3 Canadian Goslings - May 4, 2008

These 3 goslings are by the roadway at camp. Their parents leave as I approach in my car and then realize the goslings aren’t with them and they come back honking and hissing the whole away.

Marsh Marigolds by Bog Jog - April 23 2008

Northern Watersnake - April 14, 2008

As I’m coming back from lunch, I spot this Northern watersnake on the edge of the fen sunning itself. It doesn’t like how close I get so it takes a swim to escape.

It returns to the shore and I’m still to close so it takes off again.

It’s a gorgeous snake.

Skunk Cabbage - April 11 2008

I find these on my walk the bog jog. I just love there shapes.

Wood & Western Chorus Frogs Calling - April 7, 2008

Here is a male western chorus frog “puffing up” to call for a mate.

As I’m watching these wood frogs I notice the vibration that their call makes in the water.

Notice the rings in the water.  I also notice that sometimes the males move in the water when they call which changes there call.

Crayfish Burrow on Lower Flat - April 6, 2008

Wetland Burn #2 - April 6, 2008

Today is the second wetland burn provided to camp by the DNR L .I.P. Landowner Incentive Program. This burn will hopefully help to open up our wetland so that more grasses and sedges can grow.

Our First Spring Wildflower - March 16, 2008

Skunk Cabbage is back. A sure sign of spring. This one has been eaten. I’m not sure what is eating them…deer???

 

Here are the tops of some skunk cabbage sprouts that have also been browsed.

This is what a “normal” skunk cabbage looks like, but there is a lot of variation.

Purple Loosestrife - July 27, 2007

IMG_1137, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

This beautiful invasive wildflower is growing on the roadway of our fen. A problem plant because it has such reproductive power, loosestrife is of special concern because it chokes out native waterplants. But all that aside, this butterfly seems to be enjoying this plant’s all the same.

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