by Dan Bera
I started out early setting everything up at the Lab and even
casting some fresh tracks to show the kids. I got a fire going and had
some extra time so I cleaned up around the wood shed and stacked the
wood in front of it.
Kids started showing up around noon with the majority at about
one o'clock. After making some trail mix
we met around the fire and discussed tracking and nature observation. We also went over track patterns and individual track identification. It was then down the road to view tracks! The kids were amazing and
were able to pick out all sorts of special nuances in individual
tracks.
We were able to identify Grouse, Timber Wolf, Fox, Red
Squirrel, White footed mouse, Cottontail Rabbit, Deer (male and female),
Fisher, mink,Otter and a host of questionable tracks that were about
2-3 weeks old and filled with snow. We slid backwards down the line
trail to the north and had a snack and stories at the circle of stumps.
We cut across the woods and made it out through the otter bridge marsh
and did some exploring in the Wanagitchie trails across the lake.
Back at the lab we had hot cocoa, snacks and spooky tracking
stories. We also discussed making plaster casts and reviewed some of
the things we learned. A few more stories and parents started to show
up as the snow began to fly. All cleared out by 6:20 p.m. A super day
with some real sharp kids! -NATURALLY, Dan
(from the "desk" of Dan Bera)
