Fishing on Lake Shavehead – September 11, 2008

As I’m getting ready for a group of school children to arrive at camp, I get to see the lake in this morning mist. This is one of my favorite sites at camp.

Insects under aquatic plants – July 22 2008

As I am leading a canoe trip from round lake to long lake I see these insects under a leaf. I assume that they hatched from the egg casings seen on the leaf but I don’t know that for sure. At first I glance they look like spiders.

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

 

Mute Swan protecting its territory on Lake Shavehead – Jan 24, 2007

While I am looking for another glimpse of the bald eagle I see this group of 7 swans that I’ve never seen before. I don’t know if the 7 swans being chased are Trumpeter or Tundra swans, but whatever they are the Mute swan is not interested in having them on the lake.IMG_6063_crop Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Here the mute swan enters the picture.

Early Morning on Lake Shavehead

Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

The lake is magnificient in the early morning. I love the mist that rises from the surface. Sometime you can see it move in little benevolent tornados. Scenes like this are one of the many benefits of living near a lake.

Some sights while kayaking on lake Shavehead – July 14, 2006

IMG_3276

Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

While kayaking on lake Shavehead I snap a view shots of these 3 pairs of damselflies mating and laying eggs. Their bright blue color is washed out from my camera’s flash.

I find it interesting that they seem to congregate during this process. I’m not sure why this small stick seems to be such an attactive location.
Here are the same damselflies that show their blue color.

 

Here’s a damselfly larva on my shirt.  I put it back in the water and it uses it tail to wiggle away.

Here is a damselfly that has just resently emerged from the water and transformed in to it’s adult form.

Here is a water lily. This plant is supposedly a wild edible, but I’ve heard mixed reviews on this one.