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TuesdaySeptember2201413PhotosHilaryTurkoGrassyplainsbecomeoutdoorclassroomforFortSmithstudentsByDALICARMICHAELYouthfromFortSmithtookthetripofalifetimeastheytrekkedouttotheplainsofSweetgrassLandingforseveraldaysoflearn-ingontheland.FromSept.11to18Grade7and8studentsfromPaulWilliamKaeserPWKhighschooltookturnsspendingfourdaysoutofrangeleavingtheircellphonesandvideogamesbe-hindforsomeclassicoutdoorexperiences.Itssomethingsodifferentyoureoutinthemiddleofnowhereandtheresalotofkidswhomaybenevertakepartinsome-thinglikethissaidWoodBuffaloNationalParkWBNPvisitorexperiencemanagerRichardZaidan.Itsquiteajourneyoutthere.Youreinthewildernessandtheresnoelectricitynorunningwaterandyoureoutthereforfourdayslearningaboutthelandgettingeducatedandbondingwiththeotherkids.TheexpeditionmarkedthefourthyearoftheschoolspartnershipwithParksCanadawhichcoordinatesactivitiesatthecamp.Teachersvolunteersandparentsdonatedtheirtimetohelptheprogramrunsmoothly.Thegroupsstartedouttheirtripwithalengthytrektothesite.Afteranhourandahalfdriveintotheparkandacoolboatrideofthesamelengththekidsandtheirguidestookanalmostfour-hourhiketotheirsiteatthelanding.Volunteersandteacherssetouttoinstillvaluesintheirstudentsaboutconnectingwithandsurvivingonthelandappreciat-inglocalAboriginalcultureandcultivatingenvironmentalstewardshiphabitsusingfunactivitiesthroughouttheirstay.ParksCanadastaffintroducedanewGPSpokergamethisyearaskingyouthtousecoordinatestondplayingcardshiddenthroughoutthecamp-thepersonwhofoundthebestpokerhandwonaprize.LocaleldersEileenandHenryBeaverledculturalactivitiesfortheyouth.Theycomeeveryyearandtheyrefantas-ticZaidansaid.Henrywillactuallytakekidsandhelldosomemoosecallingwiththemandtrytocallamoosein.TheyllgoouttoSweetgrassCreekandtheyllgoinsmallergroupsandpaddlearoundandseethearea.ThekidshadsometimetonavigatethelargestnativegrasslandsinNorthAmericawhilecapturingthenaturallandscapeastheycompetedintheannualRobertaBondarphotographychallenge.Theyalsoexaminedpicturesfromthepastcomparingthesitetowhatitlookedlikeinitsheyday.Thereslotsofhistoryinthearea.ItusedtobeabustlinglittlecommunitythereZaidansaid.Thatplaceexistedbecausetheyusedtoroundupthebisonandgivetheminocula-tions.Thereusedtobeasawmilltheyusedtoharvesttreesinthepark.Peopleusetoliveouttheretherewerebuildingsandtherewasalandingstrip.Nowtheresnothingleftofthelandingexpectforafewpicnictablesanouthouseandastorageshed.Everythingelseisgrownupintreesandtheresverylittleevidenceofwhattookplacetherehesaid.Whiletheweatherwasalittlecolderthanthegrouphadhopednewheatinginsula-tionand30brandnewcotsattheSweetgrasscabinskeptthekidscozywhentheywerentoutdoingactivities.TheyjustenjoyedbeingoutinthebushoutoftheclassroombeingwiththeotherkidsandlaughingZaidansaid.Itwasjustajoyforthemtospendtimewiththeirfriends.AccordingtoZaidanWBNPstaffareintheprocessofcreatingaprogramwherevisitorswillalsobeabletorentthecabinsatSweetgrassgainingtheopportunitytoexperiencethewondersofthelandingjustlikethestudents.EDUCATIONONTHELANDGrade8studentsfromPaulWilliamKaeserhighschooltakeabreakfromoneoftheiroutdooradventuresatSweetgrassLanding.Thestudentsgottospendfourdayslearningontheland.FromleftThomasHalfnight-FergusonKeziaMcDonaldJomeiNewkirkandKristalGamblercheckouttheoldbisoncorralsatSweetgrassLanding.CamrynSoucyfrontandKristalGamblerdiscoverSweetgrassCreekbycanoe.