Earth Skills: July 28 - August 1

Monday: Water Day

Today we got to explore the aquatic world. Mark Fallon, Senior Naturalist, and Camp Aide Oceana led campers for a Briar Bush pond study in the morning, then traveled to nearby Baederwood Park to discover what lives in the headwaters of Tookany Creek. Finally, campers imitated the frogs, fish and other creatures they found by swimming and jumping in Crestmont Pool.

Some of the highlights: We caught and released frogs, tadpoles, backswimmers, a diving beetle, water striders, leeches, mayfly nymphs and daphnia at the pond. Campers used a key to identify organisms. In the creek, we found more (and bigger) water striders, which camper Robert nicknamed “skimmers.” We caught some small fish, and a large and small crayfish. We also found some natural clay deposits and learned that people can make bowls from natural materials. Campers played Nature Expedition in the creek and got points for finding creatures, helping each other and picking up trash. They lost points for going too far ahead or throwing rocks. The final score: 1,600 points!!!

Along the way, campers learned to identify Poison Ivy (and stay away from it!) and Jewelweed, a medicinal plant that can help stop the itching of bug bites and Poison Ivy. Mark also taught them about another risk of summer in the woods: yellow-jackets. These wasps nest in the ground and old logs. Campers learned that if anyone got stung, they should all run toward the nearest building or vehicle. This was a lesson that came in handy on Tuesday…

Tuesday: Shelter, Tools and Fire

Educator Jeff Moore used his extensive knowledge of Stone Age technology to show campers how to build a shelter out of woodland materials today. While in the woods at Briar Bush, camper Sammy found another shelter- a yellow-jacket nest! Because everyone had learned what to do, Sammy only got one sting and no one else was hurt – except maybe some of the ears of the other Briar Bush visitors when all the campers were yelling, “Bees! Run!”

Campers also got to see where many Stone Age people found shelter: in caves. Jeff led them through the Briar Bush replica cave and talked about why a cave makes such a great shelter and the earliest known art form: cave paintings. Campers did some of their own arts & crafts today, too: they made necklaces with slate pendants. Jake decided he would try to replace his tooth with his new slate pendant.

Things really heated up when Jeff showed campers how some Stone Age people made friction fires. The tinder was a bit too moist to get a flame, but Juan really got the knack of that fire bow! Charlie, John and Grant worked as a team to try to get their fire tools working. Elizabeth and Victoria found a cicada and told everyone all about them – those two know a lot about nature!

Wednesday: Wissahickon wandering and bugs galore!

Campers set out in the van with Mark to explore the Andorra section of Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley Park. We started with a bug hunt and found only two kinds of bugs in the ball field, but eight in the meadow thicket nearby. From the old burn area that had become a meadow, we could see the other side of the valley and all the campers knew that to find the creek, all we had to do was hike downhill.

Mark knew about another interesting Nature Center right nearby: Fairmount Park Commission’s Andorra Environmental Education Center, fondly known as “The Tree House.” Back when it was the home of the family that ran a large tree and shrub nursery on the grounds, the back porch actually had a huge chestnut growing right through the roof! The staff at the Tree House was very friendly and let all our campers look at the historic photos of the house when the tree still stood in the back porch.

Mark had one last trick up his sleeve, and drove the 20 minutes back toward Abington to Lorimer Park, where there was a big butterfly garden and a great creek to explore! Campers discover Yellow-Lined Salamanders, lots of Crane Fly Larvae, and Robert even spotted our first and only snake. No one believed him at first, and we went upstream for a bit to build dams and catch salamanders, but, sure enough, when we came back to the same spot, other campers started screaming! Mark identified the little snake as a baby Northern Water Snake, a non-venomous snake often killed because people think it is a Cottonmouth, Water Moccasin or other poisonous species. We finished the day with a dip in a deep poll of Pennypack creek. What an adventure!

Thursday: Clam Shell Knives and Animal Tracking

Campers got into the groove first thing in the morning by cutting grooves into clam shells. Making clam shell serrated knives was the order of the day. Jeff made three examples of prehistoric ulu knives still used by Eskimo and Inuit peoples today. After lunch, campers got their feet (and hands) dirty, learning about tracks that animals leave behind.

The absolute highlight of camp however, was roasting marshmallows over open flames. Campers selected their own sticks while taking a short foray around the center. For some strange reason, Grant’s marshmallows kept bursting into flames! Everyone seemed to love the sticky goo, except for Jeff, who had to clean up the bottoms of his sneakers after the campers left for the day.

Friday: Nature’s Shopping Trip and Stone Knapping

Stream crossings gone badly should have been the theme for this day’s activity. Campers took a trip to Peace Valley Nature Center and walked the outer trail loop. While taking White Oak Crossing, campers had to forge the stream, which had swelled due to a previous storm. Even though Jeff and Oceana helped campers “rock hop” across the stream, one at a time, and everyone got across safely, there were still two casualties.

Grant’s shoe became a raft and floated a hundred feet downstream before marooning itself on a sandbar. Charlie’s water bottle also jumped ship and is probably somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean by now. Too bad you didn’t put a note in the bottle, Charlie!

After lunch, Jeff showed how to use pressure flakers to shape and sharpen the edge of stones and campers practiced on small slate stones. Just before the end of camp, Jeff handed out pieces of obsidian glass and campers flaked the edges to make a Stone Age knife before going home.