Class Trip, May 2011
| Robert's class went on an overnight field trip to a camp in West Virginia May 5th and 6th. It's all part of the curriculum for his first grade class. They are studying lots of thinks about the planet we live on including the other animals we share it with. Each first grader had to research his or her "Cove" animal; Robert's was the bee. This is Robert and couple friends checking the place out before the first hike. |
| The first hike stopped off at a pretty overlook and discovered a scarlet tanager up in the trees (I never actually saw it). As they progressed up the trail, Vini, the director of the camp, stopped to point out other interesting things along the way; things like lemon sorrel—which are OK to eat. Vini did strongly point out that you can't just eat whatever you see growing in the wild. So the next 20 minutes of the hike were punctuated by lots of, "Vini, can I eat this?" |
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| Our destination was the top of the ridge, known as the "Bald," upon which Vini talked a little bit about farming and the impacts it can have on the environment. But she only talked a little bit there because the wind kept kicking up making it impossible to hear. She led us down to a clearing a bit below the ridge line and introduced us to the sounds of several birds: Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, Barred Owl, Carolina Wren, Phoebe, Eastern Towhee. |
| After the hike, I was on dinner duty while the class split into 3 groups for their first workshop of the trip. Following the workshop and dinner was one of the two highlights of the trip: the Underground Railroad. The kids pair off and have to follow the sign of the "drinking gourd"—a drawing of the big dipper pointing to the north star—all the way to safety in Canada. Parents go along with the kids to help keep them on track (no help needed) and to help get past the scary parts. Old man Whitaker, a bounty hunter, was waiting by the trail with a lantern. That was one of the scarier moments. A nice Quaker helped them to a kind ferryman who took them across the Ohio River (the pond) where there was the kindly old woman's cabin—she hid the runaways in her attic while another bounty hunter banged around looking for them. Finally, they made it to "Canada" and freedom. Even with all the close calls and harrowing adventures, all the runaways made it. |
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| While I would have thought that was enough for one day. We had dessert in Canada then headed back to the nice Quaker's barn for a contra-dance. Robert did a great job showing me all the moves he and Sarah learned the couple of times they went square dancing. |
| Clearly, that was enough and Robert crashed hard for the night. Here is the next morning all snug in his sleeping bag with his hat pulled down over his face. Even after that busy first day, day two was just as exciting: after breakfast, Robert had another workshop, then they traded back around and for his last workshop of the trip which was the other highlight: newt catching by the pond. |
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| I really wish Sarah could have been there to hear Robert laughing at how the newt tickled when it crawled over his hands. He was having a great time. D-Rod, one of the staff, was very good at making sure the kids kept their hands over the bucket in case the newt escaped. But they all had a chance to see a newt up close and I don't think any of the newts were the worse for wear after the kids put them back in the pond. |
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| Robert enjoyed his chance to put one of newts back and watch it swim away. He also noticed this butterfly floating in the pond—I was pretty sure the butterfly had been there too long, it wasn't moving at all. But Robert fished it out with a newt net and it perked right up, dried off it's wings and flew away. |
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| After washing hands, the kids all gathered back in "Canada" for a picnic lunch before driving back home. It was a great trip; I'm sorry Sarah wasn't able to make it. I don't know if we'll flip for it next time or just start a regular rotation of parents going to join Robert and his class at the Cove. But I do know that whoever stays home will be missing out. |
Vacation notes:
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