Environmental Ed - Week 1

Last week we had an AWESOME time with sixth graders for five schools in Minnesota (St. Bartholomew, Annunciation, Holy Trinity, St. Boniface and Marquette) at the Foley Environmental Education Center. Not only did we have some super fun students in camp, but we did some pretty cool things as well.

A Day at the Enivro Center

Dr. Earth

Each day students woke up in their cabins and then cleaned their cabin (in hopes of winning the Ms. and Mr. Spic and Span Award). Students then made their way to the Weather Station to predict what the weather would be like for the day. Each day at Foley we focus on a different character trait - Caring, Respect, Responsibility, Trustworthiness and Citizenship - so before breakfast each morning a couple of students would do a reading about the day's character trait. After each meal, Dr. Earth would visit to see how wasteful we have been. Dr. Earth would also remind everyone to stay on the paths (so we wouldn't become "Soil Destroyers") and to turn off lights when we left a building (so we wouldn't become "Energy Wasters") Throughout the day students attended academic classes and later in the day  had rec time (free time to go climbing, shoot at archery or play other games) and late-night adventure (going to look for snakes or frogs, large field games, twilight canoeing, etc.). On Wednesday night, the students went to various campfire-sites for Team Hotdog where they cooked hotdogs and s'mores over a campfire for dinner. 

Academic Classes

Wildlife Viewing

Aquatics & Wildlife Viewing: Students traveled to Hidden Lake to take in some beautiful scenery and canoe. Using binoculars students were able to spy some pretty cool things including two eagles' nests. As students traveled to Hidden Lake and canoed around they saw a variety of animals including eagles, painted turtles, snapping turtles, deer, beavers, muskrats and a variety of fish and birds.

Blind Hike: After every student put on a blindfold, they held hands and made their way through the woods without using their sense of sight and without talking! Over roots and rocks students used each other and their available senses to maneuver.

Climbing & Team Games: Students had the chance to take on Foley's 38-foot climbing tower! Using the commands they learned on the first day students used teamwork and encouragement to make it up the wall. When they weren't climbing, students had the chance to use teamwork skills during team games.

Critters

Critters: At critters, students learned all about the turtles and snakes in the Camp Foley Nature Center. Everyone had the opportunity to hold a Western Hognose, Pueblo Milk Snake or King Snake. Plus they met Foley's two turtles, a Painted Turtle named Muncher and a Snapping Turtle named Bowser.

Fish Survival: Students had a chance to get their science on while determining what kind of fish can survive in Whitefish Lake. Using samples of lake water, students went through several steps to come to a conclusion. about their fish.

Geocaching: Armed with a GPS ("Trust the GPS!") and a partner, students navigated through the woods to Upper Tree Houses where the group met up. Students then used their GPS to find different caches located around the tree house.

Geology: Students learned all about ROCKS in geology. They learned about how different types of rocks are formed, how the continents formed and separated, and all about erosion.

Muck Adventure

Micros: At micros, students had the chance to find microorganisms in water from a nearby Arrowhead Lake. Using their microscopes and their partners students recorded what they found.

Muck Adventure: The theme for this class seemed to be: How many worms can you eat? Students took off their shoes and socks, rolled up their pants and waded into the below-the-knee deep water to explore the muck pond.

Solos: Probably the quietest academic class, students had the opportunity to spend some time in nature all alone, away from their classmates. Students could write, draw, read or just enjoy their natural surroundings as they listened to the wind in the trees and the other sounds of nature.

Woodskills

Woodskills: Students spent their time at woodskills sawing, peeling the bark of wood, throwing tomahawks, starting a fire with flint and steel and whittling! Some of the tasks were easier than the others, but each student found something they seemed to excel at during their time at woodskills.

Overall it was a great week! We are so thankful for everyone that helped make it possible (including Mother Nature who provided us with some beautiful, sunny days)! We hope you left the Foley Environmental Education Center with as many great memories as we did!

Climbing to success

Foley Outdoor Education students Maria R., Tyler K. and Jordan P. take a moment to talk to us all about the climbing and team games activities here at camp. These three students joined us along with the rest of their 6th grade from St. Boniface school. Here is what they had to say...

- Marie and Alli, Directors.

You Can't Dibs Nature!

Snapping Turtle (Photo by A. Faricy)

As I canoed along on my second to last of 14, three hour canoe classes over the last three weeks, I examined the actions of the 6th graders. A couple were kneeling precociously in the bottoms of their canoes, hands outstretched, canoes tilted dangerously to one side, attempting to catch painted turtles.  Others were cautiously peering in to the murky bottom in search of the elusive snapping turtles that are frequently spotted.  While still others, craned their necks skyward watching two of the seven local bald eagles swoop effortlessly in and out of the trees.  I smiled as I heard one 6th grade girl say to another "We dibs that turtle!".

"Dibsed" Turtle (Photo by A. Faricy)

The fact that kids were "dibsing" turtles was some what of an accomplishment for me. As we stood on the shore prior to our adventure, many of the kids squirmed nervously at the mention of catching turtles. Now they wanted them. Wanted them so bad they "dibsed" them. That is about as close as you can come to formal ownership when you are in 6th grade. Success.

Nested Loon (Photo by A. Faricy)

After catching a couple turtles and handing them off to some of the kids who were not so lucky as to dibs a turtle, we made our way through a small tunnel and out on to the larger lake. I want to believe that the nesting loons were grateful I made the kids wait for me as I stood watch near their nest, keeping excited kids from getting to close as they took pictures with their disposable cameras. When an eagle swooped low over the loons nest the kids got to see what a nervous, angry adult loon looks like. I was just grateful the loon seemed more nervous about the eagle than us.

As we made our way back, I couldn't help but smile about the response the girl who had her turtle "dibsed" out from under her had to her friend..."You can't dibs nature!"

So true.

Alli Faricy, Director