Mountain School

On Tuesday, the Sullivan School took to the hills.  We drove to the top of Millcreek Canyon, armed with our magnifying glasses and lunch.  It was in the 70's in the valley that day, and I knew it would be one of the last warm days in the mountains and we had nowhere to be.  I love the days that we can fully immerse ourselves with no rush or pressure to be anywhere.  It is so relaxing--truly the optimal state for learning.  Total flow.  We started up the Big Water trail around 11:30, surrounded by dancing butterflies.

Hal

Soph

Zeke

It is amazing to watch my children in nature.  They are immediately taken in by their surroundings and start observing, collecting, and "sciencing" on their own.   Their enthusiasm makes ME feel more alive and awake to the incredibly beautiful creations that are everywhere around us.

Our first butterflty identification on Tuesday: A Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa

We hiked up the trail not very far at all, when Sophie announced that she was dying of hunger.  She quickly selected a spot near the stream for our lunch picnic.  While I was getting everything out of my backpack for our feast, Zeke wandered off into a close grouping of pines, happily announcing that he'd found a fort, then moments later started crying and yelling, "A bee is PINCHING me.  A BEE IS PINCHING ME."  Sure enough.  On his chubby little pointer finger I found a stinger and a swelling pink surround.  None of my kids have ever been stung, and I was a bit nervous because his finger started getting huge quickly and I didn't have any antihistamines on me.  That was a lesson, because I need to bring along our first aid kit more often.  I hastily harvested the stinger (so that we could examine it with our microscope at home) and led the kids to the trailhead parking lot with a plan.  My plan was to scope out someone who looked prepared and beg some Benadryl off of them. Just as we walked into the parking area, a burly dude pulled up in a Jeep with a big dog in the back.  He looked like our man.  His name was Benjamin, and he was happy to pull out his first aid kit and help Zeke, administering some topical bee sting stuff that worked like magic.  Yes!  I was so grateful for that guy and his help because I really wanted to be up in the mountains and not go back home so soon.

We hiked up the trail through the gorgeousness of the changing aspens.  When the wind would blow and shake the little gold leaves it looked like the whole forest was shimmering.  It was magical.  Hallee was especially captivated by the beauty around her and kept announcing, "It is SO beautiful.  It is SO BEAUTIFUL!!"

After we'd hiked up the trail the better part of a mile, we located a little "camp site" near a fork in the stream.  Someone had built a little fire ring and there was a perfect flat place to pitch a tent beneath some pines on the layer of needles beneath.  We stopped there and the kids went to work, busily exploring and collecting various specimens.  While sitting on a rock near the fire ring, I noticed patches of clover all around me and decided to search for the elusive four-leafer.  Seriously, I looked down and found one immediately.  I gifted it to Sophie, who moments later, found a dime.  She said, "Look mom!  I found a dime!  The luck of the four-leaf clover is working!!"  Hallee grew jealous at this point and Sophie quickly found HER one.  Yep. Not one, but TWO four-leaf clovers.  It was pretty much awesome.  We stayed until we got hungry for dinner.  What a gorgeous day to be in the mountains!

One of our lucky clovers.

Sophie insisted on taking my picture at the campsite we found

The kids kept asking me to take pictures of them.

Pyrrharctia isabella  ISABELLA TIGER MOTH

also known as a "wooly bear"

The kids spent a good amount of time building "homes" for this little guy out of small rocks.

Pyrrharctia isabella 
ISABELLA TIGER MOTH