Vintage Post–Mr. Ralph, Nature Journalist

Mr. Ralph added so much to our Corps of Discovery studies on Lewis and Clark by sharing his own nature journaling with us.

Here is a sample from his hunting journal . . . . .

Bow Season 1993

October 2

Got up at 5:00 and left house at 5:30.  In my tree stand at bottom of hill by white rock at 6:00 a.m.  Calm and very dark with moon in and out of clouds.  43 degrees.  At 6:20 a coyote started howling one hundred yards or so up the bank.  A flying squirrel landed on the back side of the tree I was in about two feet away from me.  At 6:45 motion caught my eye to the right.  A fisher ran along a log and then back out of sight.  Wind starting to pick up a little.  At 8:05 two deer ran in from the ledges way.  One went up the sag.  The other came in front of me and stopped twenty-five yards away.  It was facing toward me and looking back on where it came.  I drew back, but no shot.  It ran straight toward me and under my tree, but no shot.  At 8:20 a partridge walked under the apple tree behind me.  At 8:30 I read Proverbs 1-3 about wisdom and how we should strive to gain more to pass it to others–children especially.  Climbed out of my stand at 9:00.  Went down to beaver pond and watched five beavers climb up over the dam about thirty seconds apart and about twenty feet away.  9:45 I walked along the swamp and watched eighteen ducks take off.  Walked into Foreman’s field and watched three coyotes mulling around for about ten minutes.  Seventy-five yards away.  Back at the truck 10:25.

Our Corps of Discovery has Gold Fever!

These intrepid explorers spent the week compiling all their mental files from our history studies and pondering what their choices would have been if they were alive in 1848.

Panning for gold with Mrs. Shedd!

Would YOU catch gold fever?

What a serendipitous event today right in the middle of writing about our conclusions–Mr. Huebner tromped into our room fresh from a successful early morning turkey hunt.  We were invited to see his turkey and (challenge by choice) even watch him dress it like they would have in pioneer days!  Every day I pray over my lesson plans and ask God for His wise thoughts and direction.  On days like this when He so obviously provides astonishing learning experiences beyond what I could ever plan, I smile and thank Him again and again.

Stay tuned to the student blogs for their upcoming posts on the Gold Rush!

Sneak Preview of Corps of Discovery Day 2017

Curious and courageous explorers heading into the unknown!

Our host park ranger, Karen Hoey, of the Army Corps of Engineers,

taught all about New England animals.

Tree expert Ken Desmarais, of the White Mountain National Forest Rangers,

shared so much tree knowledge with us.

We loved experimenting with our own photography of the “wilderness”

with IT specialist, Chris Hunewell.

Can you believe even our lunch had a Lewis and Clark theme?  Mr. Huebner loves hunting, and he not only taught us about food on the trail, but he rustled up some Corps of Discovery lunch including squash, potatoes, venison, squirrel, and BEAVER!

Music teacher, Mrs. Brown, led worship at the falls.  Some chose painting, some writing, and some music as they enjoyed their own personal waterfall location.

Camp expert, Ginny Clasby, led an archery workshop which included Buffalo Archery Tag.  We had never seen anything like that before–hilarious!

Sacagawea guided us through our day.

Thank You, Lord, for the most marvelous day of learning imaginable!