Fifth and Final Day...tour time!

Hello again for the last post of the 2009, Outdoor Explorers Day Camp. The week has been eventful, fun and very busy. Not only have the students grown to love the outdoors even more, but they have gained an appreciation for the living things around them. One special treat this year was the raspberry thicket discovered and the appetites it created in the kids. Everyone seemed to enjoy picking and eating the berries. We had the opportunity to witness a rare sight as well. As we walked along the bank of the large pond, the students discovered a female painted turtle digging a hole for eggs. Unfortunately after we quickly backed away and avoided the area, the turtle abandoned her dig due to a large tree root passing through the hole. I (Mr. Bittle) searched the hole for eggs but found none. Since we disturbed the nesting cycle I explained to the kids I would gather the uncovered eggs (if any) and incubate them in one of our incubators at school. Needless to say I do not have to care for turtle eggs this summer!

One our last day of camp, we completed the bandannas with an iron-on print out chosen by each student and then went around and signed each other's bandanna with fabric markers. Many of the students were eager to place the cloth on their heads and become their own "survivor man". Bandannas make sense as they are very versatile. You can make a hat, sun shade, neck-kerchief for cooling off when soaked in water, an actual handkerchief, a collapsible bag, and even an emergency bandage. Of course some of the kids will simply hand them on their wall. Be sure to look at your child's bandanna.

The final project for the camp was to show off all their knowledge, critters and skills in aquatic sampling. Students gave their parents a tour of the habitats they created, the microscope skills aquired, and even discovery of the ponds with the fish traps and seine nets. Parents enjoyed their children's enthusiasm and expertise.

I would personally like to thank each student for his and her involvement in the day camp. I look forward each year to this summer class and can't wait to do it again next year. Continue enjoying the outdoors, even if it is your own backyard. Remember this: "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known", a quote from Carl Sagan.

Thank you. Sincerely, Mr. Bittle

Day four and so much more!

Today the kids had the opportunity to begin planning tomorrow's visitor tour. As a group they chose the various places that they have been visiting this week to show their family and friends. If you noticed distinct purple blotches on your kids' clothing it can be explained by the amount of time we spent outside picking raspberries and mulberries. The kids also got the chance to research all of the animals and plants that we have encountered in the past week in one of the school's computer labs. Kids recorded their findings in their journals that they have been decorating and writing information in all week. We finally had some down time in the afternoon where we watched a couple of video shorts and had some personal reading and social time. During down time we also looked at the pictures that were captured on the game camera the evening before. Near the end of the day the kids had the opportunity to watch the classroom snake, Benny, eat a rat.

Thank You,
Maggie Montoya, classroom assistant (that's me making a funny face with at the top of the post!)

Please click on the video to hear from a student in the class!!!!!

Day Three of our Exploration!

Today the children were able to explore the outdoors for a much longer period of time. With the decreased temperature and the comfortable addition of a breeze, the kids were ready for their day of exploration. Outside, we used the seine net in the prairie pothole and caught a large variety of specimens including a giant ostracod (the largest Mr. Bittle has ever seen), tree frogs, crayfish, and much more.
With the breeze, it was a great opportunity to teach the kids how to make their own kites. After construction, the children had a blast flying their own homemade kites in the breezy air. During that time we also discovered a killdeer's nest with four spotted eggs. We learned about the flail-wing display or broken-wing display that this bird use to lure predators away from their nest.
The children also dabbled into "eco-art", in which they used anything and everything outside to create their own artistic masterpiece. Some examples of what they made today include forts, teepees, woven mats, cat-tailed ducks, and more.
The kids were awesome today. When asked about their favorite parts of the day some answers were, "Make, fly, and fight kites", "Making the eco-art", "Seeing the turtle lay eggs!", "Catching crawfish with the seine net", and "Seeing the killdeer on the nest of eggs."



Thank you,
Brian Vuu, assistant

The Second Day

Today The kids were introduced to the pond. One of the fish traps that we had set out yesterday successfully caught a crawdad and a few tadpoles which we brought back to the classroom and made environments for. While at the pond we used a seine net and caught a large catfish which escaped along with its cohorts, however, after repeated tries we managed to catch several small sunfish and a few more small catfish. Using a plankton tow net we caught micro-organisms that we later examined under the compound light microscopes. Some students helped retrieve a game camera that was placed in the forest yesterday. Although there were visible animal tracks in the area, the camera did not capture any pictures. In the afternoon, due to the high heat and humidity, we spent minimal time outdoors only going out to replace the fish and live animal traps as well as re-bait the game camera. The times that we spent indoors was used to look at and better educate ourselves about the many animals that have already found a home in the classroom. As a class we discussed the food chain and made posters representing what we had learned. Tomorrow we will continue the process of preserving insects that were caught today. We will pin and display all of the campers insects for parents day on Friday. Remember campers we will be in the water tomorrow so bring a change of clothes and plenty of bug spray!

Thank you,
The Classroom Assistants

First Day Exploring!

Today we visited the Prairie area and pond area of the Outdoor Classroom here at Southwest High School. Students discovered wildflowers, edible wild plums, wood sorrel, black berries & mulberries. Many students caught wildlife and brought them back to the classroom and prepared habitats. Lastly, students created a Chinese hacky-sac and a small wildflower bouquet for their parents. Here's what kids had to say about today's adventures:

What was fun about today? "Going outside and catching stuff." "It was fun making the hacky sacs and kicking them up into the air." "Looking at a pupa of a meal worm, tree frog, wasp, grasshopper through a microscope." "Making prints with berries and eating them." "Feeding the Bass."

Have a great day and make some comments...we will read them in the morning.

Welcome!

Hello parents and students. This is your first message from the class and is here to provide some basic information prior to attending the first day. As you know, this class goes outside in the mornings (sometimes afternoon too depending on the temperature) and can get quite dirty depending on the lab we have set up. Students will get the opportunity to change into shoes that can get muddy or wet prior to leaving for the ponds and wetlands areas of Southwest.

It is also a good idea to provide your child with some kind of bug repellent that YOU approve of. I personally use DEET free products on my own children, which are various natural oil based products. I do not recommend a specific brand of Deet free bug repellent, but I will have my own in class for parents to look at. We also provide at least one or two kinds of bug repellent for those kids who forget to bring some, however it will be Deet free.

FYI: there will be an HOUR long open house on Friday from 3:00 till 4:00 pm. Your child will be providing the tour of the outdoor classroom and demonstrations. Come prepared to walk around outside if weather permits. There will also be inside demonstrations and presentation of projects and discoveries. Please plan to attend as the students take great pride in what they have accomplished for the week.

Thank you,
Mr. Bittle