One by one, Lia Keller's students hopped down from their parents' mini-vans or SUVs and scooted across the parking lot of North Bivouac Trailhead off Campbell Airstrip Road. Clad in snowsuits, boots, and mittens, the kids, ranging in age from almost 3 to 6, drew pictures on the ground with sticks, caught snowflakes on tongues, and chattered to each other about the weather, dogs, and the quality of snacks in their pint-sized backpacks.
Keller, founder of The Alaska Forest School and its chief administrator, instructor, and trailside cheerleader, gathered her charges in a huddle and asked for some guidance on finding a landmark from the previous week.