Conger Third Graders Explore Nature at Moore Park
Conger Elementary students spent the day learning forestry, ecology, and wildlife science through the Klamath Outdoor Science School.
A Conger Elementary student takes notes during a hands-on outdoor science lesson at Moore Park as part of the Klamath Outdoor Science School program. Photo courtesy of Klamath Falls City Schools.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Third graders from Joseph Conger Elementary School traded desks for trails this week as they explored Moore Park through the Klamath Outdoor Science School.
Students from teachers Madaline Elliot and Ashley Doty joined KOSS educators for a full day of hands-on learning focused on forestry, ecology, and environmental science.
The free program, available to schools across the Klamath Basin, gives students immersive field experiences tied to classroom science standards. For third graders, lessons center on forest and aquatic ecology.
At Moore Park, students learned about tree life cycles, plant identification, and wildlife habitats while hiking through the park.
KOSS staff members Tabitha Weir, Megean Pappe, Madeline Hall, and Kevin Spencer guided the students throughout the day, answering questions and helping turn the outing into an outdoor adventure.
“This used to be a bear enclosure, which is kind of crazy to think about,” Weir said while discussing the park’s past. “It’s kind of cool to think about how far we’ve come with our zoos.”
Conger Elementary students gather around a Klamath Outdoor Science School educator during a hands-on lesson at Moore Park, learning how to study trees and the natural environment. Photo courtesy of Klamath Falls City Schools.
By the end of the trip, students were identifying trees and plants including juniper, Oregon grape, and ponderosa pine.
One of the day’s most memorable lessons came when students learned how to estimate the age of a tree by studying its rings. Using a specialized tree borer, educators removed a small core sample without harming the tree.
After counting the rings, students determined the tree, nicknamed “Barnaby,” was about 95 years old.
The class also learned how growing conditions affect tree rings.
“If the rings are really close together then that means it didn’t have enough sun and water,” Spencer said.
Conger students will continue their KOSS experience Thursday with a visit to Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, where they will study aquatic ecosystems by collecting and identifying macroinvertebrates while learning about habitats and food webs.
“Each field trip is jam packed with hands-on experiences with our knowledgeable guides,” Elliot said. “KOSS is an incredible resource.”
Images courtesy Klamath Falls City Schools.
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