This September, fifteen students from Telluride Mountain School’s third and fourth grade spent three days at the High Camp Hut. Perched above Lizard Head Pass, the hut offers spectacular views of Sheep Mountain and plenty of space to get to know each other inside and adventure outdoors.

To begin, students hiked the 2.5 miles to the High Camp Hut. Upon arriving to the hut, students quickly settled into its many bedrooms and lofts. We immediately got to work constructing Andy Goldsworthy inspired art projects using materials native to the area such as rocks, moss, grasses, sticks and leaves. That evening, we had the chance to have a campfire, roast marshmallows, and sing songs together.

While at the hut, students worked in small groups at various stations focused on activities related to our curriculum. Students made their own compasses and navigated through a scavenger hunt around the property using various bearings as clues. At a third station, they created Andy Goldsworthy inspired art projects. We also hiked to Excalibur Rock and listened to The Sword in the Stone, one of the many tales of King Arthur that we had been reading in the classroom.

Throughout the trip, students worked in cook crews to make all of the food that we ate. On our last morning, everyone pitched in to clean the hut and hike back down to the summit of Lizard Head Pass. Our time at High Camp Hut was a special chance for our class to bond and work on our curriculum in the amazing outdoor classroom that Telluride has to offer.

~Caitlin Orinitas
3rd & 4th Grade Teacher