On Friday, we took our students on a field trip to Bluebonnet Swamp in Baton Rouge. Because it is a natural preservation site, we were not allowed to picnic on the grounds. We piled back into the bus to travel a few miles to another park. When we pulled up, a student yelled out, “I don’t see the playground.”
They were right. It was a vast green space with a pavilion, picnic tables, and a track. After we finished eating, I offered a walk to some students. We walked down a hill to a ravine and found a large live oak with its branches draping over the ground and ravine. The branches reached low enough for climbing.
And climbing was what they did. As though the tree herself had invited them on. Despite my little nag on my teacher shoulder, I let them go. Years ago when I was raising young children, I remember my sister-in-law allowing her daughter to climb a tree. I questioned her. She said, “Climbing gives her body confidence.” I was holding onto this as I watched these students in all their confident bodies climb all over the tree like cautious ants. They really did seem to know if they could do it.
No one fell. No one got hurt. Not one of them got wet. I released my held breath and patted my teacher-shoulder. On the way back up the hill to the bus, one of the students yelled out, “This is the best. field. trip. ever!”
Reflections on the Teche 
Love that confidence and joy!
(However, some words brought out sadness. “Down the hill” are infamous words related to a crime in our state in which an arrest was made recently after mire than five years. Two young teenage girls were out for a walk and were kidnapped and murdered. One of the girls was able to make a recording on her phone. The man who took them was heard saying repeatedly “Down the hill.”
I hate that your joyful post also had those words echoing in such a sad way as I read. Words hold such power.)
Oh my. Those words have been changed forever.
I loved the happy faces and so glad they got to climb. There is not enough tree climbing these days! I lived in the trees when I was young. So glad you let them go!
Your post brought back so many wonderful memories of my own childhood, and our son’s!
Well done, Brave Teacher!
Thanks for sharing all about this trip!! It is a great reminder that we don’t need playground equipment, just nature!!
I also see your name on the NCTE list!!! See you in Anaheim!!
That’s the best kind of field trip!
What a beautiful photo of your students having fun climbing a tree. My girls loved climbing trees as I also did. There is something so special about sitting in a tree like you’re a bird looking around and down, like your part of the tree, and in a safe space surrounded by nature. I’m glad you let them climb. Did you have a writing activity about their field trip? Thank you for sharing your photo, your words, your inspiration, and joy. What a great student/teacher moment!