Triad’s Middle School principal highlighted the success of one of the newest – and most popular – elective classes during Thursday’s Board of Education meeting.
Principal Vinnie Spirko said there is consistently high demand for the Outdoor Survival elective course taught by Mrs. Tamara Walls.
“Little did I know that there’s a Bear Grylls living inside of her,” Spirko said.
Walls and two of her students, Jayden Quintero and Landon Queen, spoke to the Board of Education about their experiences in the class.
In an interview with the Journal-Tribune last year, Walls detailed some of the challenges students take on throughout her course ranging from learning to light a fire with just one match to building a shelter for two.
This quarter, Walls said Quintero was the first student to successfully light his fire on the very first day.
His reward?
“A marshmallow” to roast, he said with a smile.
Walls added that Queen – who listed three different ways to arrange tinder and kindling to start a fire – is the only student this quarter who has practiced fire-making more at home.
Walls said she does her best to find creative ways to support the class at no cost.
She collected tinder that students can use to build fires from around her own home, along with branches that can be made into hiking sticks.
On Thursday, Quintero and Queen showed off a few of the hiking sticks they have crafted. Some students used sandpaper to create a smoother surface to hold onto while others decided to leave more bark to give them a natural feel.
Queen said he learned from Walls that his elbow should form a right angle as his hiking stick hits the ground. He said using it as a support can take some of the pressure off his knees.
Later in the quarter, Walls said students will learn about the uses of paracord and practice knot-tying to create a handle for their walking sticks.
The students also passed around miniature first aid kits they made, held within plastic chewing gum containers.
Quintero and Queen listed a few of the items inside, including antibacterial wipes, gauze and bandages to take care of a wound.
They plan to take the kits with them to Camp Shiffer at the end of the quarter, where they will spend an entire day to celebrate their time in the outdoor survival class.
Walls noted that the Champaign County YMCA allows schools to use the camp for free.
While there, students will build shelters and cook a special foil-pack lunch, Walls said. She didn’t want to spoil the surprise for Quintero and Queen, but said the contents would go beyond the classic cookout hot dogs.
Quintero and Queen said they were interested in the class because they each feel that everyone should know at the least the most basic survival skills.
Walls said she enjoys seeing students challenge themselves and seeing their personalities shine through in a different classroom setting.
She said the lessons and skills they have learned seem to be sinking in.
Queen spun around during the presentation to show the back of his t-shirt, emblazoned with the phrase in bold: “Explore the Outdoors.”
Walls laughed and noted that she didn’t even ask him to wear it that night.
In other business:
– The board unanimously approved an agreement with the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office to provide a School Resource Officer (SRO) to the Triad district for the 2023-24 school year at a cost of $60,758.80.
The cost is up slightly from the contract for the 2022-23 school year, which amounted to $58,551.50.
Superintendent Vickie Maruniak said the SRO salary was bumped due to negotiations within the sheriff’s office.