Rain, wind, and damp gear, to bright sunshine rays and crisp fall days. The range of experiences on Exploration Week was full of contrasts.

Weather rolls in quickly on Lake Superior. This is one student's experience backpacking during Exploration Week on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

... I feel like I understand myself better and have a clearer view of my own passions and aspirations. I'm excited to further my work as an environmental steward and apply what I've learned at Conserve to my hometown and all other communities and places I live...

My land ethic will be centered around the conservative use of depletable resources and the preservation of beautiful wildlife that has been and will remain untouched.

I developed my personal land ethic: broadly speaking, a belief that as long as we rely on the the environment and wilderness for pleasure and as a resource, we have a duty to safeguard it.

CS16 student and leader, Ken from Beloit, WI. organized the March 14th walkout at Conserve School in solidarity with schools around the country. Here is a powerful poem that he wrote reflecting on the experience.

I wanted these photos to focus on one single subject, rather than looking at the bigger picture. Conserve School has taught me to examine the details, single cogs in a much larger machine.

I have felt myself adapt and seen the world around me change. I have tried to capture this transition in my photography.

"Having a class Taking Action Project gave me an idea of what it would be like to start my own personal Taking Action Project."

Connecting through shared gratitude for the land and each other: Students went for a walk on Lowenwood to reflect on how being present in a moment is a form of gratitude.

"The photos from the simple camera I traveled with will be visual aids to all my peers and to me in the future, showing what we need to fight so hard to preserve and continue enjoying for our generation and generations to come."

Inspired by a guest speaker, some CS15 students made repairing bat boxes their Taking Action Project.

"I felt very much at peace there; to me, it was the kind of place where I felt I could stay for a long time. It also stood out as a place worth protecting."

"I was able to appreciate nature by seeing it new ways; getting comfortable with darkness, and making sure I noticed nature's beauty by looking up."

Sometimes a challenging hike can become a metaphor for life.

Anevay knew she needed to slow down and be aware of her survival needs in order to gain a sense of belonging in the wilderness.

Rowen sought appreciation, community and mystery. He found it in his land ethic on Exploration Week.

Prior to Exploration Week, Emilia had an "objective revelation" that was the source of some anxiety. She decided to work it out in nature.

One student's story about personal discovery on Exploration Week in the Sylvania Wilderness.