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Making a Quinzee at Smokey House
/0 Comments/in Alternative Education, Environmental Learning, Programs, TTC at SHC /by The Tutorial CenterWhat do you do when the first substantial snowfall turns your world white? You go outside! Never mind that it’s 12 degrees outside with a wind chill factor around zero.
Monday, as part of our study of winter ecology and wilderness survival, we built a “quinzee”, a snow shelter carved out of piled up snow. This kind of shelter can provide well-insulated protection from arctic temperatures. By mounding the snow and waiting for several hours, the snow has a change to sinter, or firm up, as the snow crystals bond.
We started digging out the interior Monday afternoon and finished it Wednesday, when the weather was a sultry 25 degrees.
– YouthWork and Learn – The Tutorial Center at Smokey House Center, Danby

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