Summer Camp Group Photo of Week #1

Each week, the kids get to make a banner for their banner competition. Aren’t they adorable?

Dip Netting and Seining in the River

On Wednesday, the campers got to go out on the Carmans River and dip net, while the counselors seined. They found many little critters that included larva of sorts, crabs, fry, a killi fish, eels, and green globs that we think are eggs. They had a lot of fun.

Snack Time on the Overlook

Everyday the campers get to have a snack out on the outlook on the Carmans River. They saw some of these things.

a double crested cormorant perched on the tree

mute swans just cruising on by

the reflections of the clouds on the river caught my eyes

Summer Camp Week #1

 Learning about the local habitat from Miss Melissa from the Pine Barrens

First of many hikes on the White Oak Trail
Scavenger hunt on the Black Tupelo trail
There is a touch table that has new things every morning; this was on Carmans River day.
This was on tree day

Week Four

Barrens to Bay Camp, the summer camp at the refuge, started this week. There are 15 kids that come for the whole week to learn about the Pine Barrens, the refuge, local tree species, Carmans River, and biodiversity of local wildlife. The campers get to hike on trails everyday and play various fun games and activities that are related to the day’s theme.

It was a crazy first week, as you would imagine any first week to be. We had to shift schedules because of the stormy weather forecast predictions, but as it turns out, it didn’t even rain at all during the camp. So everything worked out. The kids were adorable and very knowledgable of their local wildlife and trees. I enjoyed watching them learn and put what they learned to good use during the activities. You can learn a lot from kids.

Best question of the week: “Can sharks get Lyme Disease?”

Wildlife sightings this week: (there are more that 20 that I saw with the kids, hopefully I can recall them) osprey, double crested cormorant, mute swans, chipmunks, rabbits, box turtle, painted turtle, blue jays, cardinals, woodpeckers, eels, crabs, fry, damselfly larva, killi fish, carpenter ants, swallows, canada geese…