Green Expressions from an East Coast Transplant: Kids, Beach and Sun

I had a lot of people asking me about the retreat I went on with the kids last week, so I decided to post my write-up that I submitted for extra-credit in Geosystems, and that I'll be sending to the Whitehorse News (our local paper). Enjoy!

Darrington 6^th Grade Ecology Retreat

The WSU stewards had the Darrington 6^th graders busy upon their arrival at Cama Beach on Thursday, May 21. The theme of the day was Cama Beach Survivor, and the kids began their journey by backpacking their bags and gear a half mile to the camp. Lunch was served quickly, and a get-to-know-you game was played so the kids could become familiar with the chaperones, park employees, and WSU/EdCC stewards.

We immediately set out to the beach to learn beach etiquette and to learn what kinds of flora and fauna were in the different tidal areas, and what the kids could survive on. They learned what different kinds of marine life there were and where they could find them, and were even taught about Pacific Shellfish Paralytic Syndrome. My group walked far up the beach, and ran across a creek feeding into the sound. With some coaching from Ms. Lester and me, the girls decided this was where they would build their virtual shelter.

After beach combing, we were directed into the Center for Wooden Boats where the kids learned the different kinds of wooden boats they could build without power tools. They explored hand-made dingies, kayaks and cedar canoes. We also watched the boat builders work for a while.

Next we hiked back up the hill into the forest area of the park with Franny from the Stilly Tribe, and Mike, a WSU forester. The kids learned about different kinds of forest disturbances, which the "Loggers" were quite familiar with, and the progression of reforestation. They cored a Douglas fir that was over 80 years old, and were taught the difference between shade intolerant and shade tolerant trees, and how they progressively grow as the forest grows. We continued hiking a forest trail as Franny went over the underbrush. She showed the kids what was edible, and what was poisonous, and later at camp made teas and jellies from local flora for us to sample.
While the kids were waiting for dinner, they assembled into their cabin teams to play Cama Beach Survivor with the new knowledge they had from the day's activities. They were allowed 5 questions for the "experts" and our girls eventually tied for 3^rd, defeated only by two groups of boys that were avid hunters. The day wound down with dinner and free time and smores around the campfire and beach. Many of the kids had never been to the beach before, and most had never seen a sunset over the beach. They were mesmerized, and broke out the cameras and cell phones to take pictures.

Examining a shell full of muscles

Searching the intertidal zone

Coring a Douglas Fir

Kayak building without power tools

Survivor Camas Island team presentations

Sunset at the beach

The next morning after an early breakfast, we were split into two large groups for alternating projects. I was glad our group got to go low-tide beach collecting first, because it was the actual time for the lowest tide of the day. The kids had ten minutes to explore the high and intertidal zones of the beach and carefully remove live specimens to the WSU Beach Watchers who had tanks waiting. After ten minutes, the whistle blew and the kids ran down to the low tidal zone and standing tidal pools.

The kids carefully removed moon snails, gooey ducks, ludibrae and their slimy eggs, herring eggs (which were not removed), scallops, welchs, polychites, sea stars, anemones and sea urchins along with a special ice cream cone worm find. After the collection, the WSU Beach Watchers gave a lesson on all the specimins the kids found, and how they specifically fit into the ecosystem at Cama Beach.

After a quick hand washing and snack break, the groups switched places and our group hiked up the hill into the forest with Head Ranger Teri. We were given a brief history of the State's development of the terraced parking lots along the hill. When they were made, the land was completely cleared, and a large amount of dirt was removed. The state contracted landscapers to "reforest" the areas between the lots. The landscapers used native trees, but tied them to cedar stakes using large, black plastic zip ties that were about an inch wide.

Many of the trees had begun growing bark around the plastic ties, and so we were given the mission to save those juvenile pines, cedars and maples. Each group was given a pair of clippers and set out up the hill which contained 6 terraced lots. I was happy I had a pair of work gloves in my pack, because many of the trees we found were behind nettles and black berries, and were in trouble despite the plastic ties. All-in-all our 6 person group saved 5 trees.

We had a long lunch when we arrived back at camp, and closed the retreat with a circle of trust that we had to link to the circle of the beach and hill's ecosystem. The kids each had a favorite part of the weekend, and they all said they had a great time. This retreat was the conclusion of a year-long program sponsored by WSU and its affiliates, that linked all of their previous lessons and activities.