GRAY — Nine students from Gray-New Gloucester High School visited the Bigelow Preserve near Flagstaff Lake for three days beginning Oct. 5.

Students submitted some of the tallest mountains in the state, including the West Peak of Bigelow Mountain, Avery Peak and the Bigelow Horns Formation.

Students collected evidence about the formation of these mountains to learn about geology. In addition to making observations and presenting their findings along the way, students consolidated their understanding of the range into a detailed project upon their return.

Educators planned to use the extended time and distance traveled during the trip to immerse students in the geological environment.

The students, along with two outdoor educators, camped 4,000 feet on the Bigelow ridgeline for two nights and spent three days hiking with nothing but the gear they carried on their backs.

The students were exposed to several geologic formations and features, each containing clues to their past as ocean bottoms and shorelines, churning bodies of magma and subglacial river beds.

The trip was a collaboration between district outdoor educators Calvin Vaillancourt and Paula Letiecq, and earth science teacher John Haley. The trip evolved as part of an outdoor learning initiative taken on by the school district two years ago as part of a grant from the Carol M. White Physical Education Program.

Since then the two outdoor educators have worked to get students outside whenever possible. In addition to after-school clubs, backpacking and skiing trips over school breaks and an adventure camp over the summer, the outdoor educators have worked with classroom teachers to integrate the curriculum with outdoor resources in the state. This collaboration marks the first multi-day expedition as part of a regular credit class.