What we Did on February Break

REFLECTION FROM QUINN STENGRIM ’23

Yellowstone National Park offers countless memories for its visitors and researchers. As a two-time visitor, once in the summer and now, with Prep, in the winter, I have an informed perspective on the wonders from Earth’s first national park. A trip to Yellowstone is impactful, from the rugged bison to the steaming geysers to the striking landscape that begs for a canvas.

Thirteen unplugged Prep students, two passionate teachers, and three enthusiastic instructors from Ecology Project International lodged in a two-building hostel for eight nights in Gardiner, Montana, to study winter ecology, wildlife, and learn about Yellowstone. We all arrived adequately prepared thanks to the packing list and with open minds to the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

All the students, regardless of graduation year, bonded in only three days. My favorite memories include the snowball fight, my small group arguing over how to cook mac ‘n’ cheese, and playing card games for hours. Sophomores quickly became friends with seniors, and the adults participated in the games, too. While we stuck to our primary goals as students throughout the day, everyone smiled and laughed for hours each day. Time in the car traveling to and around Yellowstone, the various field work we performed, and presenting research to the group all provided quality opportunities to connect with fellow

Everyone learned more about ecology than we could have ever expected. Unforgettable examples included spotting wolves in the wild, snowshoeing up the mountainside through evergreens, and learning to identify the age range and gender of bison. Each topic truly deserves its own article. Winter ecology in particular fascinated me for the relevance to climate change and the complexity of snow.

Understanding various snow phenomena allowed me to appreciate winter and the hardy animals that inhabit Yellowstone amidst freezing temperatures — such as -20 degrees Fahrenheit on our final day. As a lifelong New Englander, I love when it snows for recreational uses and for creating beautiful scenery in my backyard. Until this

trip, I never understood the complexities of snow.

Our snow science lessons involved collecting snow samples out in the Yellowstone hills and recording the temperature, toughness, mass, and density of the multiple layers. I learned that the layer of snow closest to the ground will be the warmest. Due to this phenomenon, animals like pika and weasels prefer to live in the subnivean zone — beneath the snow, but above the ground.

Thank you to Mr. Ford for orchestrating a fantastic experience. Next winter, Prep students will be heading south to Belize to study tropical forests and coral reef ecology. Underclassmen, I urge you not to miss out. Contact Mr. Ford or your science teacher for more information.