Winter WondersLand: STEAM Learning in the Great Outdoors

A fresh dusting of winter snow provided the perfect backdrop to the Winter WondersLand STEAM field experience at the Lake Wenatchee YMCA camp. Normally closed in the winter, the camp was buzzing with excitement and the occasional stray snowball. Dreamed up by, Lincoln Elementary STEM teacher Tina Nicpan-Brown, the two-night field experience created an opportunity for Lincoln 5th-graders to get out of the classroom and experience learning in its element. Over the course of the camp, the kids would be engaged outdoor wonders through a blend of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) learning experiences. 

To kick off the experience 90 Lincoln fifth-graders strapped on snowshoes at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery for a chilly hike and a cool lesson in snow science the included measuring temperature and density. From there, 40 students came to the YMCA camp where they spent the night in cabins, for many this was their first ‘camp experience’ sleeping in sleeping bags with wood burning stoves for heat.

“These types of projects are my passion,” explained Nicpan-Brown. “I really wanted students to be immersed in their learning environment for a longer period and not be restricted to school schedules,” she said. 

Community partners have played a significant role in pulling together the camp curriculum and needed resources. Twenty-one sponsors, donors and community partners volunteered time or provided materials or financial support for the camp. Kids were equipped with snow pants, boots, blankets, toiletry kits and everything they needed for two nights at camp. Meals were provided and prepared by the helping hands of volunteers. 

Day two of camp included, field journaling with watercolors, building telescopes, and construction of snow shelters. The culmination of these activities would happen later at night when the students would illuminate the snow structures with tealights, look to the skies in search of constellations using their telescopes and gather around a fire to sing camp songs and play their handmade ‘can-jos’ (banjos made with cans) they made in class before the trip. 

“All of us can fit in there,” said 5th-grader Melanie Anguiano as she put the final touches on her team's igloo-like snow structure. “We used our engineering skills and what we know about snow density to make sure it is strong — We worked really hard to get it just right.”

The theme of the third day of camp was all about wildfire biology. Seven volunteers lead the students through winter survival skills, healthy winter forests and climate change activities.

The benefits of the Winter WondersLand camp to the students extended beyond just learning about STEAM. “There were lots of firsts for these kids,” said Nicpan-Brown. For many of them, this was their first time away from home, first time to Lake Wenatchee and first time sleeping in a cabin.  Through the camp experience, students were also developing social and life skills while making new friends. What surprised Nicpan-Brown most was how much the kids were gaining out of unplanned experience such as needing to building a fire in their cabin fireplaces to keep warm at night or how to appreciate a hot meal.

For 5th-grader Adriana Lopez it was hard to nail down which STEAM learning experience was her favorite. “ I really liked it all,” she said. “I’m making some new friends here, and I can't wait to get home and tell my family all about my adventure.”

Watch the iFiber One News Story about the Winter WondersLand camp