Rural school districts collaborate to support students without relying on outside help

This article first appeared on The Hechinger Report and is shared with consent.

DURANGO, Colo. — A group of 36 high school students began their summer break in this southwestern Colorado city with outdoor activities like rock climbing, mountain biking, and fly-fishing.

After the fun, they delved into work.

During a weeklong program on climate and the environment, mountain researchers instructed the students on creating seedballs using grass seed, clay, compost, and sand, which they then scattered in the fire-damaged areas of the Hermosa Creek watershed. The students also explored the Animas River, inspecting aquatic life post a previous mine spill. Additionally, they learned about water restoration by searching for beaver dams in wetlands.

These activities aimed to prepare them for potential careers in various natural world fields like forest ecology, aquatic biology, and conservation. Many students had already taken college-level environmental science classes at local high schools and Fort Lewis College.

Meanwhile, other students in and around Durango were engaged in intensive courses related to health sciences and are eligible for college credits including classes on emergency medical services and nursing. Some were participating in programs focusing on early childhood education and teacher training.

“I’m a fan of the outdoor learning approach,” mentioned Autumn Schulz, a sophomore at Ignacio High School. Last school year, she commuted on a public bus to take an ecology course at Bayfield High School. She had already interned at a mountain research organization and a public utility to explore her interest in environmental and municipal careers.

“This is my favorite subject,” Schulz added. “It’s what I love doing the most.”