Saranac Lake CSD Challenge Project

Dear Saranac Lake Families,

*This is an electronic version of a mailing that was sent out on Friday, April 3rd. Additional items are included in the mailing.

Governor Cuomo's executive order extending school closure for an additional two weeks includes language that requires school districts to continue to provide remote instruction and meals to students as well as childcare for essential workers every weekday through April 14 in order to receive a waiver from the 180-day instructional requirement – even if they had been scheduled to be on spring break during that time. We will be returning to school when directed, perhaps as early as

April 15. Updates will be distributed using our One-Call-Now phone messaging system as information becomes available.

District-Wide April Project

Students are challenged to complete the Tri-Lakes Trifecta. That is, “scale the peaks” of 18 academic and physical activities/tasks. Included in this mailing is a Mountain Choice Sheet and a Tri-Lakes Trifecta Scratch-off card.

Please note, there are four different Mountain Choice Sheets: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. If you have children that span multiple grades, please check to make sure they are using the appropriate rubric.

Each mountain heads a column of activities. Students choose at least one activity in each column to complete. Once the activity is complete, the student scratches off that mountain top from the scratch-off card.

Mountain Guides

Certified teachers are available during daily office hours (8 am to 10 am) to provide instruction and answer any questions related to the project. Please call (518) 897-1404 to be connected to a Mountain Guide.

Completing the Challenge

Students who conquer the Tri-Lakes Trifecta by completing one activity from each column become eligible to win prizes (gift certificates to local stores) by emailing challengeaccepted@slcs.org and putting the student’s name in the ‘subject’ line. Send a separate email for each child in your household.

We’d love to see pictures of our students and their projects, read their stories, etc. Please know that any submissions may be published.

Find the List of Suggested Outdoor Activities and Guidance Below.

List of Suggested Outdoor Activities

All mountain trails are likely to have sections of mud, ice and snow. Wear appropriate footwear and bring additional traction to avoid slips and falls.

Visit DEC’s Adirondack Backcountry Information webpage for trail condition updates: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html

• Climb Mt. Pisgah

• Climb Haystack

• Climb Scarface Mountain

• Climb Silver Lake Mountain

• Walk or ride your bike around Moody Pond

• Walk or ride your bike around Turtle Pond

• Walk the Riverwalk in Saranac Lake

• Hike into Moose Pond from Route 3 or walk or ride your bike in on Moose Pond Road

• Walk or ride your bike around Mirror Lake in Lake Placid

• Walk or ride your bike on the Bloomingdale Bog Trail (There are two sections: Route 86 to Bloomingdale-Gabriels Rd or Bloomingdale-Gabriels Rd to Oregon Plains Road)

• Walk the Silver Lake Bog Trail

• Hike Henry's Woods (off Old Military Road in LP)

• Walk the grounds of John Brown Farm

• Hike the Peninsula Trails (behind Simply Gourmet)

• Walk the trails at the Paul Smith’s College VIC – Trails may have sections of ice and snow. Buildings are closed, but trail maps and condition updates are available at www.paulsmiths.edu/vic/

• Hike Panther Mountain

• Hike Baxter Mountain

• Hike the Flume Trail Network (River Trail & Bluff Trail)

• Hike the Owen Pond Trail

• Other (please write down your activity)

Before hitting the trail, please refer to the information found at these links. The DEC's HikeSmartNY page has trail-based safety and preparedness tips, a recent press release put out by DEC shares additional safety measures being taken at state facilities during the COVID-19 health crisis, as well as links for information and rainy-day activities for the Leave No Trace 7 Principles. Be safe. Have fun!

DEC HikeSmartNY: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28708.html

Press Release: https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/119974.html

LNT Activities for Kids: https://lnt.org/indoor-nature-activities-for-kids/

LNT COVID-19 Recommendations: https://lnt.org/the-leave-no-trace-recommendations-for-getting-outside-amidst-covid-19/