Arctic Wednesdays 2026: Week 6 Pre-Trip Blog

 Arctic Wednesday Pre-Trip Blog

On Wednesday March 11th, Colleen Cutting and I will travel to the summit of Mount Washington as part of the Arctic Wednesday program—and we are incredibly excited to bring this experience back to WEMS! Arctic Wednesday is a winter professional development program offered by the Mount Washington Observatory for K-12 teachers. Ms. Cutting and I will travel to the summit in a snowcat to spend the day learning about mountain meteorology and weather observations techniques directly from the observatory’s team. 

As middle school science teachers, we teach about extreme weather, air pressure, climate, and the forces that shape our planet. Mount Washington, known for its rapidly changing and often severe weather conditions, offers a powerful real-world connection to these topics. In preparation for the trip, we have been tracking summit forecasts, comparing them to Worcester’s weather, and discussing how elevation impacts temperature, wind speed, and air pressure.

Our students have already begun generating thoughtful questions about how scientists measure weather in extreme environments and how conditions can change so dramatically over short distances. We plan to collect data, document our observations, and share updates so students can analyze authentic information from one of the most well-known weather stations in the country.

Most importantly, this opportunity allows us to  bring an experience into the classroom that many of our students may never have themselves. During our time on the summit, Ms. Cutting and I will be able to live stream with our students back at WEMS, sharing insights about weather conditions and what it is like to live in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. We look forward to also sharing photos, stories, and real data from the summit upon our return—and to reinforce that science is happening far beyond the walls of our classroom. Stay tuned for updates from the top!

Megan Rogozenski