SAM GRIBLEY DAY at Chase County Elementary

“My experience was great. We did a lot of teamwork.”  - Dakota P.
“We started our fire with flint and steel like how Sam did it.” - Ava W.

Reading

Students carry a copy of the Pocket Guide to the Outdoors with them during the event to find information on how to complete their required tasks.  Sam Gribley Day is a true text-based field trip experience. Using the texts My Side of the Mountain and Pocket Guide to the Outdoors to learn many of Sam's skills and do them on their own!
“I love Jean George’s books. I do not like to read, but her books are awesome.  Sam Gribley Day was so much fun. 
I saw an owl like Sam did. The falcon was so cool.”
Jack D.
Sam liked to hike up hills and climb trees and I like to do the same.” Dominic B

Cooking

Teams made solar ovens, and experimented
​with cooking over a fire.
“I tried to boil water in a leaf with an egg in it, but it didn’t work.  I had a lot of fun there.  It was the best day of my life.” Ava W

Fire Building

Students tried using both flint and steel and magnifying glasses to start their fires.
“We started our fire with flint and steel like how Sam did it.” Ava W.

Fishing

Using their own their own handmade poles and fish hooks, student tried and caught fish – sometimes!
In the big pond, we caught a tiny fish.” Ava W.

 “Like Sam, I caught a fish. The worst thing for me is that when I caught my fish the hook got stuck in its mouth!” Austin A.

Shelter

Each group built their own shelters out of found materials. Some teams built tipi style shelters, others used tarps and built
lean-tos.
“My favorite part was building our shelter.” Austin A.
“Our group name was the duck hawks. I thought that was a cool team name.  We built a tipi with limbs then made it waterproof with two tarps.” Dominic B.

Identifying Plants

Finding and identifying both useful plants
​and those to be avoided!

Animal Tracks

Finding and identifying animal tracks.
Students found deer, rabbit, goose and bobcat tracks!

Time to Share

Falconry

 In My Side of the Mountain, Sam uses a falcon to hunt. Each year, local falconer Doug Burt has shared a presentation about his falcon at Sam Gribley Day.  Mr. Burt was inspired by Sam and Frightful when he was young, so he always enjoys explaining the art of falconry, the gear needed and does a great job of relating all of it to Sam’s experience. 
 
These are different birds Mr. Burt has brought over the years.
The book and Mr. Burt's falcons even inspired one past student to take up falconry as a hobby.
“I didn’t know that the falcon was the fastest animal in the world.” Austin A.
This is my nephew, Asa F., at Sam Gribley Day in 2016 with Doug Burt.  Mr. Burt later connected Asa with a mentor and Asa pursued a falconer’s license.” Asa’s Aunt
“This was Asa on Thanksgiving of 2021 when he went hunting for rabbits with his own hawk.  He has had a bird each year since he was 12.” Asa’s Aunt

Tried at home and brought to school for Sam Gribley Day: 

Some skills were worked on independently at home: Braiding a line with natural fibers, making a flute from bamboo, carving a walking stick, fashioning a boomerang, drawing a map, making dandelion fritters, and tying knots! It is a great way to get families outside and learning new things together!
Links for Teachers:

1. SAM GRIBLEY DAY PLANS - This is Mrs. Matile’s planning page with the names and places changed.  She has given permission for you to make a copy and use it for your own Sam Gribley Day planning.

2.SAM GRIBLEY DAY PARENT LETTER - This is a copy of the letter Mrs. Matile sends home to parents every year about Sam Gribley Day.