'OUTDOOR CLASSROOM'
Field trip on Earth Day for Austin students

Austin teacher Art Metzger took students to the Austin Dam ruins for an outdoor classroom experience as part of Earth Day activities last week. The students conducted water quality tests and used Global Positioning Systems to find geocache objects. Photo by Sherry Clark

Some Austin Area School students took a field trip to the Austin Dam Memorial Park Tuesday for an Earth Day lesson that included elements of local history, environmental science and recreational geocaching.

Teachers Art Metzger, (Mr.) Harris and (Mrs.) Perkins had the students pick up trash along the trail as they hiked to the foot of the Austin Dam ruins, where they learned about some of the plants and animals that live in Freeman Run and surrounding terrain.

Students also conducted water quality tests and used GPS to locate a geocache that was buried in the park.

Just as the students were leaving the park, a group of state and local officials along with community leaders were entering. They were holding a site visit to explore the possibility of obtaining state funds for a study to determine if the park can be expanded (see separate story).

Students attending the field trip were Liz Cain, Rachel Glover, Ronald Thompson, Cassie Fowler, Theron VanWhy, Scott Butler, Kal Logue, Chey Kio, Zane Dynda, Damien Lucas, Howard Young, Michael Valenti, John Gordnier and Ben Clark.