We feel very fortunate at Western Dubuque High School to have the opportunity to offer an elective class about Wildlife Management to students during their sophomore to senior year. One of the units within this course is to learn about state and national parks and their regulations. To provide students with an opportunity to engage in real life, inspiring experiences as they connect to nature the Backpacking Bobcats trip was formed. The Backpacking Bobcats will travel to a different National Park every summer to experience the marvels of Mother Nature.
Students attending the trip (20 - 25 students) and those taking the Wildlife Management course (50 students each year) would be highly involved in this project every year as they research and plan the backpacking agenda, materials and supplies needed, food, and cost for the trip. After planning for each facet of the trip, students would then learn and practice the activities essential to backpacking survival. Some of these activities include setting up tents, packing the backpack with all supplies, cooking food, and trail walk training at Swiss Valley Nature Center prior to the trip.