Kids in the Woods Field Trip

The Forest Service funded a grant to take the 4th grade class at Barkley Elementary to Ridley Creek State Park for an outdoor education workshop. The 63 students were split into 4 'tribes' using colored handkerchiefs. The groups then moved through the 5 different activities and had lunch at a picnic area. In a Survivoresque competition, the tribes were trying to get the most Smokey Bear stickers by answering questions correctly during each session.

The kids learned a lot about trees, water, wildlife, and ecology, but the main goal of the field trip was just to take the kids outside in a natural setting and get them interested in nature. There are a lot more pictures posted on the school district website here - Link

The picnic area...


'Kids in the Woods'...



The four tribes...





Beth did an ecology lesson which had the kids build an 'ecoweb' of connections between different living things, the resources required for their survival, and the effects of pollution...




During a forest health lesson, kids learned about things that can damage a forest like invasive plants...

The water quality and quantity activity allowed kids to search for amphibians and aquatic insects....

Kids learned about different kinds of trees, how to indentify them, and how foresters measure them...

The kids also leaned about predators and prey during the wildlife lesson....

Loopfest 2008

My supervisor was gracious enough to give us his old canoe. Thanks Will!

It ended up being perfect timing because we were able to participate in the 2nd annual Loopfest at Lock 60 on the Shuylkill River Canal. We loaded up the boats and floated 2.5 miles down the Schuylkill River...



Then we portaged over to the Shuylkill River Canal and paddled the 2.5 miles back to Lock 60. After making the 'loop' we had a cookout at the Locktender's house...


Finally, we got to take the boats through the functional 19th century lock. It was restored to working condition in 2005.

Floyd's Spring Haircut

Poor Floyd went from this...


to this yesterday...

Tree Planting 'Block Party'

The Phoenixville Shade Tree Advisory Commission organized a 'block party' to plant trees on Church St. This was a much needed planting because all of the trees were removed from this street several years ago and they had never been replaced.

Nearly 50 volunteers showed up to plant the 37 parrotias, Japanese lilacs, red maples, and silverbells....



I brought Smokey the Bear to the event to promote environmental awareness and get the kids excited...


The street looks great with the new plantings...


Just imagine how nice it is going to look in a few years!

Pickering Reserve Tree Planting and Clean-Up

We went over to the Pickering Reserve this weekend to help plant some trees and clean up trash...

Mullets!!

Kade and I really needed haircuts...


We decided to get mullets just for fun...



B couldn't stand to look at us so the mullets didn't last long.

Star Wars Exhibit

I took the boys down into Philly to see the Star Wars exhibit at the Franklin Institute. It was pretty good but it was so crowded that it was tough to see everything.

Easter Egg Hunt at Reeves Park

It was a beautiful day for an Easter egg hunt...


the park was filled with eggs...


and Kade won a prize by finding a big egg...

Kade Went to Caleb's Birthday Party

Kade was invited to a birthday party for only the 2nd time. The party was at the Little Gym. Kade actually participated in all the activities and had a great time with one his best friends from school, Hillary...

Kade Lost His First Tooth

Kade realized that one of his bottom teeth was lose, so he just pulled it right out...

First Snow of the Year

Finally!!!

Visit to Hagerstown and Shepherdstown

We went to Hagerstown to visit my parents and make our last ski trip of the season...


Unfortunately, my mom wasn't feeling well for much of the weekend so she didn't get to spend much time with us. We're glad you're feeling better Mom!

Kade spent the afternoon with my dad while we were skiing...

We also went to Shepherdstown to visit the Parkers...

and went for a walk along the C&O Canal tow-path...

Barkley Crazy Can Week

During 'Crazy Can Week' students had to bring in a food item to participate in...

Character day...


Crazy Hair day...


and Twin day...


The school raised a nice load of canned goods for charity...

Hiking at Marsh Creek State Park