BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO
Throughout April students at Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School took their class outside. Way outside.

They travelled to a special camp at Russell Lake, outside Behchoko, to learn about life on the land. They learned biology by fileting fish, history by watching the northern lights with elders and physics by using an auger to drill a hole in the ice.

"When you see them out on the land they're totally different than when they're in the classroom," said vice principal Terri Douglas. "They do a 360. It's just unbelievable.

All grade levels participated in camping trips over a three-week period last month. Grade 4 and 6 students stayed overnight and another camp is scheduled to be held for Grade 5 students the week of May 11.

For Grade 6 student Malcolm Lafferty the trip was a chance to explore new skills.

"We had jobs to do," he said. "We even got to cook our own food and we had to clean up our own mess to keep camp clean."

Because the weather was cold at night, one of the most important lessons students learned was the importance of dressing warmly and being prepared, Douglas said.

The students learned to build fires using both green and dry wood to ensure they didn't wake up to an ice-cold tent.

"Green wood with dry wood makes sure the fire goes all night," she said. "The kids learned about different types of wood for heat and cooking."

The camps focused on teaching Tlicho traditions as well as lessons on camp etiquette and how to properly store gear and food.

Older students learned how to set muskrat traps and rabbit snares and the proper way to skin and dry the animals once caught. Ice fishing was another big part of daily life at the camp. Students learned how to identify the various fish in the lake after helping haul in nets from under the ice.

"They would name all the different fish that are caught in that lake," Douglas said.

Instructors gave biology lessons by looking at the different parts of the fish while they were being prepared for meals.

"They dissect the fish and either cook it whole or fillet it and the kids would have that for lunch," she said.

Lafferty said learning about how to set nets was one of his favourite parts of the trip, especially watching the auger make a hole in the ice.

"We had to break the ice, take all the snow out of the way," he said.

"When you break the ice, water comes up like a volcano."

They also learned about medicinal plants and trees as well as local geography.

At night, students watched the northern lights and listened to elders' stories about the land.

"It's so nice to listen to the stories, the elders telling stories of when they were young," Douglas said.

"If it's a learning experience for me, just imagine how much the kids are getting out of it. We try to find stories that associate with the learning aspects we'd like the kids to know about."

While each day was filled with new learning experiences, there was also plenty of room for fun, she added.

"There are always lots of laughs with the kids," she said. "I love that. We tell stories and kids would have little jokes."

Junk food and electronics were strictly forbidden.

Douglas said even in a modern world it's important children are given the opportunity to go camping with elders and other knowledgeable members of the community.

"It's part of Tlicho tradition and it was part of their culture. People went out and lived on the land," she said. "Because people don't use that anymore, those skills are not being taught anymore."

For some, school trips are the only chance they have to spend time on the land, Douglas also said.

"I think these outings, these on-the-land trips with our students are so important because there's a real connection with teachers and students besides in the classroom," she said.

"They're using all their senses when they're out there."

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