Herbivory(Animals eating plants) - Oct 12, 2007

Swans in fen Eating Duckweed, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Here’s a good example of herbivory(animals eating plants). Swans eating duckweed.

Here’s an ash leaf that is being eating by two types of animals.

One is eating chunks of leafs, and a leaf-miner is living inside the leaf and eating a trail on the inside.

Here’s a wild edible plant that some humans like to eat: Sweet Cicely.

It’s also called anise-root because if tastes like licorice.

Staghorn Sumac & Other Fall Colors- September 22, 2007

Staghorn Sumac

Staghorn Sumac - September 22, 2007, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Here are some beautiful fall colors:

Type of Aster I believe?:

Dog’s Bane growing by the Fen.  Dog’s bane has been used to make a strong cordage by many native american groups. You can see some orange colored aphids on the stem of this plant.

Here’s some Virginia Creeper.  It’s sometimes confused with poison ivy because it vines its way up trees and turns red.  But as you can tell it has 5 leaves instead of poison ivy’s 3.

Here are some rose hips that are growing by the camp road near the fen.  Rose hips are edible and are high in vitamin c.

Goldenrod:

Nature Adventure Camp 2007

Presentation 1, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

What a blast! The campers learned so much!

Here’s the audio(mp3) of what the kids liked best about nature camp 2007(the survival game was obviously a big hit). Kid’s Nature Camp 2007 Audio Evaluation (mp3)
Here’s a list of some of the many things that we did:

Get to know you games
Camping out
Fishing
Canoeing
Fire Kites
Bug Suckers
Bird Calls
Bird Adaptations
Water Slide
Archery
Swimming
Swamp Hike
Campfire Songs
Gift of Nature, God, Ourselves, & History

 

Wetland Burn - April 19, 2007

Wetland_Burn_April_20_2007 006Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Here’s the wetland burn as viewed by the lower flat. We’re hoping that this burn will help reduce the shrubing in that occurs in wetland areas when there isn’t regular fires to keep them in check.

Here’s an Eastern Box Turtle who seems to have weathered the burn.

Special thanks to all the people that made this burn possible:

• Porter Township Fire Department
• Michigan DNR
• Michigan Natural Features Inventory
• Landowner Incentive Program
• Shavehead Lake Neighbors who came to our burn informational meeting and were very supportive of this project.
• Camp’s Natural Resources Task Force
• and our prescribed burn contractor Dave Mindell, owner of Plant Wise

See more wetland burn photos.

Swan with many turtles in fen - March 30 2007

 

Just beyond the muskrat swimming towards me are the many turtles(likely painted) on this log is the fen. A swan decided to join them on this warm sunny day.

Muskrat in the Fen - March 30 2007

One of our muskrats is busy in the open water the fen.

Eastern Box Turtle in the Camp’s Fen- March 27 2007

IMG_7892Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.As I stop to get down on my knees to get a picture, I look to my left and see this Eastern box turtle hinding under some leaves. I’m amazed how much can be discovered if I just stop and pay attention.

Eastern box turtle can live to be over 100 years old.