WORKSHOP FIELD GUIDE
SnowSchool Field Trip — Homeschool Groups: A hands‑on day of snow science in Alaska’s winter wilds
KMTA’s SnowSchool guides K–12 and homeschool groups through a full school day of snowshoe‑based exploration and tactile lessons in snowpack, hydrology and winter stewardship.
SnowSchool Field Trip — Homeschool Groups: A hands‑on day of snow science in Alaska’s winter wilds.
SnowSchool connects students across Southcentral Alaska to the wild, teachable landscape of winter. Over the course of a full school day, participants strap on snowshoes and move into snowy terrain for inquiry‑based lessons—digging snow pits to examine crystals, carving tunnels and quinzees, building miniature watersheds, and combining play with science to learn how snow shapes watersheds and winter recreation.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Digging into the snowpack
Students examine snow pits and snow crystals to learn the basics of snow science and hydrology through hands‑on observation—an experiential approach that anchors classroom concepts in the field.
Quinzees, sculptures and the big hill
The program balances structured science with play: groups build winter survival quinzees and snow tunnels, sculpt the snow, and enjoy belly‑sliding down the big hill in Turnagain Pass—activities that make winter skills memorable.
Snowshoeing into watershed lessons
On snowshoes students venture into winterized watersheds to construct miniature models, read seasonally themed stories like 'Hello, Water' on sunny days, and practice outdoor stewardship and social skills through guided, inquiry‑based activities.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
The day unfolds as a sequence of short, hands‑on modules: an orientation, a snowshoe approach, short field labs in the snowpack, creative construction projects, and supervised play. Instructors emphasize teachable moments—linking observation and curiosity to practical skills—and students repeatedly move between structured inquiry and active exploration across a full school day.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this program is designed for—and who should consider alternatives.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Students strap on snowshoes as part of the program; plan for winter footwear and clothing suitable for an active full school day outdoors.
The program runs a full school day; start and end times are flexible to accommodate bus availability and meeting locations vary by trip.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is a SnowSchool field trip?
The program is run as a full school day; start and end times are flexible to accommodate bus availability.
Who operates SnowSchool?
SnowSchool for homeschool groups and K–12 classes is run by KMTA.
What activities do students do?
Students build snow tunnels and quinzees, dig snow pits and examine crystals, create miniature watersheds, play snowshoe games, and enjoy supervised hill sliding while learning about snow science and hydrology.
Where do groups meet?
Meeting locations vary by trip.
Who is the program for?
The program is intended for K–12 classes and homeschool groups looking for experiential winter science and outdoor education.
Do students use snowshoes?
Yes—students strap on snowshoes and use them during field activities.