Recently, Mrs. Nichols took her students on a field trip to Eureka and Valley Park to visit the Endangered Wolf Center and the World Bird Sanctuary. For many students, this was their first time experiencing the wolves in the wild.
“Mrs. Nichols is a very smart person and very resourceful,” Sunee Stevens (11) said. “I really enjoy the class because it goes in-depth and you have to go beyond surface-level questions.”
With a tight-knit class and an amazing science teacher, APES has many opportunities for students to explore their interests in the future.
“It’s cool to see all the different endangered species and how we are trying to improve their populations,” Bryce McCullough (12) said. “I am hoping to be a mechanical engineer, but this class helps me see how I could help in the future and how I might be able to create something that could help the environment.”
While observing the wolves, students learned about them and the reasons why they are endangered. They also learned the importance of keeping the wolves in the center. At the bird sanctuary, they learned about imprinting and how it isn’t always easy to let the birds free once they are injury-free. Some of the birds cannot be set free because of the imprinting and how friendly they become with humans.
“I’ve liked animals, birds especially, ever since I was a little kid,” Ana Schroeder (11) said. “It was really cool to see them up close and learn about their behaviors and how we need to work to save them. I’m hoping to pursue my love for nature photography throughout my life.”
