Skip To Main Content

Snowy Tracks Spark Scientific Inquiry In Outdoor Education

A paw print of coyote in snow discovered by our Outdoor Education students.
Snowy Tracks Spark Scientific Inquiry In Outdoor Education

Snow transforms Old Trail School’s campus into a living laboratory, offering students a rare chance to uncover stories written directly into the landscape.

During a recent Outdoor Education experience, Middle School students followed a set of coyote tracks weaving across campus, using the fresh snowfall to sharpen their observation skills and deepen their understanding of local ecosystems. What might have gone unnoticed on bare ground became a compelling investigation once the snow revealed clear patterns of movement and behavior.

Guided by their teachers, students analyzed the size, spacing and direction of the tracks, discussing what the clues suggested about the animal’s speed, purpose and path. Those observations became the foundation for a larger, real-world research project connected to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

An outdoor education teacher points out a set a coyote paw prints in the snow.


Students are working in teams to plan the placement of trail cameras that will be used to monitor wildlife activity in the park. One group is focused on studying track patterns and environmental features to identify strong initial camera locations. Another group will collect the cameras after a week, review the images captured and use that data to decide where the cameras should be repositioned next.

The project blends fieldwork, critical thinking and collaboration, while reinforcing the idea that scientific inquiry often begins with careful observation. It also highlights how Outdoor Education at Old Trail extends beyond the classroom, encouraging students to engage with the natural world in authentic and meaningful ways.

As winter continues, snow will keep offering new opportunities for discovery, reminding students that learning is everywhere, especially when they know how to look closely.

Other School News

Post RSS Feeds Subscribe to Post Alerts
Two young riders sit on their horses inside an indoor riding arena while two adults stand beside them, smiling.
Equestrian Club Wraps a Memorable Season of Growth

Our inaugural Equestrian Club closed out a remarkable season this fall at Maple Crest Farm, where eight students in grades 3-5 discovered not only the fundamentals of English riding but also the confidence and responsibility that come with caring for horses.

Read More about Equestrian Club Wraps a Memorable Season of Growth
Two Old Trail School third graders smile while holding a bag of donated food during the school’s Thanksgiving food drive.
Grade 3 Leads Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

Old Trail School’s Intermediate School once again rallied around an important November tradition as Grade 3 led the annual Thanksgiving food drive benefiting the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Read More about Grade 3 Leads Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
Exterior photo of Firestone Hall at dusk