Wolf Ridge trip teaches countless lessons

Every fall, Cloquet Middle School fifth- graders are out selling calendars for their field trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center near Finland, Minn. My son is a fifth-grader this year and when I heard they needed chaperones, I volunteered.

The trip took place Nov. 19-21. On a cold Monday morning, approximately 170 fifth-graders and 35 chaperones and teachers piled into three coach buses and headed north.

Upon arriving two hours later, I quickly learned that chaperoning a trip to Wolf Ridge was not a vacation! Our total time from arrival to departure was only 48 hours and there was a lot to accomplish in that short time. After a quick orientation and lunch, we divided into our groups and headed to classes taught by the Wolf Ridge naturalists, many of whom are graduate students working toward a master’s degree.

Students at CMS attended classes on northern mammals, winter survival, identifying trees, geocaching and orienteering, rock climbing, and the famous ropes course. The classes at Wolf Ridge are about three hours long and many are held outside, regardless of the weather conditions. Winter had already started up north. The ground was covered with snow, temperatures were in the single digits to low teens, and there were periods of wind and snow.

Two other parent chaperones and I were in charge of 15 students from Mrs. Rackliffe’s classroom. Both students and chaperones learned a lot in our classes. We learned how to identify trees and animal tracks in the snow, how to build a shelter and a fire, and how to safely climb a rock wall. But, in addition to the educational aspects of Wolf Ridge, there is also the equally, if not more important, character-building aspect of Wolf Ridge. There were many trials and challenges along the way and how these students handled them did not disappoint me. They were a team from the moment they stepped off the buses. One student had just moved to Cloquet and been part of the class for only three days before the trip. But she was welcomed with open arms and was never treated as “the new girl.” She was one of them, immediately. There were no cliques or problems choosing partners, they were all in this together.

Trust was built and tested during the rock climbing class. As one student climbed, a partner belayed the rope, keeping them safe if they slipped. One of the girls was afraid of heights. But she faced her fear and made it to the top of the wall. But coming down was just as scary and by the time she reached the ground, she had tears in her eyes. She was immediately greeted with the cheers of her classmates and the warm, comforting embrace of her partner.

During the winter survival course, the kids were divided into groups and sent out into the woods to make a shelter and build a fire. Once the fire was built, they had the necessary supplies and equipment to make hot cocoa. Some kids were more experienced at building fires than others and succeeded right away. But instead of huddling around their fires making hot cocoa, they visited the other groups and helped them build fires. By the end of the class, only one group had a strong enough fire to make hot cocoa. But rather than enjoying their reward, they took their small cups from group to group to make sure everyone had a sip of cocoa.

It was cold for our outdoor classes and some kids were better prepared than others. One kid’s mittens got wet and froze, turning to ice. When another boy saw how cold his hands were, he pulled off his gloves, took the icy mittens, and gave his friend the warm waterproof gloves for the remainder of the class. Hand warmers were scarce on the trip but I had a few I passed out when needed. So many times, I gave them to one cold student only to find out they had passed it on to someone else because that other person seemed colder.

The true test of character came Tuesday evening when our group participated in the ropes course. The ropes course is a series of obstacles, about 50 feet in the air. It starts with a simple wooden bridge and ends with a zip line, but in between are terrifying walks across wires and logs suspended in the air. Everyone on the ropes course was strapped in to overhead wires and was safe even if they slipped, but that does not make the ropes course less scary. As some of the kids made their way across the ropes course, other kids were walking below them on the ground, offering words of encouragement and making sure they were safe. There was never a shortage of cheers or encouraging words. Some kids made it the entire way across the course and they were met with cheers and high fives as they zip lined back to the ground. Others were too scared, tired, or cold to go through the whole course so they turned around and exited across the bridge at the start. Those kids were met with no fewer cheers or high fives than the kids that had finished the course. We were outside until 10 p.m. so that everyone could have a chance at the ropes course and the cheers and enthusiasm didn’t die, even as it became colder and darker.

The moment that brought me to tears was when a boy with a mobility issues attempted the ropes course. One side of his body didn’t work as well as his other side, so his coordination and balance were not the best. The ropes course would be a struggle for him, but he was determined to try it, just like everyone else. When he reached the second obstacle, he realized he couldn’t go across it straight, the way the other kids had, because he couldn’t hold on with both hands. Instead of turning around, he figured out a way to move sideways. As he slowly made his way across the wire rope, the entire class stood on the ground below him cheering him on. They called him a super hero and promised he could be first in line for breakfast if he made it across. After making it about a third of the way, he decided he wanted to go back. As he turned around, his cheering section grew even louder, chanting his name over and over. When he came back down the bridge, he was met with applause. He had done his best and made it farther than anyone expected. And those kids made sure he was first in line for breakfast the next morning!

Chaperoning at Wolf Ridge was exhausting. It was more work than I ever expected and it challenged me in so many ways. But as I sat on the bus thinking back over those three days, I felt honored that I was part of such an amazing experience. The students learned to be stewards of the environment. They learned about the importance of animals and plants and how to protect them. They learned how to survive outside in the winter. But they also learned so much more than that. They learned how to be a team, to always encourage each other, to use their strengths to help others conquer their weaknesses. They learned that a little kindness goes a long way. They pushed themselves further than they thought possible and learned that a sense of accomplishment is the greatest reward.

Next fall you may be asked to buy a calendar to help pay for a fifth grader’s field trip to Wolf Ridge. I hope that when they ask, you will say yes. Because what I learned during my 48 hours there is that Wolf Ridge is about so much more than learning about the environment and having fun with their classmates. A trip to Wolf Ridge is about building character and shaping the next generation to make a positive impact on the world.