Arctic Wednesdays 2025: Week 2 Post-Trip Blog

 

Mount Washington is known for its fierce weather and incredible views, but for me, it’s also a place where learning came to life. Last Wednesday, I had the unique opportunity to travel to the summit of Mount Washington in the snowcat, alongside a dedicated team from the Mount Washington Observatory. This adventure wasn’t just about experiencing negative temperature, withstanding 60mph wind gusts—it was also a chance to connect my 3rd graders and show them how science is applied in real life, even from 6,288 feet into the air. In all my years living in New Hampshire this would be my first trip to the summit.

The trip up the mountain in a snowcat was an exciting experience. As we ascended, snowbanks along the side of the auto road had been created by blowing wind and the recent 5 inches of snow that fell overnight. It continued to snow throughout the day. Inside the snowcat, I could feel the temperature drop and winds increased as we made our way up.  Visibility decreased and winds increased.  Reaching the summit in just under an hour and a half, Amy, Ms. Happy and I hustled from the snowcat to the Weather Room to meet with an exciting group of eight and nine year olds.

The real highlight, though, came when I had the chance to share this experience with my students live. Thanks to the incredible team at the Mount Washington Observatory, I was able to Zoom with my students while on the summit. Imagine their excitement as Amy showed them pictures of the snowcat, shared details about the weather conditions for the day, talked about weather instruments and described the science behind wind chill vs. air temperature. This wasn’t just a virtual field trip—it was an interactive learning experience in real-time. My third graders were able to ask questions about the weather station, conditions on the summit, talk about how the weather on Mount Washington is some of the most extreme in the world, and even explain the challenges scientists face when working in such conditions. Although the picture of Nimbus might have stolen the show. 

For my 3rd graders, this connection made the science come alive. They could see firsthand how the weather data we had been studying in class applied to the real world—and they were thrilled to be a part of it. I spent another 45 minutes in class on Friday discussing my adventure, talking about the weather instruments, the videos and sharing pictures.  My selfie with Nimbus and a dance party on the deck brought about a lot of laughs. 

As teachers, we are always looking for ways to engage our students and help them make real-world connections. This is exactly what the team in the Observatory did for my students and I.  

My trip to Mount Washington was not just an unforgettable personal experience; it became a unique teaching moment that brought science and adventure into my classroom. Whether it's through live virtual connections, exploring extreme weather, or delving into the technologies that make it all possible, there are countless ways to share the wonders of our world with students in an engaging, hands-on way.

Stephanie Newbery
Shaker Road School
Third Grade Teacher