Learning at Legend Rock

THERMOPOLIS – Worland Middle School eighth-grade students traveled to Legend Rock in Thermopolis Thursday for a day of learning and fun.

Worland Middle School eighth-grade social studies teacher Joe Winkler said that as a social studies teacher that is responsible for teaching his students Wyoming history, Legend Rock is the earliest example he can get. He also stated, "It's a good chance for the students to learn about Native American culture and interact with adults. Plus the kids really enjoy it."

According to wyoparks.state. wy.us, "Legend Rock State Petroglyph Site is a 400-meter long, near vertical cliff with more than 92 prehistoric petroglyph panels and over 300 petroglyph figures. While the site is not extensively promoted, Legend Rock is already a world-renowned petroglyph site. Legend Rock has been a sacred site for Native Americans of this region for thousands of years. Local concern for the preservation and protection of the site led to acquisition of the property as a Wyoming State Petroglyph Site in 1973. During the same year, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Legend Rock Petroglyph Site is one of the most fragile in the Wyoming State Parks system."

There were three stations for the students to visit so they were separated into three groups, each group spending 45 minutes at each station. Each of the three stations taught the students something different either in regards to the site itself or about the environment.

Station one was the petroglyphs themselves. The students followed the trail down to the petroglyph site where the group was split into smaller groups. Before heading down the trail the students were cautioned that the site was a spiritual site for Native Americans and that it should be treated as such. The students were able to learn what individual petroglyphs meant and why they were created.

The second station was manned by Wyoming Game and Fish Information and Education Specialist Tara Hodges. There the students played a game called "Oh Deer!," a protect wild game natural resource concept game. "The game teaches the students the importance of habitat and the role that the hunter plays in wildlife management," Hodges explained.

Students playing the game started as either habitat or deer and soon the deer outnumbered the habitat. Hunters and predators were added to the game to help control the over population of the deer. The students were able to see firsthand how too many deer can destroy habitat and too much predation could destroy the deer herd and that a balance is needed to protect both the habitat and the wildlife.

Station three was the art station where the students learned what petroglyphs were and how they were made. Each student was required to create a petroglyph that depicted a story using colored pencils and construction paper. Students studied examples of petroglyphs before attempting to create their own.