Communing with nature

On a sunny Thursday Kalispell Montessori Principal Heather Wyrick walked through a cleared path of tall grass behind the school, past two tepees and headed into the woods of the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area until she arrived at a clearing.

Gathered were fourth- through sixth-graders who were spending free time with Ravenwood Outdoor Learning Center during a campout where they would spend the night sleeping in the tepees behind the school.

The campout was a student’s suggestion after an overnight trip to Glacier National Park was canceled due to wildfire smoke and weather conditions.

Overnight trips are the norm at Kalispell Montessori, beginning with students as young as 6 as a way to help children gain independence, according to Wyrick. While it was a regular school day for first- through third-graders, after dinner they would return for a sleepover at the school in a safe and familiar environment, then spend Friday with Ravenwood.

The trips are an opportunity for students to bond, she said.

“We start at the beginning of year, so they get that community feel, and that unity right at the start of the school year,” Wyrick said.

Students also have a role in planning trips.

Eight-year-olds Hanna Houston and India Pfannenstiel took a break from a game of chess to talk about some of the plans, which may include pillow fights to pillow forts.

“We decided what food and what snacks the kids will eat and what order,” Houston said.

The younger students are currently planning a field trip from brainstorming ideas, calling people and making arrangements.

“We have a form we have to fill out and steps we have to follow and make a proposal,” Houston said.

“We are going on a field trip to places that help our community,” 8-year-old Luca Duffy added.

From completing tasks in the classroom to resolving problems with peers, students are encouraged to take initiative.

“Basically it’s empowering a child,” Wyrick said. “The more that they realize that they can do things on their own, the more capable they are going to be in all aspects of their life.”

Back in Owen Sowerwine, Hailey Hendrickson, 11, and Ava Bessen, 10, joined a group of students practicing friction fire techniques using hand drills and hand bows. Off in the distance, the laughter and shouts coming from students building forts and playing games was punctuated by the sounds of tree limbs snapping underfoot.

Sitting across from each other, Hendrickson and Bessen lined hand drills into circular notches in the baseboards, then rotated them between their palms, attempting to create a coal.

“This is the most ancient way of making fire known to humans,” said Jennifer Bresee, Ravenwood program director, who sat beside the pair, helping them out.

“Hey you’ve got a pile of dust,” Bresee said to Hendrickson, later explaining that the dust would hold the coal and ignite.

“Where?” Hendrickson asked.

“See that little dark stuff,” Bresee said ,pointing near her board. “That’s great. You’re making progress.”

“I did it — woo hoo,” Hendrickson said, but she was concerned it would start a fire after recent dry conditions.

Bresee assured her that the pile was little enough that if she started a flame, “We’ll say ‘yay’ and then squish it.”

Hendrickson said she started going on overnight trips at 6 or 7, recalling the excitement of being with her friends, playing games and staying in tepees at Blue Bay. In the winter they will travel to Loon Lake, and in the spring to Bannack.

“It’s really fun and we get to bond,” she said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.