By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio/Blizzard Broadcasting. Courtesy photos.

 

Seventh graders from Steamboat Springs Middle School enjoyed a hands-on Winter Skills Day on Friday, hosted by Yampatika, with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Steamboat Ski Patrol.

 

The kids learned winter safety, avalanche awareness, and snow  science through four interactive stations.

 

From Yampatika:

Stations included snow pit studies, shovel and probe skills, and avalanche beacon training, with Colorado Parks and Wildlife who provided the avalanche beacon park. Steamboat Ski Patrol led mountain safety games and discussions, sharing best practices for recreating responsibly.

At the Snow Pit Study station, students explored snow layers, snow crystals, snow water equivalent and how snowpack conditions relate to drought, water supply, and avalanche danger.

During Avalanche Beacon Training, students rotated through three skill-based activities:

• Beacon Function & Search Techniques– how beacons transmit and receive signals, how to conduct a proper beacon check, recognize interference, and follow a signal during a search.
• Shovel & Probe Skills– proper deployment of rescue tools, emergency response roles, and safe excavation techniques once a signal is located.
• Beacon Basin Search– a hands-on exercise where students used beacons to locate hidden transmitters, reinforcing trust in equipment and teamwork.

“Giving students the opportunity to learn these skills outdoors, in the snow, makes the learning real and memorable,” said Yampatika staff. “Winter Skills Day builds safety awareness while connecting students to the science and stewardship behind the landscapes they recreate in.”

This experiential program reflects Yampatika’s mission to inspire environmental stewardship through education by connecting youth with local experts, applied science, and place-based learning; especially in a mountain community where winter recreation is a way of life.