Moose processing isn’t a typical class you can take at your local high school. However, Alaska high school teacher Brian Mason isn’t your average teacher.
In Dec. 2019, he arrived to start his workday with a dead moose in tow that he hunted and killed himself. Little did his students know their teacher was about to blow their minds.
Teacher Brings Hunted Moose To School For Hands-On Learning
After parking his truck, 30 students helped him unload the moose. Mason gave each student a boning knife and proceeded to teach them how to de-bone and process the meat correctly.
“You can learn certainly about anatomy from diagrams and textbooks and videos but getting your hands on an animal is a big part of the science aspect of it,” Mason told the Anchorage Daily News.
As a result, the class gained invaluable hands-on experience learning animal anatomy. In addition, they were able to gain insight and appreciate the sport of hunting and trapping.
Mason received a special permit from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, allowing him to hunt for educational intent.
Alaskan School Enacts Class As ‘Experiential Learning’
Mason’s school recently enacted a World Discovery Seminar program, which sponsors activities like moose processing and other hands-on activities.
According to its website, the program’s goal is to “establish a smaller learning community that creates a sense of identity, belonging, and teamwork within the WDS program.”
There are 125 students currently enrolled in the program, which is led by Mason and three other teachers.
“What I try to emphasize — and the World Discovery Seminar program as a whole — is to emphasize experiential learning,” Mason said. “You can learn certainly about anatomy from diagrams and textbooks and videos but getting your hands on an animal is a big part of the science aspect of it.”
