Field Notes: What’s in the Woods Today? July 26, 2018
July 26, 2018 4:04 pm
Kids!
by Forester Lisa Deaton
Many localities and organizations offer great opportunities for kids to enjoy the outdoors at summer camps and day camps. The Virginia Department of Forestry, in cooperation with natural resource conservation agencies and organizations, offers Holiday Lake Forestry Camp for 13-16 year olds every summer at the Holiday Lake 4-H Center near Appomattox, Virginia.
Our local day-campers all learn about Smokey Bear and his fire prevention rules. When we began discussing wildfire last week, one camper stole the show by enthusiastically sharing the three types of wildfire with us: ground fires, surface fires, and canopy fires.
Then we went outside to listen to the sounds of the outdoors while nestled in hammocks.
The campers drew sound maps of everything they heard.
We also listened to recordings of blue heron calls, fox calls, and the Smokey the Bear Song.
An older group of campers canoed across the lake and built survival shelters.
It takes me about 30 minutes to hang up a dozen hammocks. These three ducks patiently watched me hang hammocks this morning (below).
Tags: Camp, What's in the Woods Today
Category: Education