Our May Club Camping Trip was a first for the SAILs, as the Junior and Senior units went to two completely different parks. Below are the reports from each trip, along with some photos. Despite the rain, everyone had a great time, learned at least something, and enjoyed time out in nature.
Junior Unit Report (Buescher State Park):
We had a very relaxed weekend. We started with a sundown hike to find the lake. We found a great spot where we could look out over the water as the sun went down (though it was cloudy, so it was more like looking until it was too dark to see anymore) and then walked back to camp by the light of the many fireflies. We had to be careful not to step in toads as they were on the move!
Sabbath morning, the birds were so loud that everyone was awake by 630a. After breakfast and worship, we drove over to the fishing pier and had a lesson on the food chain. They were surprised to learn that elephants aren't viscous predators and that Tigers don't live in the United States, lol! Then we drove up the park road aways and then hiked a bit.
We had a very relaxed weekend. We started with a sundown hike to find the lake. We found a great spot where we could look out over the water as the sun went down (though it was cloudy, so it was more like looking until it was too dark to see anymore) and then walked back to camp by the light of the many fireflies. We had to be careful not to step in toads as they were on the move!
Sabbath morning, the birds were so loud that everyone was awake by 630a. After breakfast and worship, we drove over to the fishing pier and had a lesson on the food chain. They were surprised to learn that elephants aren't viscous predators and that Tigers don't live in the United States, lol! Then we drove up the park road aways and then hiked a bit.
All of the kids brought some form of noodles for their camping meal. We learned that Ramen noodles work well with hot water. Mac and cheese, so so. Mr. Jay had brought some macaroons and they were very well received. While we ate, we admired the largest Red-eared Slider I've ever seen on land who came trotting into our camp. We worked on the Christian Grooming and Manners honor and then had some free time in the natural setting.
In the evening, the kids played Go Fish while the staff packed up the camp, except for the tents. This proved to be a great idea when the inch plus of rain fell and the wind was blowing down limbs overnight. Sunday morning, there was a bubbling brook running behind the boys tent. It went down beside our campsite, across the road, and flooded the campsite across from us. The poor lady camping there woke up to her tent in the middle of a pond. We were blessed that neither of our sites held water and all of our tents stayed dry.
In the evening, the kids played Go Fish while the staff packed up the camp, except for the tents. This proved to be a great idea when the inch plus of rain fell and the wind was blowing down limbs overnight. Sunday morning, there was a bubbling brook running behind the boys tent. It went down beside our campsite, across the road, and flooded the campsite across from us. The poor lady camping there woke up to her tent in the middle of a pond. We were blessed that neither of our sites held water and all of our tents stayed dry.
Senior Unit Report (Inks Lake State Park, Longhorn Cavern State Park):
For many of the Pathfinders in the Senior Unit, this was their first time on a true backpacking trip. We hoisted our packs in the evening and set off on the first mile to our campsite, finishing set-up after dark. Overnight we had a gentle rain, foreshadowing a damp Sabbath and rather blustery and rainy Saturday night. In the morning, we were visited by a striped skunk and deer, with wild turkey not far away. The birds provided a natural alarm clock, and soon we were sitting around our “kitchen” making our various breakfasts, from the simple to the rather complex. It smelled (and tasted) delicious, and when we were well filled, we hoisted our packs again and headed out on the trail for another five-ish miles of hiking.
For many of the Pathfinders in the Senior Unit, this was their first time on a true backpacking trip. We hoisted our packs in the evening and set off on the first mile to our campsite, finishing set-up after dark. Overnight we had a gentle rain, foreshadowing a damp Sabbath and rather blustery and rainy Saturday night. In the morning, we were visited by a striped skunk and deer, with wild turkey not far away. The birds provided a natural alarm clock, and soon we were sitting around our “kitchen” making our various breakfasts, from the simple to the rather complex. It smelled (and tasted) delicious, and when we were well filled, we hoisted our packs again and headed out on the trail for another five-ish miles of hiking.
Our morning hike was colored with vibrant wildflowers everywhere we looked, as well as numerous cacti, fruiting shrubs, and serenading songbirds. The staff highlighted the various trails to follow on the map, and left it to the Pathfinders to navigate to the correct locations (which they successfully did, despite a few confusing spots on the trail). Part way through we paused for a discussion on creation and how we can reconcile belief and scientific endeavors. At times we were rained upon, at times it merely misted, but it was frequently just overcast, and while a little damp, and starting to feel the weight of the packs, everyone’s spirits remained high. Our animal encounters on the hike were limited to an absolute abundance of tiger moth caterpillars, as several snails who took a liking to Ms. Linda’s rain poncho, and a beetle that hitched a ride for a while on one of the Pathfinders. The snakes and lizards largely avoided the cool, damp day.
Wildflower ID:
A: Sneeze Weed (Helenium amarum); B: Yellow Stonecrop (Sedum nuttallianum); C: Yellow Flax (Linum berlandieri): D: Rock Rose (Helianthemum georgianum); E: Sticky Granite Daisy (Heterotheca stenophylla); F: Catclaw Acacia (Acacia roemeriana); G: Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata); H: Spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.); I: Texas Thistle (Cirsium texanum); J: Prairie Larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum); K: Dayflower (Commelina erecta); L: Goldeneye Phlox (Phlox roemeriana).
A: Sneeze Weed (Helenium amarum); B: Yellow Stonecrop (Sedum nuttallianum); C: Yellow Flax (Linum berlandieri): D: Rock Rose (Helianthemum georgianum); E: Sticky Granite Daisy (Heterotheca stenophylla); F: Catclaw Acacia (Acacia roemeriana); G: Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata); H: Spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.); I: Texas Thistle (Cirsium texanum); J: Prairie Larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum); K: Dayflower (Commelina erecta); L: Goldeneye Phlox (Phlox roemeriana).
In the late afternoon, we headed over to the Devil’s Waterhole to have dinner on the rocks and sooth our feet in the running waters. Back at camp, the evening was a time for the Pathfinders to socialize, eat (a lot), and generally enjoy time away from the stress and constant bother of school and social media. After midnight, once everyone head bedded down, we were greeted with an impressive lightening show, and an inch or two of rain over a few hours - both soothing in sound and somewhat dampening the campsites. Most tents made it through the storm, though one tent did have a bit of a wet night. Good thing we are getting new tents this year!
Sunday morning we packed up, had breakfast, and hiked back out to the cars to head over to Longhorn Cavern State Park for a tour of one of the few underwater river-carved caverns in the United States. In addition to the rather interesting geology, we saw many cute little Tricolored Bats (which the cavern staff affectionately refer to as “nuggets”). These bats are hardly bigger than one’s thumb, and hang solitary from the cavern roof, at times barely visible in a crease, at other times looking like odd-shaped mini fuzzy stalactites. As the Pathfinders were well behaved, the guide gave them bat stickers (normally reserved for much younger kids). After the tour it was time to head back to Austin, but not without a brief stop at our favorite ice cream joint (where a friendly question mark butterfly wanted a taste as well).
We are all looking forward to our upcoming Camporee in Wyoming, and to future camping and backpacking trips all around Central Texas.
Thanks to everyone for their support of the SAILs this year!
Thanks to everyone for their support of the SAILs this year!
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