Sixth-graders in Josh Dalley’s science and math classes at Mountain Middle School aren’t confined behind desks crunching numbers. No, out in the field, they learn real-world applications for the math and science knowledge gained in class.
On Thursday, students visited Ptarmigan Gulch in Overend Mountain Park. Bill Hickam, a structural engineer for Goff Engineering, explained the challenges involved with designing a replacement bridge over Ptarmigan Gulch in Overend Mountain Park.
Trails 2000 has solicited design concepts for the replacement bridge from the students, and the suggestions will be incorporated when the new bridge goes in this fall.
Trails 2000 Executive Director Mary Monroe Brown said students’ observations are right on target – identifying the challenges of erosion, trail design and material limitations that will have to be taken into account in the design process.
“We strive for community connections and real-world experience for our students,” Dalley said,
The Ptarmigan Gulch project is part of a bridge design and building unit Dalley teaches that culminates in October when the sixth-grade students test their balsa wood bridges they create during the class in an exhibition at Fort Lewis College.
sstanley@durangoherald.com
