September 25, 2002
School teachers optimistic about Discovery Trail
Optimist Club hopes area educators take advantage of interpretive trail
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Members of the Optimist Club of Traverse City hosted seven area elementary teachers Monday evening at their cabin property in Blair Township. The evening was part of a campaign to entice school groups to take advantage of their Discover Trail, an interpretive trail running through their 27-acre property.
Club president Mike Brown explained the property's history and the project's goals before guiding the teachers on the Cedar Trail, which winds mostly through wetlands with some transition forest. The Maple Trail includes transition forest and upland forest. Both trails combined are nearly 1.5 miles and the property also includes restrooms, a covered pavilion with picnic tables, water and electricity.
As the teachers hiked on the improved paths, which crosses Beitner Creek four times, the ideas began flying: a comprehensive watershed program, water testing, snowshoeing, identifying wild flowers and leaf collecting.
"It is so incredible that the property is so ready for kids, but still so natural," said Jane Boerema, a second-third grade teacher at Eastern Elementary School.
The teachers noted that much of elementary age science programs revolve around water and that the Discovery Trail could be very helpful in their lessons.
"The water theme seems to run through so much of our social studies and science programs, as it should in this area," said Nancy Warszawski, a third- grade teacher at Traverse Heights Elementary School. "Even if they don't get the science part of it, think what they could write about."
Environmental science students from Traverse City West High School helped the Optimist Club develop the interpretive trail last spring. Teachers were also given a guide to the trail, which these students also helped put together. The guide describes the existing 14 site markers on the trail, which range from succession and snags to logging stumps and wind throws. These markers are geared to middle and high school students, though teachers were brainstorming ways they could be adapted to younger students.
Brown noted that the club, whose mission is to help youth, is eager to develop curriculum and markers for elementary-age projects.
"We want to create an experience for area students here that would be of value to them," said Brown, noting other markers were available. "We are looking to partner with teachers and schools."
"This is such a seasonal place," he added. "If you come in the winter, come in the spring and come in the fall, it's a totally different trail."
Art and Mary Schmuckal donated the original 17 acres of the Cabin Property to the Optimist Club in 1966. The cabin on the site was purchased in 1966 from the Chamber of Commerce for $1. The Chamber no longer needed it as an information booth because they completed their building at the corner of Cass and Grandview Parkway in 1965.
In 1997, the Optimist Club purchased another ten acres. In 1998, they began to upgrade the property to make it more friendly to youth groups. The trail was officially dedicated in May of 2000 and student groups as well as the Young Marines and the Boys and Girls Club have already visited the site for educational activities. The club is hoping to generate more of these visits.
Charma Brian, a third-grade teacher at Eastern Elementary School, was pleased about the property's potential for students.
"We are considering bringing our classes out," said Brian, a third-grade teacher, who attended with colleague Boerema. "We could develop curriculum and have the parents help us out. I always have my kids do leaf collections."
The fact that the site is at the beginning of the watershed appealed to some teachers, who said students may be very familiar with the Grand Traverse Bay but are less knowledgeable about where the watershed starts.
"It would be good for the kids to see this because it is a different type of ecosystem," said Bonnie Strand, a fifth-grade science teacher at Westwoods, who said her students visit Bullhead Lake for science trips. "I really think this would be a good idea for the kids."