Winter Lab: Exploring Snow Science and Mountain Survival

Gold Hill students live in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, where snowfall is abundant and winters are long. Looking at the snow-capped peaks, it’s natural to wonder: What role does snow play in shaping the landscapes around us, and how do living creatures—including humans—adapt to survive in such an extreme environment? The mountains offer endless opportunities for environmental inquiry, yet students often spend much of the school year indoors, missing out on learning firsthand about the incredible winter ecosystem just beyond their classroom walls.

To address this, we have developed the Winter Lab, an interdisciplinary program designed to get students outside, exploring their environment while engaging in hands-on scientific study. Winter Lab is part of a three-year rotating curriculum that balances science, recreation, and cultural history, with students taking an active role in understanding and experiencing their unique environment.

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Recreation and Outdoor Exploration

A cornerstone of Winter Lab is encouraging students to enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle. The program incorporates hiking, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and winter play as gateways to discovery. These recreational activities not only promote health and well-being but also serve as tools to reach our study sites and build lifelong outdoor skills.

Physical education classes provide students with the training and skills needed for these activities, including how to move safely in snow-covered terrain. Local trails in Gold Hill, as well as nearby areas like Rocky Mountain National Park and Brainard Lake, offer ideal locations for exploration and study.

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Rotating Science Focus

Winter Lab cycles through three science-based themes, ensuring that students develop a comprehensive understanding of their winter environment while engaging with a broad range of STEM concepts:

Year 1: Snowpack and Watershed

Students investigate the role of snowpack as the region’s primary water source. They measure snow depth, study snowfall patterns, and analyze how snowmelt impacts water availability throughout the year. Partnerships with local science organizations provide students with opportunities to work with real-world data and research tools. Students use resources such as weather stations, snow depth measuring equipment, and watershed mapping to understand the delicate balance between snowfall, runoff, and water resources.

Year 2: Snow Science, Weather, and Survival

This year focuses on the science of snow and extreme winter weather. Students learn about how snow forms, how it behaves under different conditions, and the safety precautions needed for navigating winter environments. They study the physical structure of snowflakes and investigate how snow color reflects light. Students also gain essential skills for cold-weather survival, such as dressing appropriately, recognizing signs of hypothermia, and preventing emergencies during outdoor activities.

The program also introduces avalanche safety and backcountry awareness. Experts from local winter recreation and research organizations provide hands-on instruction in reading the snowpack for avalanche risk and understanding the dynamics of winter storms. These lessons tie into our existing intermediate-grade curriculum on extreme weather, offering a natural extension into cold-environment survival skills.

Year 3: Plant, Wildlife, and Human Adaptations

This unit explores how plants, animals, and humans adapt to life in a harsh winter environment. Students examine local wildlife zones by elevation and monitor flora and fauna through observational studies and trail cameras. They explore plant responses to winter conditions and examine the role of native species in the food web.

In collaboration with local wildlife experts, students gather data on animal activity and survival strategies, tying their findings into our broader curriculum on ecosystems and food webs. Historical and cultural perspectives are also incorporated, comparing how indigenous tribes like the Utes and Arapaho adapted to winter with the survival strategies of early settlers and modern mountain communities.

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A Hands-On Approach to Science and Community

Winter Lab is more than a science project—it’s an opportunity for students to engage with their environment and community in meaningful ways. By studying the natural world just outside their doors, students gain a deeper appreciation for their surroundings and develop the skills and knowledge needed to explore their world safely and responsibly.

This project is designed to empower students as stewards of their environment and foster a lifelong love for learning, discovery, and the great outdoors.

The Honeybee Project brings to life key concepts such as life cycles, interdependence, environmental health, and community responsibility by immersing students in the raising and care of honeybees. Students construct, monitor, and maintain their own apiary, as well as an observation hive within the classroom. They also plant and nurture pollinator gardens both at school and in the community. Through this hands-on experience, students are empowered to educate others about the vital role of pollinators in nature, and they sustain the project by selling their honey and wax products.

This project offers students invaluable, real-world learning opportunities, allowing them to explore the complexities of life, habitats, and ecosystems. It provides a strong foundation for critically evaluating the needs of flora and fauna within an ecosystem and understanding human impacts. The Honeybee Project seamlessly aligns with our butterfly garden and vegetable garden/permaculture programs, creating a holistic approach to environmental education.

The Gold Hill School's garden project engages students in every aspect of gardening and garden management, from building garden beds to planting seeds, nurturing soil, creating and managing compost, and harvesting and cooking the produce. Surrounding the school are several pollinator gardens, raised garden beds, and an operational greenhouse. Through this hands-on program, students explore plant and animal life cycles, the water cycle, food webs, the carbon and nitrogen cycles, food production, human environmental impact, sustainability, and various farming practices, all while learning to identify cause-and-effect relationships.

Students care for and monitor their soil, crops, worms, and compost in a way that is both successful and sustainable. They gain a deeper understanding of where their food comes from and how to grow it safely, free from harmful chemicals, in healthy, vibrant soil. Through this process, they see how nurturing the soil leads to healthy plants and nourishing food for their growing bodies. The living laboratory that is our school garden and greenhouse provides invaluable learning experiences that cannot be overstated.

Students also have the opportunity to experience agricultural production firsthand, working alongside professionals in the field and managing their own small-scale farm at school. This hands-on approach transforms the traditional study of life cycles, allowing students to use their natural curiosity to explore life and environmental science in depth. The school farm fosters a personal connection to our food sources and provides students the chance to apply classroom knowledge of life cycles, environmental science, and agriculture.

Through inquiry-based, interactive lessons, the garden project integrates across the curriculum. Students research, write about their first-hand experiences, create artistic models, and use problem-solving skills to address the needs of the community and the organisms affected by agricultural production. These activities give students a comprehensive understanding of how agriculture shapes our community and environment.

The Gold Hill School is designated as a Green Star School.  We work with EcoCycle and Green Girl to reduce waste and increase recycling and compost efforts.  You can learn more information about Green Star Schools here: 

Green Star Schools

In the Gold Hill School's butterfly pavilion, students engage with the concept of the life cycle by studying and observing various species of butterflies and moths. They actively contribute to the creation of a dynamic ecosystem within the classroom. Approximately 200 square feet of the space is transformed into a lush, tropical habitat, enclosed by gentle mosquito netting and filled with vibrant flowering plants, heaters, and humidifiers. This carefully curated environment houses six species of butterflies and moths, totaling nearly 100 creatures.

Students raise these insects from larvae to full-grown adults, witnessing the remarkable metamorphosis and life cycle firsthand. In addition, they study the anatomy, behaviors (such as communication and migration), and the essential role of these creatures as pollinators, as well as the various threats each species faces. Simultaneously, students explore the life cycle of flowering plants and the interdependence between plants and pollinators, deepening their understanding of nature’s interconnected systems.

At Gold Hill School, students continue their exploration of life cycles, biodiversity, and adaptations by incubating chicks and ducks in the classroom. While the eggs incubate, students learn about the unique adaptations of these birds, studying their similarities and differences. They explore the concepts of form and function, gaining insight into how different organisms have evolved into their current forms, with a particular focus on birds.

The students also study the remarkable egg—learning how it nurtures and supports life. They investigate the needs of animals to survive, examining how the egg and incubator meet these needs and how they will continue to support the birds once they hatch. Through bird watching and ornithological studies, students observe behaviors, communication, nesting habits, migration patterns, and much more.

Older students take a broader look at biodiversity, delving into animal taxonomy and classification. Once the chicks and ducks hatch, students enjoy spending time with them—reading to the birds, taking the ducks for walks, letting them play in a kiddie pool, and interacting with the chicks as they explore the dirt and enjoy tasty bird treats. The birds bring great joy to the school community, and at the end of the school year, they are sent to a family farm to continue their journey.

In September 2013, our area was significantly affected by flooding, prompting the Gold Hill School to create a program focused on studying the impact of flooding on the riparian ecosystem. This program integrates a wide range of scientific disciplines throughout the school year. Students begin by exploring watersheds, understanding how water shapes the land, studying topographic mapping, examining runoff and pollution, and investigating other abiotic factors related to hydrological systems.

From there, students shift their focus to the life within rivers. They engage with local experts to identify issues and solutions related to physical and ecological restoration. Students examine roadways and river engineering projects, assess water quality and flow before and after the flood, and analyze indicators of ecosystem health through trout and insect populations.

This program includes numerous field days where students sample water quality, measure flow rates, assess river health indicators, and develop recommendations for river restoration. Additionally, we’ve created a space within the school to bring the riparian ecosystem indoors for closer study. In our classroom aquaria, students raise a variety of local riparian insects—such as midges, mayflies, damselflies, dragonflies, and caddisflies—and care for rainbow trout in our river tank. These hands-on experiences allow students to learn about water quality testing, indicator species, life cycles, and more.

As a culminating project, we developed the Ecology Through Fly-Fishing Program. With the help of local volunteers, as well as fishing and hunting businesses and organizations, we designed an educational program that not only teaches students how to tie flies, cast, and fish but also reinforces their understanding of the rivers. Students learn how to read the water to know where to cast their fly, identify the insects in and on the water to choose the right fly, and assess the health of the river by observing which insect species are present and the condition of the riverbed and banks. This program not only introduces students to a recreational activity they can enjoy for life but also equips them with the knowledge to be informed stewards of their environment.

All of this information is presented at our Gold Hill School Watershed Summit, where students work in small groups to present their research and writing on topics related to flooding and riparian ecosystem health. Parents and stakeholders are invited to attend and engage with the students' findings.

The Gold Hill School is lucky to be situated close to so many incredible scientific resource centers.  Countless experiences are just a car trip away.