Archery in the snow: Winter doesn't stop these students

From sneakes to snowshoes, many high school students in the Half Hollow Hills School District on Long Island are opting for the outdoors when it comes to gym class.

One student said the activities make her look forward to gym class because it is the highlight of her day.

They're getting a head start on next month's Winter Olympics by taking part in a biathlon—combining snowshoeing and archery. Snow accumulations after last week's storm made conditions for class that much better.

Half Hollow is one of the first districts on Long Island to incorporate outdoor education into the physical education curriculum.

"We do mountain biking, archery, orienteering—which is kind of like a scavenger hunt using a map," teacher Mike Gibbons said. "We have a kayaking unit. We have a fly-fishing unit."

At the beginning of each year, students are able to choose whether they want to take individual or team sports or outdoor education. They're graded on skills, sportsmanship, and participation.

The goal is to give students the opportunity to learn fitness skills that can be used long after they graduate high school.