YESS students head to the outdoor classroom that is Minnewaska State Park

The YESS class at Pine Bush High School (Youth Empowerment and Sustainability Skills) took a field trip to Minnewaska State Park. YESS students spent the day with Laura Conner, the environmental educator for the park.

A snowy ground, trees all around. A group of winter coat-clad high school studnets stand and listen to a woman who is wearing mittens and a blue jacket.

They spent the morning snowshoeing on Mossy Glen trail learning to identify animal tracks in the snow and talking and seeing how climate change is impacting the plants and animals in the park. Students also learned about invasive species and how the forest has changed over time due to the damage done by organisms like wooly adelgids and chestnut blight.

A group of nine high school students stand under a large rock with ice hanging down.

After a hike to Awosting Falls, students headed to the new Minnewaska Visitors Center. Students were excited to hear they were the first school group at the visitors center since the opening in 2020.

A group of nine high school students stand in front of a stone wall with lots of ice on it.

The field trip ended with a snow person building contest in the area next to the visitors center. YESS students look forward to going back in the spring when they will volunteer to help at the park.

Two high school students build a large snowman. Three high school students stand next to a large snowman.

Three high school students stand around a smaller snow man, that has a smile on its face. Two high school students push a large boulder of snow as they make a snowman.

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YESS students head to the outdoor classroom that is Minnewaska State Park