Desert Solitaire and Friday afternoon environmental literature

“A man on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle will see more, feel more, enjoy more in one mile than the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles.” ― Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire

Discovery Hike

Grade Level: Elementary

Objective: Students will become more aware of their senses and attuned to their surroundings.  Students will gain confidence in themselves and respect for their environment

When I worked as a naturalist, I taught a class called "Discovery Hike," that included a modified version of Joseph Cornell's "Silent Solo Hike."  In this version, two adults or teachers need to be present.  One adult (me, the naturalist) gets a head start (usually 3-5 minutes.)  He/she places cards on the trail which give the students instructions on how to interact with their environment (see below.)  The students are instructed to follow the path of cards silently and thoughtfully.  The second adult follows the group, picking up the cards as he or she goes.  The solo hike cards give students the opportunity to move through the forest in a more intentional way.  It's one of my favorite place-based environmental education activities.