Exploring Routes - Day 3
This morning we woke up to some sun! A few brave campers took a sunny (but chilly!) morning swim while others got dressed and ready for breakfast. It was a refreshing way to start the day!
For breakfast, we sat on the porch looking out at the lake and ate toasted bagels and cream cheese, fresh fruit smoothies, and strawberries and oranges. We talked about our hike ahead, and watched the wind blow the lake into whitecaps.
We then started to tidy the cottage, with the campers starting in their own room and then moving on to the common spaces. After that, the campers took time to answer a few check-in questions. The check-in questions are a daily opportunity for the campers to share in writing how the week is going for them and allows them to ask questions or tell the counselors things that they might not want to say out loud. It is really great for the counselors too because it can help us to know how to best support each camper especially going into our longer hike tomorrow.
Since we were hiking again today, we of course had to make some more personalized trail mix! We then packed our bags (we’re getting pretty good at it now!) with all the things we needed (and might need!) for the day.
Before leaving the house, we gathered in the living room to learn about contour lines. First, we found the “con-“ encyclopedia on the bookshelf and looked up the definition of a contour line. Then, we looked at a map of our hike today, and a map from our hike up Bald Mt the other day, and tried to make sense of where the steepest parts of the hike were. A contour line shows the elevation gain or loss on a topographical map and we confirmed what we already knew - Bald Mt was a steep climb! Knowing how to read contour lines can be super helpful to know when planning where you want to hike and what trail you want to take!
When we arrived at the trailhead a little while later, we were able to look at the map and make sense of the terrain and decide which trail to hike up. We decided on one that looped around the summit along gentle ledges. The campers looked at the map and planned out what to do at each fork in the trail. We then headed off!
Within 10 seconds of starting, we came to our first fork in the trail. Knowing this was coming, the counselors had intentionally hung back to see if the campers would know which way to go on their own. For a brief moment it appeared they were going to miss their turn but luckily one of the campers noticed they had gone wrong and immediately led the group back on track. It was a very good learning moment for the the campers. For the rest of the hike, they paid very close attention to every fork in the trail and every trail map we passed.
As we hiked along, we took several snack/water breaks and talked about the importance of packing out your food and Leave No Trace. We also thought about rocks and bog bridges and why they are placed where they are — less about our own feet and more about preserving the trail and avoiding erosion. It’s a common misconception that those trail features are for us and by believing that is the case, we might walk around them because we don’t feel like taking an extra step up. BUT its so important that if it is safe to do, we do it to protect the trails!
We saw some really wild mushrooms along the trail and Chloë helped identify several of them. We saw chicken of the woods, black trumpet, ghost pipe, oyster mushroom, lots of unidentifiable mushrooms!
As we came upon different intersections the campers found our location on the map and helped to figure out which way we should head. After a while, we reached the fire tower at the top!
After a morning of climbing in perfect temperature cloudy weather, the sun came out accompanied by a cooling breeze just as we reached the top and climbed the fire tower. The tower went very high up, too high for some with a fear of heights, and the higher you went up the more gorgeous and panoramic the view became!
We ate our sandwiches on the summit and chatted before regaining courage to climb the fire tower again. Everyone made it at least a level higher than they had initially! Then, we all gathered back on the ground to paint with watercolors that the counselors had hiked up in their backpacks. Some campers painted the view from Bald mountain, some painted mushrooms from the hike today, and one painted a blueberry! It was a peaceful and creative way to spend time at the summit.
Before heading back down the mountain, some campers decided to take a final trek up the fire tower and one camper made it all the way up to the top with the encouragement of a friend! They were all very excited to have faced this fear of heights and gotten such a rewarding view in exchange!
We started to make our way back towards the cars, learning about what different blazes mean along the way, and engaging in some really creative “Would you Rather?” conversations. The hike back down was gradual and through an emerald mossy forest. When we got back to the cars, we turned on a camper curated playlist and drove back to the cottage.
When we got back, we went swimming in the SUN! Then we went straight into tie dyeing camp shirts with many different creative color combinations. Next, the campers had free time and spent the majority of the time talking and reading fairy tales out loud. It is pretty special to see how well the group is getting along!
During free time, the counselors started a fire and had individual check in’s with each camper by the fire. This was a way for campers to get a chance to share how the week is going, how they are feeling about our hike tomorrow, and ask any questions or share any concerns that they had. It was really great to get to talk to the campers one on one, especially about some nerves and excitement for tomorrow’s hike.
We then cooked dinner over the fire: burgers (with fresh toppings), corn on the cob, and beans. Since there was a fire already burning and the sunset was too colorful to walk away from, we of course had fo finish off the night with s’mores.
As is our evening routine, we then headed inside for a shout out circle, sharing what we are grateful for, and then settling in for herbal tea and read aloud. The group was tired so after two chapters, we headed up to bed!
It was a perfect August hiking day and we are really looking forward to exploring Tumbledown tomorrow!
