by Jessie Diermier
Lassen Land and Trails Trust Education Coordinator
On May 20th through 22nd Lassen County’s 5th graders gathered at BLM’s Belfast Site and Willow Creek Canyon to learn about the unique aspects of our high-desert region, specifically, the Native American perspective, archaeology, wildlife and plants on the site, as well as the ‘tread lightly’ and ‘leave no trace’ outdoor principles.
The students and teachers, along with parent volunteers, trekked to the site over a three day period to visit the five different stations peopled with Lassen County Office of Education, Bureau of Land Management’s Eagle Lake Field Office and California Department of Fish and Wildlife professionals: Gwen Pacheco (LCOE), Sharynn-Marie Blood (BLM), Marilla Baker (BLM), Brian Ehler (CDFW), Jill Poulsen (BLM), Valda Lockie (BLM), Josh Huffman (BLM) and Marisa Williams (BLM).
Altogether, the group served over 225 5th graders from over 9 different Lassen County schools!
The event, which emphasized the natural sciences, also included a distinctive perspective on the Belfast Site as a Native American sacred area and special locale that has been utilized for hunting, fishing, gathering food and medicine. The students discussed the historical importance of the site and then were guided through a viewing of the petroglyphs.
5th Grade Day in the Desert was sponsored by the Lassen County Board of Education, the Lassen County Superintendent of Schools, the US Bureau of Land Management and by the Lassen County Environmental Education Collaborative – a partnership between The Bureau of Land Management Eagle Lake Field Office, Lassen National Forest, Lassen County Office of Education and the Trust.
