Student Writings from their trip to Hartwick Pines 2022

On June 2nd my class went to Hartwick Pines. When we went to Hartwick Pines we met a man named Craig. Craig was a man that gave us a tour of the forest. Craig also showed us the different types of trees and animals.The biggest tree, called the Monarch which was 155 feet tall! After we got done with Craig showing us the forest, there was a man named Marcus. Marcus showed us old cabins in the forest. The cabins were where the lumberjacks slept, ate, hung out and helped. There was a big wheel as well. After that we went to McDonalds. I ordered a large bacon burger, fries, ice cream cone, slush and milkshake! I had a blast!

-Landon

On June 2, my class and I went to Hartwick Pines. We met Craig. He showed us dead animals that were clean. After that we met Marcus. He showed us the cabins. There was a bunk room and a kitchen and a work area.We also saw tools the loggers used like axes,and saws. They had horses pull the logs in behind them to the lumber mill. There was a gift shop there. I got candy. We went to McDonalds on the way home. I hope I get to go back to Hartwick Pines soon.

~Reagan

On June 2, my class and I went to Hartwick Pines. We met Greg and went across a bridge. He showed us some clean dead animals. Then he showed us trees. After that we went to the cabins. We saw axes, saws, and learned how to mark the trees. Then we went to the gift shop and I got a heart stone. On the way home we stopped at McDonalds. I had a fun day.

~Whittaker

On June 2nd our class went to Hartwick Pines. I learned that there is no such thing as a black squirrel. We did an activity called Skins and Skulls, but there were no skulls. There were no skulls because we didn’t have enough time. Dering Skins and Skulls I touched a wolf skin. My class saw the Monarch tree it was 155 feet tall! Now it’s 73 feet tall because of a storm around 1990 and 2007. When we were done with the hike we went to Mr. Marcus, and he showed us where lumberjacks slept. I also learned that the cook's assistant was called the cookie. When we headed back to the school we stopped at McDonalds. I got two cheeseburgers, a medium drink and a large fries and a Mcflury. When we got back to the school I told my dad I had a blast.

-Johnny

On June 2nd my class and I went to Hartwick Pines.One of my favorite parts was the old growth forest. I liked the old growth because it was 250 though 300 years old! Another reason I liked the old growth was because there was a big dead tree called the Monarch. It used to be 155 feet tall but now it's 73 feet! Also we went to the lumbering museum with Mr. Marcus where we learned about the bunk house. The bunkhouse can hold up to 300 people! Mr. Craig played an activity called Animal Soup. It was fun. I learned that in opossum you’re suppose to say the o. One of the things we did on the way back was eat at McDonalds. It was good. My trip to Hartwick Pines was fun.

-Isabelle

On June 2nd my class and I went to Hartwick Pines. While we were there we went to the Old Growth forest and the hardwood forest. While we were there Mr Craig told us about the animals at Hartwick Pines. When we finished walking the trail we went to the lumbering museum with Mr Marcus and he showed us the different tools, food they used and ate. Then we went to the bunk room and Mr Marcus showed us where they would sleep and what they used to wake people up. After that we went outside and Mr Marcus blew a small horn that was pretty loud from up close. Then we took a picture by a big wheel. Then we got back with Mr Craig and we went back on to the trail and saw the Monarch tree when it was all the way grown. It was 155 feet tall but now it is only 73 feet tall. Then we walked back to the building that we started at. Next we went inside and we looked at all the animals that were in the showcase. Some people went to the gift shop and bought some things. Then we went and did the Skins Activity/Animal Soup. When we got done with the Skins Activity we got on the bus and went to McDonalds. It was very fun there! I'm glad that I was able to go on a field trip this year.

-Rowen

On June 2nd my class went to Hartwick Pines. The first thing we learned was that sometimes they have to cut down trees to make room for new trees. There are specific names for the forest, there is the new growth, old growth, and evergreens. As we went into the old growth and we learned about The Monarch tree. It was 155ft tall but it got knocked down because of a big storm and now it is 75 ft tall. We even got to go inside the logging museum and Mr. Marcus talked about a kitchen, the shop and the bunk house that could fit 200 to 300 people. You often would find yourself sleeping with 1 to 2 other people. After the logging museum we played a game called animal soup with Mr. Craig. After we left we went to McDonalds. It was so fun I’m glad we went on a field trip.

-Stephaine

On June 2, my class and I went to Hartwick Pines. We saw an owl, a hundred fifty foot tree that fell down to seventy-three feet because of the strong wind. We saw the logging cabin. There were axes and saws. We saw a tool that picked up the logs and put them in the water. The logs would then go to the lumber mill. We saw the old clothes the lumberjacks wore. The cooks would blow a horn to tell the lumberjacks that it was time to eat. We also went to the gift shop and I got candy. I had a fun day and want to go back soon .

~Korbyn

On June 2 my class and I went to Hartwick Pines. Hartwick Pines was a lot of fun. My class and I learned that a black squirrel is just a gray squirrel. We learned about a tree called the monarch. It was about 155 feet . We learned about animals like an owl. We learned more about trees like evergreens. Mr Craig was the one who taught us and took us on the forest tour. We played a lot of games. When we were done we went to the lumber museum. We learned that it really was gross because they only took a bath sometimes on Sunday. We took a picture and left to play a game called Animal Soup. We had to guess the animal. Most people got to play, but I did not play. After we played the game we went to the gift shop. We left and on the way home we went to McDonalds. About two hours later we got to the school. We all had a lot of fun! I wish we could go again soon.

-Bridget

On June 2nd my class and I went to Hartwick Pines. The weirdest part was when I held a skunk doing skins and skulls activity. I loved walking around and listening to Mr. Craig talk about seeds and pine cones. I loved the interesting part when we were in new growth and suddenly we were in old growth. Another thing is we learned about the tree Monarch. Mr. Marcus showed us around at a lumbering museum. I learned that about 300 people sleep in one big bunk house. When my class left we had to stop at McDonalds and I got a lot of food. I loved that we got to go on a long fun field trip. I had a lot of fun.

-Arianna

On June 2nd I went to Hartwick Pines with my class. Mr. Craig took us on a forest tour off the old growth forest. In the old growth forest we saw The Monarch tree. The Monarch tree was 155ft tall and now it is 73 ft tall. Mr. Craig also told us about Pine trees, maples, and birches. My favorite part was seeing The Monarch tree at 73 ft tall and the other half too. Mr.Craig walked us through the old growth and the new growth forest to Mr. Marcus. Mr. Marcus walked us through the logging and lumbering museum. I learned about what lumberjacks used different axes, saws and hammers. In the winter they used sleds on horses to move logs onto the water, the water will move the logs to the lumber yard to cut the logs and trim them. In the summer they use a train to move the logs to the lumber yard. At the end of the forest tour we went to see Mr.Craig at the center and we played a skin activity. After that we left and went to McDonalds. So the trip to Hartwick Pines was fun, and I am happy we went on another field trip.

-Connor

My class went to Hartwick Pines on June 2nd. It was very fun. Let me tell you some of my favorite parts of my trip. One of my favorite parts was when we got to walk a fun trail and learn about animals. When we were learning about animals I learned a lot of new things that I did not know. On the walk we got to learn about animals and Mr. Craig had animal skins that were clean and he let us feel the fur. Another thing is Mr. Marcus took us through a bunker where men used to sleep. Something else that I learned about the bunker is that up to 200 to 300 people could fit in one bunker. Mr. Craig taught us about a monarch. I learned that the monarch tree was 155 feet tall but it fell down due to a storm and now today the monarch tree is 75 feet tall. Then on the way back from Hartwick Pines we stopped at McDonald. Hartwick Pines was my favorite field trip that I have been on this year.

-Kaila

On June 2nd my class went to Hartwick Pines. When we got to Hartwick Pines we ate lunch and played at a park. After that, we went to the Visitor Center and waited for Mr. Craig and we went on the trail. We learned about pine cones, trees, and more. We also got to see the Monarch tree which was about 110 feet tall but it was knocked down from a wind storm. After we were done with the trail we went to see the lumbering museum. We learned about the food they ate in the 1890’s. After we got done with the lumbering museum we went outside and Mr. Marcus played an instrument and then we went back to the Visitor Center. We first went to the gift shop and we bought the stuff there. After that, we went to the theater and played a skin activity and we had to guess what animal it was by feeling the skin. When we were going back to the school we stopped at McDonalds to eat. When we were done eating we went back to the school and we got picked up. I'm glad we got to go on the field trip to Hartwick Pines.

-Sammie

On June 2, my class went to Hartwick Pines. It was really fun, but the bus ride took forever. We took a pit stop to eat our lunch and play. My friends and I played tag. When we got back on the bus, I got bored. When we finally got back out and onto the trail, we got an animal lecture by Mr. Craig. Then we walked for two miles. We got about five lectures about animals and trees. Then we went onto the lumber museum where Mr. Marcus lectured us five and a half times. I learned that the Hartwick Pines is the only old-growth forest in Michigan. So that sums up my entire Hartwick Pines trip. We also stopped at McDonalds, it was fun. I love field trips.

-Dylan

On June 2nd our class went to Hartwick Pines. The trip was amazing and I learned a lot of stuff. Like the Monarch the ‘’coolest and tallest tree and oldest’’ I think. The lumbering museum I saw axes and saws. It was my favorite part and Mr. Marcus played a horn that was so loud! It was the best (and only) trip I was on. I’m so happy that I got to go to Hartwick Pines.

-Alex

My class and I went to Hartwick Pines on June 2nd. My favorite part was when we played a game called Animal Soup. Mr. Craig is the one who made the game. He also took us on the forest tour. Mr. Marcus took us to the lumber museum. We learned about lumber. On our way back we stopped at McDonalds. I got a lot of stuff there. My dad let me get it because he was there with me on the field trip. I love field trips.

-Emma W.

On June 2 my class and I went to Hartwick Pines. We were on the bus for two hours. When we finally got there we ate lunch. Then we played for a little while. Then we got back on the bus and went to the parking lot. We waited outside the building. Then we went to see the trees. We saw new growth and old growth. Then we went to the gift shop. I got a Smokey Bear and some candy. I had a good time at Hartwick Pines.

~Ray

On June 2nd I went to Hartwick Pines. I learned that the Monarch was 155 feet tall but from a storm now it is 73 feet tall. I learned that some squirrels can fly. I learned that opossums play dead for two to three hours. I learned that skunks do two steps before they spray you. Then at the end of the tour we played a game called animal soup. This is what I learned at Hartwick Pines.

-Grady