting, rock hunting, and other outdoor skills. It is a lot of information to cover and our time together will go by quickly.
Josh Fusco has agreed to be my Teaching Assistant. Josh is a multiple year participant in the Outdoor Adventures class and is a great asset to our team.
I am looking forward to meeting all of you.
Jesseca Fusco
32561 Redwing Ave.
Shafer, MN 55074
Happy First Day!
It was wonderful to meet the new Adventurers today. We started out strong with an introduction to survival logic. Students learned about the acronym, STOP, for an easy to remember way to stop panic in a survival situation. This is an important part of survival--avoiding panic so that you do not make your situation worse.
Students also learned a new knot: the Cobra Knot. We made survival bracelets with the knot for an easy to carry way to store a length of rope. This is the first item in the survival kits we will be assembling tomorrow.
Over the next ten class periods, we will be compiling a list of wildlife that each student observed outside of class. I recommend spending around ten minutes outside, unmoving and silent, to see what goes on in the world around you. Each student will be responsible for observing a new creature to share with the class (insects are always welcome). Make sure to be creative! We want a long list to show at Open House.
Students also learned a new knot: the Cobra Knot. We made survival bracelets with the knot for an easy to carry way to store a length of rope. This is the first item in the survival kits we will be assembling tomorrow.
Over the next ten class periods, we will be compiling a list of wildlife that each student observed outside of class. I recommend spending around ten minutes outside, unmoving and silent, to see what goes on in the world around you. Each student will be responsible for observing a new creature to share with the class (insects are always welcome). Make sure to be creative! We want a long list to show at Open House.
Day 2
We assembled our survival kits in class today. Students learned about basic household items that may be utilized in a survival situation, including chapstick, Kleenex, cotton balls, steel wool, batteries, and CDs. We went over different packing lists and items to add to our survival packs. Parents, please note that knives are a common item to add to a gear pack. However, please add them to the packs at home. We have all of the materials that we need here in the class.
Students also learned about common injuries and illnesses they might encounter in the wilderness. We discussed basic first aid and learned how to tie a tourniquet and apply a pressure bandage. Knowing basic first aid--how to stop bleeding, stabilize sprains or breaks, and avoid the effects of the heat or chill--is an integral part of enduring a survival situation.
Students shared the first set of critters they saw outside. Keep up the good work! We also learned how to tie a square knot.
Students also learned about common injuries and illnesses they might encounter in the wilderness. We discussed basic first aid and learned how to tie a tourniquet and apply a pressure bandage. Knowing basic first aid--how to stop bleeding, stabilize sprains or breaks, and avoid the effects of the heat or chill--is an integral part of enduring a survival situation.
Students shared the first set of critters they saw outside. Keep up the good work! We also learned how to tie a square knot.
Day 3
Students experienced the effects of both heat and ice today. We held the annual Outdoor Adventures Hypothermia Contest. Each student was asked to close their eyes and remove five pennies from a cooler of tap water. Then, they repeated the exercise with a cooler of ice water. The contest, while being fun to watch and compete in, is also an important teaching tool where students are able to get first-hand experience with the effects of frigid temperatures on dexterity. We were able to compare the time it took for each student to complete the challenge in a graph you can find in the slideshow below.
We also practiced lighting fires with metal matches (flint and steel strikers) and our handmade fire starters. Students also observed a method using a phone battery and steel wool. There will be more opportunities to practice tomorrow and later in the course.
Students learned how to tie a half hitch knot. This is the first knot we will be using for erecting shelters tomorrow.
We also practiced lighting fires with metal matches (flint and steel strikers) and our handmade fire starters. Students also observed a method using a phone battery and steel wool. There will be more opportunities to practice tomorrow and later in the course.
Students learned how to tie a half hitch knot. This is the first knot we will be using for erecting shelters tomorrow.
Day 4
We have completed our first successful week of class! Students started the day learning how to tie a timber hitch. They then used this knot and the half hitch they learned yesterday to erect tarp shelters. Students learned two different ways to make shelters and worked together to see which group could do it faster. We had three groups: Tim Team, Majestic Potatoes, and Bandana People. Tim Team won the contest. Great job guys!
We also had more time to practice lighting fires with the metal matches. Almost everyone has successfully done so. We will have more opportunities to practice later.
Next week, we will start our fishing unit. Students are encouraged to bring their own rods, reels and tackle for our fishing trip on Wednesday. Students MUST have eye-protection on this trip! On Monday we will be doing an equipment check and making a pop-can fishing rig to practice casting. If your student wants to bring in a can they are welcome to. Have a wonderful weekend.
We also had more time to practice lighting fires with the metal matches. Almost everyone has successfully done so. We will have more opportunities to practice later.
Next week, we will start our fishing unit. Students are encouraged to bring their own rods, reels and tackle for our fishing trip on Wednesday. Students MUST have eye-protection on this trip! On Monday we will be doing an equipment check and making a pop-can fishing rig to practice casting. If your student wants to bring in a can they are welcome to. Have a wonderful weekend.
June 18, 2018
Greetings Parents and/or Guardians!
As you all know, the Outdoor Adventures class thrives in the outdoors. This year, we will be taking two different trips, one (Wednesday, June 20) for fishing at Cross Lake and one (Thursday, June 11) to Wild River State Park. The state park trip will occur on the extended day so check the bussing schedule so you pick up your student at the correct time. At the state park we will be hiking, learning to build a cooking fire, making lunch, and exploring the Visitor Center.
To do this, we ask that you send in $10 to help offset the cost of bussing.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected].
Jesseca Fusco
Greetings Parents and/or Guardians!
As you all know, the Outdoor Adventures class thrives in the outdoors. This year, we will be taking two different trips, one (Wednesday, June 20) for fishing at Cross Lake and one (Thursday, June 11) to Wild River State Park. The state park trip will occur on the extended day so check the bussing schedule so you pick up your student at the correct time. At the state park we will be hiking, learning to build a cooking fire, making lunch, and exploring the Visitor Center.
To do this, we ask that you send in $10 to help offset the cost of bussing.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected].
Jesseca Fusco
Day 5
Today was the start of the Fishing Unit! Students learned a great deal about fishing regulations, licenses, and different equipment used for fishing. Students also explored the Minnesota DNR website and used LakeFinder to look up different lakes they have fished, as well as, Cross Lake, where we will be fishing on Wednesday. We looked at different poles, lines, and reels and talked about the differences between them all. Tomorrow, we will be learning more about fly rods and casting.
Students learned how to tie two knots today: the Surgeon's Loop, and the Improved Clinch Knot. Both are fantastic fishing knots and we used them to make a few pop-can fishing rigs. These rigs are a good way to practice aim, control and patience with fishing. Also, the pop-can rig allows students to think outside the box and understand that they can use any supplies available to them in a survival situation. A pop can is a very useful tool in the wilderness if you know how to use one.
Above is a note from the SEEK Office. We are requesting an additional $10 from each student to cover the cost of bussing to our various trips. Please send the money with your student before Thursday. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Our fishing trip will commence on Wednesday! I am very excited to fish a new waterway but I want to remind everyone that students MUST have eye protection to be able to participate. I do not want any injuries and we will be using real hooks, jigs, and bait on the trip.
Students learned how to tie two knots today: the Surgeon's Loop, and the Improved Clinch Knot. Both are fantastic fishing knots and we used them to make a few pop-can fishing rigs. These rigs are a good way to practice aim, control and patience with fishing. Also, the pop-can rig allows students to think outside the box and understand that they can use any supplies available to them in a survival situation. A pop can is a very useful tool in the wilderness if you know how to use one.
Above is a note from the SEEK Office. We are requesting an additional $10 from each student to cover the cost of bussing to our various trips. Please send the money with your student before Thursday. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Our fishing trip will commence on Wednesday! I am very excited to fish a new waterway but I want to remind everyone that students MUST have eye protection to be able to participate. I do not want any injuries and we will be using real hooks, jigs, and bait on the trip.
Day 6
Day two of the Fishing Unit! We finished up making the pop-can rigs and practiced casting again. We discussed some of the fundamentals of fishing and made sure everyone was properly equipped for our fishing trip tomorrow. I will be providing bait so no one need worry about that.
We also talked about the differences between angling and fly fishing. Students were able to practice casting a fly rod as well. I am excited to see what we will catch tomorrow!
We also talked about the differences between angling and fly fishing. Students were able to practice casting a fly rod as well. I am excited to see what we will catch tomorrow!
Day 7
Our fishing trip was a success! We fished at the Cross Lake Public Water Access Point, which is around both Cross Lake and the Snake River. While the number of fish we caught was low, we had the most variety of species we have ever had. Ava caught a walleye. Isabelle caught a small Northern Pike and a Sunfish. James caught another Northern. It was a beautiful day for fishing but we found a couple of snags in the water. Each time a lure was lost or changed was an opportunity to practice our fishing knots, mostly the Improved Clinch Knot.
Day 8 - Extended Day
Today we went to explore the wilderness in Wild River State Park. We started out at the McEleroy Visitor Center, where students learned about the programs offered by the park including Geocaching and Compass Orienteering courses. Then, we hiked the Old Logging Trail to the park's picnic area. There students light and built their own cooking fires before making Tin Foil Burgers. We all agreed that they were delicious. Students also broke into groups to go on a Digital Scavenger Hunt for pictures of various trees, insects, and animals that are common in the park. The "Girl Group" (Isabelle, Amelia, Johnni, Rachel, & Ava) won with the most points, followed closely by "Boy Group ft. Layla"(Nate, Drake, James, Braden, & Layla), and lastly, "Matt Team" (Matthew, Tim, Payton, & Jacob). We had beautiful weather, though the bugs were biting.
Day 9
We went over some of the basic species of snakes in Minnesota today, Students discovered a bull snake on the trip to Wild River, but were unsure of what kind of snake it was. We spent some time talking about how to tell different species apart as well as determining if a snake was venomous or not. Remember: red next to yellow is a dangerous fellow, red next to black, venom lack.
We also learned how to use different items in the survival packs as a signal. We discussed how to build a signal fire, why whistles are better than voices, and how to use a signal mirror or a CD to flash light to a specific target. These are all useful skills if you are lost or are injured without anyone to help you.
Students also contributed to the 2018 Critter List and have successfully beaten last year's count of unique critter sightings. We also learned to tie a bowline knot--a simple knot with many uses in the wilderness.
We also learned how to use different items in the survival packs as a signal. We discussed how to build a signal fire, why whistles are better than voices, and how to use a signal mirror or a CD to flash light to a specific target. These are all useful skills if you are lost or are injured without anyone to help you.
Students also contributed to the 2018 Critter List and have successfully beaten last year's count of unique critter sightings. We also learned to tie a bowline knot--a simple knot with many uses in the wilderness.
Day 10
We talked rocks today! This is one of my very favorite units because I get to geek out over how cool the Earth is and how rocks, fossils, and other cool creations are formed. Students got to see and touch many different rocks today. We talked about agates, crystals, fossils, petrified wood, volcanic rock, and other native minerals and stones in the U.S. and Minnesota. We also talked about different places that you can go to find cool rocks and fossils. (South Dakota is a pretty good place to find fossils and prairie agates. The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs is a great place to tour!) Students were able to bring in their own rocks to show their classmates and get help identifying the different types.
Tomorrow, we welcome Mr. Larson to the class to teach us about recreational prospecting (panning for gold). There will be opportunities for students to purchase gold-bearing dirt to pan if they want. Otherwise, each student will get the opportunity to pan for lead shot in a speed panning contest. Come ready to learn!
Tomorrow, we welcome Mr. Larson to the class to teach us about recreational prospecting (panning for gold). There will be opportunities for students to purchase gold-bearing dirt to pan if they want. Otherwise, each student will get the opportunity to pan for lead shot in a speed panning contest. Come ready to learn!
Day 11
We had a special guest here today! Mr. Larson, the original instructor of Outdoor Adventures, generously donated his time to come in and teach the students about rocks and recreational prospecting. He brought in many different examples of gold, ore, and gemstones he has collected over the years. Students had the opportunity to buy a sample of pay dirt (certified gold-bearing sand) and a small pan for prospecting. We talked about the different minerals, stones, and precious metals that can be found in the US and Mexico. Not every student got to pan today but we will have our annual speed panning contest tomorrow and everyone will have a chance then.
It was wonderful to see all the parents and students who came to Open House! I am so glad to have the opportunity to work with such great kids!
It was wonderful to see all the parents and students who came to Open House! I am so glad to have the opportunity to work with such great kids!
Day 12 - Final Day of Seek 2018
It is the last day of Outdoor Adventures. It has been an action-packed couple of weeks and I hope that everyone has learned a few new skills that can come in handy in the wilderness.
We had our annual panning contest today. It is always fun to introduce students to a new way of experiencing and appreciating the outdoors and the history of our country. America has seen many big gold rushes and students were able to get a small taste of what it is like to discover gold. Congratulations to Amelia for having the fastest panning time at 33 seconds. Tim was the second fastest with 40 seconds on the clock. Practicing makes all the difference, too. Some panners are able to finish in under 10 seconds! Also, thank you to Payton for being the perfect score-keeper!
After the panning contest (and snack), students challenged each other in a game of Survival Jeopardy. Categories included rocks, knot tying, survival, first aid, and fishing (aka all of the major topics we covered). Amelia, Julia, Ava, and Rachel won in final Jeopardy. Congratulations to the Great Girls Group!
Thank you all for a wonderful first year of teaching at SEEK. I am so grateful to have had such a great group of students. I hope you had a good time learning about various outdoor activities and survival skills. Remember to practice those skills. You don't want to be stuck in an emergency situation with rusty skills. Have a wonderful rest of your summer and stay safe in the great out of doors!
We had our annual panning contest today. It is always fun to introduce students to a new way of experiencing and appreciating the outdoors and the history of our country. America has seen many big gold rushes and students were able to get a small taste of what it is like to discover gold. Congratulations to Amelia for having the fastest panning time at 33 seconds. Tim was the second fastest with 40 seconds on the clock. Practicing makes all the difference, too. Some panners are able to finish in under 10 seconds! Also, thank you to Payton for being the perfect score-keeper!
After the panning contest (and snack), students challenged each other in a game of Survival Jeopardy. Categories included rocks, knot tying, survival, first aid, and fishing (aka all of the major topics we covered). Amelia, Julia, Ava, and Rachel won in final Jeopardy. Congratulations to the Great Girls Group!
Thank you all for a wonderful first year of teaching at SEEK. I am so grateful to have had such a great group of students. I hope you had a good time learning about various outdoor activities and survival skills. Remember to practice those skills. You don't want to be stuck in an emergency situation with rusty skills. Have a wonderful rest of your summer and stay safe in the great out of doors!