The goal was simple: take kids camping, get them outside, out of cell phone range, make them smell like campfire smoke, teach them Science...and also about trapping Spring Beaver! Have I mentioned that I love my job...
Anyway, this year's camp was a shining example that, 1) It's not only about the trapping - there's so much more to trapping than what's on the surface...and, 2) Getting kids outside offers more diverse learning opportunities than sitting at a desk. Once again, everyone unanimously agrees, these trips are about the memories made, and learning about life itself. Priceless opportunities abound!
We landed at our destination early Monday:
It took a bit to get camp set up, but once we did, things got underway fast.
With all the air traffic on Lake Clark, we got our share of fly-bys, starting early on in the trip:
It wasn't long before the beautiful, unseasonable weather prompted us to start a game of 'beach volleyball', with the most epic scenery ever in the history of the sport?! (some would later say...)
Recognizing the "epicness", we figured we had better get together for a group shot to document the occasion. This is the crew, starting the tradition (hopefully) at Tanalian School:
We then headed out for some Science, starting with soil samples and then moving into the burn from a few years ago to learn how to do plant transects.
We found this logjam on a sandbar, and just had to explore it...
Found this spider with egg sacs on the way too..there would be LOTS more of these...
Some of the students played "Row Row Row your boat" on our circular path back to camp along the beach:
Upon returning, we relaxed a bit before dinner, and one of the students caught a nice laker to add to the 'pot'...
This camp was supposed to be 'roughing it' to the extent possible, and so with absolutely NO spices of any kind in camp, we resorted to this: Butter, onion, honey and cheese stuffed Lake Trout. Like all things while camping, it was delicious...of course...
Finger Lickin' Good!!!
Later that evening, we added a beaver to the menu after a series of crazy events...my lucky sweatshirt came in handy again...
Another epic shot, this time of carrying the rodent back to camp for skinning:
Sarah and the boys chillin by the fire :)
Skinning the Beav on a handmade raft (more on that later):
Next morning it was Pancakes and 'Snausage'...
The boys enjoying the spoils...
Over the course of the day, we would also add a Goldeneye and a Lesser Canadian Goose to the menu:
We took a long beach walk to another area of the burn to refine our plant transect skills and explore the world around us:
Somewhere in there, we found time for a rock skipping contest:
Later, for dinner, it was assorted goose and duck pieces wrapped in bacon (Wowza! that was good), and Beaver loins done up the same way..mmmm...
We also built a Luau pit of sorts, and cooked two beaver hindquarters in it for most of the afternoon and evening....Sooooooo Gooooood!!!
The Iron Chef and his creation...
Part of the second day consisted of getting ready for an epic bonfire:
After starting the fire, it was time to launch the "Huck Finn" Project that one of the students had started...
By the time that was over, the fire was well under way, and it had gotten so hot that we needed to find marshmallow 'trees' instead of sticks, so we could get close enough to roast some. :)
Some more random pics...
Warren ridin' shotgun :)
The trip was incredible in so many ways... Now we can't wait to do it again...
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