The day also happened to be the day of the season’s first snowfall.

The outdoor workshop, titled “Find Your Trail: Hikes, Bikes, and the Unexpected Wins of Outdoor Learning” was held in partnership between the school district and Chautauqua Health Network’s Healthy Schools Program. The professional development connected participants with trail and health leaders, local resources, and fellow teachers who have created powerful learning experiences in the woods. Bundled in boots, hats, coats, and gloves, educators hiked the three miles of trails on Chautauqua Lake’s campus and treated the weather as part of the lesson.

The district’s trail system that the workshop took place at was built in 2023 and quickly became a “living classroom”, being used for Chautauqua Lake students to do literacy work, STEM inquiry, environmental sustainability lessons, High School Field Science, and a growing list of outdoor physical education activities. Students learn to snowshoe, cross country ski, and ride fat bikes, skills that give them access to four season recreation.

Outdoor learning opportunities for Chautauqua Lake students extends far beyond the school’s campus, with students in grades nine through 12 this past fall hiking Long Point State Park, Chautauqua Gorge, Luensman Overlook, Harris Hill Extension, and Loud Performance’s mountain bike trails as part of a district-wide effort to build confidence, resilience, and a deeper connection to local natural spaces.

Submitted Photo The district’s trails opened in 2023 and provide students multiple opportunities for outdoor learning. The outdoor workshop looked to help other local educators do something similar at their own schools.

At the Nov. 10 workshop, Chautauqua Lake Secondary Principal Rachel Curtin opened the day by highlighting how outdoor learning has reshaped teaching and learning at Chautauqua Lake, also drawing on research about the benefits of outdoor experiences for children, especially in the colder weather.

“If students do not experience the trails and landscapes around them, they will not see the strength and beauty of where they live, and they will not know it is theirs to care for,” Curtin said. “When we take time to plan even a small adventure, it shows students that school is about more than tests and homework. It tells them we care enough to give them an experience that is meaningful and lets them enjoy their community in a way many never have the chance to. You can see that joy and connection in their smiles, in the way they ride their bikes, and in how they look around with curiosity when they are hiking.”

She added that the joy students feel outdoors is unmistakable.

A point in the trail system where several trails meet, known as The Hub, saw teachers gathering there during the workshop, where they explained how they use the woods for StoryWalks, STEM scavenger hunts, maple sugaring, field science and book hikes in their lessons. Teachers added that in simply stepping outside students quickly become more focused, confident and willing to share. Research presented during the session supported this, showing that time in nature strengthens attention and problem-solving and that walking side by side reduces social pressure and encourages students to share ideas more comfortably.

A major portion of the workshop focused on helping educators identify similar opportunities in their own districts, with other county leaders giving examples and demonstrations to help with this.

Jacob Bodway, Trail Coordinator for the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, demonstrated how to use CHQTrails.org to locate nearby hiking routes, waterways, and multi-use trail systems. He noted that Chautauqua County is home to some of the most extensively groomed fat biking trails in the Eastern states region, along with routes suitable for creek studies, nature journaling, and year-round outdoor recreation.

Public health partners Amy Hitchcock and Lisa Roberts introduced the Kids and Family Hit the Trails Program, a countywide initiative that encourages families to explore local trails through incentives and challenges. They shared information about grant support tied to milestones within district-created Workplans for Child Nutrition and Wellness. These grants look to reward progress in wellness programming, nutrition education, and physical activity.

The overall goal of the “Find Your Trail” workshop, Curtin said, was to give teachers the confidence, structure and inspiration to implement their own outdoor learning programs at their home districts.

“The bottom line is to just go for it,” Curtin said. “Take that first step on the trail with your students and keep going. We wanted to provide a hiking experience, inspiration, and resources that teachers can truly use to create their own unexpected wins and adventures with their students. Chautauqua County’s trails, parks, creeks, and wild spaces are stunning. We owe it to our kids to lead them to these places and let them learn from the experience.”

Chautauqua Lake Superintendent, Josh Liddell, expressed his appreciation of the school district’s outdoor learning program. He added his gratitude to everyone involved in the outdoor workshop.

“I’m so grateful that we’re giving our students the chance to learn outdoors and discover what makes our area such a remarkable place to grow up,” Liddell said. “Outdoor learning helps them build confidence, stay curious, and form meaningful connections to our community. I’m also thankful for our teachers, Principal Curtin and our environmental education partners, whose leadership continues to show what’s possible when we treat our outdoor campus as an extension of the classroom. Their commitment ensures that our students don’t just learn about nature — they experience it firsthand.”