WHS senior heads into the wild for hands-on learning

For Dan Cameron, the best learning comes outdoors — when he’s standing in a creek or leading a group down a trail.

The Whitefish High School senior has embraced the outdoors through classes and during his summers working in the wilderness.

“I like field work,” Cameron said. “I like getting out there and taking notes outside of school and engaging with professionals. I’m a hands-on learner — I like to experience things first hand.”

He spent last summer working as an intern for Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and this summer he’ll head out on the Flathead National Forest trail crew in the Swan Lake area.

Cameron is the son of Charles Cameron and Vita Wright.

He plans to attend Northern Arizona University and major in environmental science.

Teacher Eric Sawtell influenced Cameron’s decision to find a career in science. He was interested in English until he took earth science his freshman year of school and had his “eyes opened to science field work.”

The best trip, he said, was to Yellowstone National Park where students studied the ecosystem.

Through FREEFLOW and environmental club, Cameron also took advantage of learning outside the classroom. He worked with both clubs in raising funds for a greenhouse at the high school, because he says he “wishes he had something like that in high school and wants to help give that to the other students.”

Last summer guiding in the Bob, he enjoyed meeting a group of students from Houston who had never experienced wilderness.

“When you’re out in the wilderness, you’re devoid of any distraction and you really have the chance to talk to each other,” he said. “I enjoyed watching the kids get more comfortable in their environment.”

“I like showing them all the things that I have grown up with — fishing, cooking outside, sleeping outside,” he said.

Cameron served two years as the student representative to the Whitefish School Board. He originally applied for the position unsure of what it entailed.

He learned not only how the board overseas the workings of the district, but giving his monthly reports and being ready to give the student perspective on issues taught him something.

“I learned that communication is an important ability,” he said. “Lots of people have great ideas, but you have to be able to present them to a group of adults, or even peers, in a way they understand.”

He is a member of National Honor Society. He spent three years playing for the Bulldog soccer team, but ankle injuries prompted his decision to spend his senior year as a team manager rather than risk his future ability to be active.

“I’ve always gone hiking and skiing with my dad,” he said. “Being outside is one of the most important things.”