Day 2 of Journeys Outdoor School

Day two threw some weather at us, but it never got a single kid down. It did rain off and on all morning, but the afternoon was just partly cloudy. Once we got in our cabins for the night, the rain really came down, but we were cozy inside. Breakfast started at 7:45, but by then many kids had already played games of football or Gaga-Ball. They woke up ready for the day. After our pancakes, sausage, hash browns, juice, cereal, oatmeal, and fruit, we got into our trail groups for the day. Each group headed out into the forest in different directions. One highlight of the morning and afternoon was seeing the bucks. One group even witnessed two groups fighting with their antlers in a pre-rut display. The challenge course was the main activity for many groups, but others learned about macro and micro invertebrates during pond ecology. Another group learned about forest ecology, including fires natural role in a healthy forest while climbing up to Bald Point and overlooking the entire valley. Lunch included hamburgers back at the lodge. The afternoon continued the learning outside. During community time (free time) some play football, some basketball, but about 50 students played Gaga-Ball in the Gaga-ball pit. I won't be surprised if a group is there again before breakfast this morning. Dinner was a favorite with some really tasty pizza, breadsticks, chicken wings, and salad. This was our lowest day of ort (left over food that was put on plates to eat, but not eaten, as we weigh our waste after each meal and try to reduce it....a lesson during each part of the day). Of the entire 5th grade and chaperones we only had 4 pounds of wasted food! Not too bad. The students set a goal of 2.5 pounds of ort for this morning's breakfast. After dinner last night the night activity focused around animal adaptations, where students rotated to many hands-on activities pretending to be birds to experience how different tools help them get their food, based on the shape of their beak. Many kids tired by the time this was over at 8:15, as some had awoken and showered at 5:15. All kids were happy though and lights were out in most cabins at 9:00-9:15.