Post by Taylor on Feb 27, 2006 8:06:35 GMT -5
Students get up close, personal with cave system
February 16, 2006
MOHAVE VALLEY - The entire eighth-grade class at Mohave Valley Junior High School visited the Mitchell Caverns as a science field trip.
Since the entire class could not go at once, the class has gone every Tuesday in February and will be going the next two Tuesdays, according to Sheila Miller, a science teacher at the school.
Mitchell Caverns are about 50 miles west of Needles, near Mojave National Preserve. The reason Mitchell Caverns was chosen was because it was the closest and most accessible cave system available to the students. “Grand Canyon Caverns is only a little farther away, but it was harder to get to,” Miller said.
Although the trips to the caverns are not costing the school any money, as Mitchell Caverns are paying for the trips, organizing the trips has been a time-consuming affair, Miller said. Transportation had to be organized, the trip had to be approved months in advance, and the school had to schedule a series of private tours of the caverns. “The trip has actually been in preparation since last November,” Miller said. “We had to get all the buses in line, we had to call Mitchell Caverns, and it just took a lot of time.”
Although the cavern is only one-fourth of a mile long, the hike through it takes more than an hour, during which time students are able to observe the limestone formations, such as stalactites and stalagmites. Students also observe cave-dwelling insects, pack rats and other life forms, some of which are exclusive to this particular cave. In addition to the cave hike, students also hike along an above-ground nature trail, observing local wildlife and fauna as they go.
This is the first year the school has attempted this particular trip. However, “I really hope we get to go back next year,” Miller said. Although not all of the students have had a chance to visit the caverns yet, according to Miller those that have enjoyed it thoroughly. Mohave Valley Junior High School is located on Boundary Cone Road, about 11/2 miles east of Highway 95.
www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2006/02/17/news/local/local2.txt
February 16, 2006
MOHAVE VALLEY - The entire eighth-grade class at Mohave Valley Junior High School visited the Mitchell Caverns as a science field trip.
Since the entire class could not go at once, the class has gone every Tuesday in February and will be going the next two Tuesdays, according to Sheila Miller, a science teacher at the school.
Mitchell Caverns are about 50 miles west of Needles, near Mojave National Preserve. The reason Mitchell Caverns was chosen was because it was the closest and most accessible cave system available to the students. “Grand Canyon Caverns is only a little farther away, but it was harder to get to,” Miller said.
Although the trips to the caverns are not costing the school any money, as Mitchell Caverns are paying for the trips, organizing the trips has been a time-consuming affair, Miller said. Transportation had to be organized, the trip had to be approved months in advance, and the school had to schedule a series of private tours of the caverns. “The trip has actually been in preparation since last November,” Miller said. “We had to get all the buses in line, we had to call Mitchell Caverns, and it just took a lot of time.”
Although the cavern is only one-fourth of a mile long, the hike through it takes more than an hour, during which time students are able to observe the limestone formations, such as stalactites and stalagmites. Students also observe cave-dwelling insects, pack rats and other life forms, some of which are exclusive to this particular cave. In addition to the cave hike, students also hike along an above-ground nature trail, observing local wildlife and fauna as they go.
This is the first year the school has attempted this particular trip. However, “I really hope we get to go back next year,” Miller said. Although not all of the students have had a chance to visit the caverns yet, according to Miller those that have enjoyed it thoroughly. Mohave Valley Junior High School is located on Boundary Cone Road, about 11/2 miles east of Highway 95.
www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2006/02/17/news/local/local2.txt