Teacher staying in tree to teach students

ROCKFORD, Mich., May 13 (UPI) -- A science teacher at a middle school in Rockford, Mich., says he is spending 65 hours in a tree in part to make his students curious about learning.

Rockford Christian School teacher David Buth said his decision to spend three days and nights living in a couple of trees on school property is also a response to his students' successful attempt to earn $6,500 for a school trip to Wyoming, The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press said Tuesday.

"When I was in elementary or middle school, I would have been fascinated by this," Buth, 35, said. "I've piqued their curiosity, and that's neat to see."

Each hour the part-time teacher spends in the trees as part of his Operation Squirrel represents $100 of the money raised for a trip to Teton Science School in Jackson, Wyo.

Meanwhile, Buth's students commented on the unusual school project, which will conclude Thursday morning.

"He's going to teach us science from up in that tree," 13-year-old Audrey Mustert said of her teacher's unique teaching method.

"He said we might want to wear raincoats," Mustert's classmate Christie Chiles, 14, added about the possibility of rain during Buth's tree stay.