East Grand outdoor students enjoy trips

    Four adults and seven East Grand High School outdoor education students led a group of 15 youth in grades 5-7 on a mid-November overnight canoe trip on the Baskahegan Flowage.
HOW I’D GO – Former East Grand outdoor education student Joe Osgood of Springfield discusses with the students the best route to take at Little Falls. Joe led a group from his church on a week long Allagash Canoe trip this past summer and plans on getting his guide license this winter and put his outdoor skills to work in the future in the area of recreational guiding.
    While temperatures dipped below freezing overnight, students learned how to have a safe an enjoyable time, while late season camping. Many students opted for building and staying in brush shelters instead of using tents. Students learned many important survival skills including how to build a warming fire, shelters, insulting yourself from the ground and utilizing layers of clothing for warmth.
Photograph by Joe Osgood
 A LITTLE WET – Grand Student John Massy gets a little wet running the rapids at Little Falls.
    Students also gained a respect for cold air, wind and water temperatures and how to avoid getting into trouble with the elements during a late season outing. The outing was part of the school’s 21st Century After School program.
TIME TOGETHER – East Grand Principal David Apgar with his son Billy enjoy cooking a traditional Maine Guide’s breakfast of potatoes, sausage and eggs on the Baskahegan overnight canoe trip. During the summers when Mr. Apgar isn’t busy with the duties of being principal and working on the farm, he enjoys guiding fishermen on East Grand Lake.
     The East Grand Outdoor Education students also took part in an overnight canoe trip on the St. Croix River.
FIRST LIGHT – East Grand student Kenneth Winiarski enjoys a hot drink, as first light breaks over the Baskahegan.
    Although the temperatures dipped below freezing, the students had a safe and enjoyable time applying outdoor skills learned throughout the fall during Outdoor Education classroom sessions. Skills acquired include trip planning for late season canoeing and camping, canoeing basics, proper wood selection and fire building, cooking over an open fire, dressing and layering up for late season camping, how to avoid hypothermia, knots and their uses, scouting and running class I-II rapids.
    The outing was led by Outdoor Instructor Dave Conley, Physcial Education teacher Jeremy Durost, former outdoor education student Joe Osgood and Living Waters wilderness trip leader Tammi Matula.