Lessons in Collaboration

Lorne and Julie met over the summer to discuss possible ways to collaborate. They decided the GMC and WUHS would make ideal partners: Lorne being new to his position as Volunteer and Education Coordinator, and Julie learning how to connect literacy students with the broader community. Specifically, Lorne's goals were twofold: develop training materials for GMC volunteers while also forging a working relationship with a Vermont public school. He hoped to develop the capacity to broaden this work to include other schools in the future. Julie was looking for a way to connect literacy learning with the idea of Stewardship and her class theme of the year, The Work of Centuries, based on George Perkins Marsh's quote: "The improvement of forest trees is the work of centuries. So much more the reason for beginning now."

Over the course of the first semester, students learned about Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historic Park, the Green Mountain Club, and the Long Trail. Specifically, they read several articles on the proper way to blaze a trail. Yes, there is so much more to it than just painting! Lorne planned a memorable day with the students on the Appalachian Trail replacing a footbridge. Three students worked with him for five hours to dismantle a rotting bridge and replace it with a puncheon near the Rt. 12 AT crossing. He read about Project Based Learning and deeper learning and began to establish routines for successfully partnering with schools. Lorne also provided feedback to students on their draft blazing guide. Julie learned about intentionally designing learning experiences for the district's new Portrait of a Graduate criteria: Skillful Communication, Academic Excellence, Stewardship, Self Direction, and Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. The first semester included researching blazing and writing rough drafts, painting practice blazes on chord wood, and developing plans to blaze a trail.

During the second semester students focused on the creation of this google site and the Blazing 101 Trail Guide. Through extensive research of web and text resources and a training visit to the school's outdoor trail, the students were able to narrow down the important topics for teaching volunteers how to blaze a trail. The Blazing 101 Trail Guide will be delivered to GMC's volunteer trail adopters, members of the Volunteer Long Trail Patrol and new GMC Staff. Furthermore, this website format will develop and evolve as GMC works on creating digestible, interactive and accurate training resources for those who work on the Long Trail. The GMC and WUHS are looking forward to working together in future years to steward the Long Trail and provide students with learning experiences designed for the Portrait of a Graduate Criteria.

The collaboration was cut short due to the beginnings of the Covid pandemic. The GMC and WUHS hope to rekindle our partnership and continue developing training materials. "Clearing Water Bars" and "Brush Clearing" are our next topics!