You may know Mr. Tom Horsley as Triton’s science department head, seen sporting band shirts and a large Panera iced coffee almost daily, but do you know him as the cryptid fanatic he is? Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, you will.

Horsley is partnering up with Triton’s very own cryptid, history teacher, nature enjoyer and teller of tall tales, Mr. Chris Gette, to run a cryptozoology course. This course focuses on the study and discovery of cryptids — Bigfoot, Yeti, Mothman, Jersey Devil and others.

”Oh well, y’know, you’re out there, in the Ural Mountains, you’re digging and… sometimes something moves just out of your peripherals and you’re like… well that’s something you don’t see everyday,” said Gette, on his experience with the Yeti.

Gette, who is most known as the teacher with more stories than the history books, has seen a Yeti (Bigfoot’s snowy cousin) out in Russia on digs from his archaeology days. When he heard that Horsley would be running a cryptozoology course, he wanted in.

The two will combine their knowledge and shared love of nature and all things weird to bring this class to life.

“Cryptids, hell yeah!” said Horsley.

Horsley says that the first half of the year will focus on studying known cryptids and their lore, as well as proper techniques for wilderness survival and eventual tracking of the creatures. The second half of the year will result in a month-long expedition to a location – voted on by the class – to search and obtain a cryptid of their very own.

When asked what they hope to encounter, Horsley replied, “Bigfoot’s all well and good, he’s actually my second cousin, but I’m really hoping to see the Squonk out in the woods of Pennsylvania. Now that’s a creature.”