Tinley Park HS Science Students Explore a Local Canyon

Cook County is home to amazing geological formations including one of the only 300 canyons in the world. Armed with this knowledge, Mr. Mark Reiss who teaches science classes at Tinley Park High School wanted his geology students to experience the wonders of a canyon first hand. “Emerson has been quoted as saying, ‘We learn geology the morning after the earthquake.’ Most people are unaware of geology, and my students are no exception. My students’ eyes told the story as we hiked through the canyon. We didn’t just discuss the power of glaciers and geologic time, we experienced it,” stated Mr. Reiss.

On November 13, the students left Tinley Park High School and headed to the Sagawau Environmental Learning Center where they met with staff members who taught them about local geological formations and the impact glaciers had in forming the landscape of the south suburbs. The students then trekked outside where they explored the Sagawau Canyon, walking in the water and climbing the canyon’s natural staircases. The group also explored a fossil quarry where they were able to touch fossils from the Silurian period that are 400 million years old. These fossils were exposed when glaciers moved through the area. In addition, the students got to hike a special area of dolomite prairie. Only 500 acres of dolomite prairie remains in the world, and Camp Sagawau is home to 100 of those 500 acres.

Glaciers also formed a large esker near the Swallow Cliff forest Preserve which was the group’s next stop. They climbed the old toboggan stairs and explored the esker, learning more about the history about area. Students were surprised to learn that at one time, Swallow Cliff was home to ski jump that was used by the world’s best jumpers.

According to Mr. Reiss, “Everyone was ready for lunch after hiking for several hours. At lunch, the Tinley Park students had a chance to discuss their findings with the geology class from Oak Forest High School that were also with us on the trip. I was pleased to hear that all my students were thoroughly impressed by the experience, and some of them are looking to go back to Camp Sagawau to enjoy some of the cross-country skiing that they offer in the winter.”