Blog Archives

October Camping

10/24/2023

The weekend finally arrived! The club campout was underway. One staff member and two of the
youngest Pathfinders were soon living the Pathfinder song: “Oh, we are the Pathfinders strong, servants
of God are we, faithful as we march along in kindness, truth, and purity.” When leaving the grocery
store, they encountered a lady whose car was disabled in the middle of the road. Ms. Kristel moved her
vehicle to a safe place and parked. All 3 jumped out, offered their assistance, and helped to move the
car out of traffic. Back on the road, all campers were soon on site and putting up their tents.
A moonlight hike on a cool night, cold temperatures to sleep in, and we’re off to the start of a wonderful
weekend! The SAIL Pathfinders learned how to look in nature for a wide variety of things that God
created. They learned about helping each other to adjust to unfamiliar circumstances. And they learned
that camp food doesn’t have to be boring or routine.

The staff did their part to help the kids learn how to do the tasks they were asked to do. And they
provided a worship service centered on the rivers in the Bible. They read a book on the life of Joseph
Bates. They made opportunities for the Pathfinders to share what they were thankful for and what they
learned.

The Sabbath was brought to a beautiful close as they ended their hike along the Colorado River. They
came upon a family who were fishing. A large catch of blue and yellow catfish was inspected and then
they were asked who they were and why they were there. Different ones proudly shared that we were
the SAIL Pathfinders and that we were there to learn about the wonders of the world that God made.
One of the young men seemed delighted that we were there and that we believed God had created the
world. He and his mother began to share their story with us. Then they started asking about the birds
they had seen and wondered about. As we prepared to leave, they thanked us for stopping to talk to
them, telling us that we didn’t have to leave so soon.

The Pathfinders will have many pictures to post showing all the host of wonders they discovered during
the weekend. They have many memories to share, and lessons learned. As staff, we are so proud of the
group of young people who make up this club. Pathfinders and the Seventh-day Adventist Church were
represented well, and God blessed us all in the events of this weekend.

(More pictures coming soon!)

0 Comments

Preparing for the Campout: Part II

10/13/2023

0 Comments

Yesterday we looked at some of the plants we may see on the campout. Today we shift to the animals. It is easy to see birds and insects, and we will likely see deer, but many of the other mammals we will only identify by their calls, tracks, scat, and other traces.

Birds: On the hike, the birds may flit between the trees, but down by the water, they are much easier to observe. Look for the Great Blue Heron and Great Egret wading along the shoreline, and for cormorants drying their oil-less wings on a stump. You are likely to hear the Killdeer before you see them running along the muddy banks, while overhead an Osprey may fly by, looking for fish. Back up by the campsite, our two vultures often fly together, the Black Vulture identified by its black head, pale wingtips, and shorter tail, the Turkey Vulture showing a pink head, pale trailing edges to its wings, and a longer tail.

Insects: Down by the water, you will without a doubt see tiger beetles hunting (if you look closely at the fine sand further up the shoreline, you can even see the beetle tracks). You may see a migrating Monarch Butterfly, or swarms of American Bird Grasshoppers. Flying overhead are hunting dragonflies, like the Black Saddlebags (named for its wing markings). If you are lucky, you may see a Rainbow Scarab, a brightly colored, reflective dung beetle with a little horn.

Tracks, Scat, and other Animal Signs: Get up in the morning, or watch near dusk, and you will see the Deer grazing nearby. You may also see rabbits (including long-legged jackrabbits), and may see an armadillo, raccoon, coyote, or even a fox. But most of the time, you will only see signs of their presence. It may be burrows, or places they are digging for grubs and worms, it may be their scat, which also helps identify what they are eating, or you may see tracks in the dry sand or in muddy areas. Study the signs of tracks before you go, and you may be better able to identify the footprints you encounter.

As we study rivers, sometimes you can find runoff patterns that give you miniature models of the way larger rivers form, move, and cut the earth. Look along the river bank for runoff trails - they dig deeper where the slope is steeper, then as the slope flattens out, the water begins curving, even forming miniature oxbows, and fanning out into tiny deltas as they reach the river. Further up the bank, you can see some deep erosion furrows where the recent rain cut through the cracks in the mud.

0 Comments

Preparing for the Campout

10/12/2023

0 Comments

Ahead of our upcoming campout, its time to review some of the things we may see during our hike inland, and as we explore the river edge. Below are some of the different plants and animals we may encounter, as well as tracks and signs of animals we might not see, but can know they are present. By reviewing some of these, we can make ourselves familiar with the area, and in doing so have a greater appreciation for the natural world we will explore.

Grasses and Sedges: While grass may seem boring, and thus is overlooked, we have abundant native and introduced grasses in the area, and each one can tell us something about the soil, moisture, and environment in which we find it. During the hike, look out for the Texas State Grass, Sideoats Grama, as well as the rather interesting Hooded Windmill Grass, and the arcing yellowing remains of the Purple Three Awn. Near the river, watch for the Red Lovegrass, the Barnyard Grass, and the Bushy Bluestem. Once you become familiar with the general characteristics of the grasses, you will begin to notice the wide variety of species we have in Central Texas. Near the water, you may see sedges, which at first glance may appear to be grass. But look closely, "sedges have edges" - their stems are often triangular in cross-section, and they are not hollow.

Trees, Shrubs, and Forbs: Well above the waterline, we will encounter the Cedar Elm, Ashe Juniper, and the Blackjack Oak, interspersed with the Texas Persimmon and the spikey-leaved Agarita. Down by the water, the Rattlebox and its cousin the Bigpod Sesbania sport bright yellow flowers and interesting seed pods, while the presence of the Black Willow tells us water is nearby.

Wildflowers: Although we usually think of spring or summer as prime wildflower season, there are many fall bloomers, particularly from the sunflower family (Asteraceae). In the woods, look for the Small Palafox providing some localized color, while near the water you may find large mats of the unforgettably-named Frogfruit, and thick stands of the Nodding Smartweed.

Cacti: There are at least five different species of cacti along our hiking route, including the ubiquitous Prickly Pear, and its slender second-cousin the Tasajillo. Lower to the ground you may find the Lace Hedgehog Cactus, the Twisted Rib Cactus, or Heyder's Pincushion Cactus. Extra points if you find a Prickly Pear tuna, or see the fuzzy white patches hiding the cochineal insects, source of red dye.

Yuccas: If you pay attention, you can see three different species of Yucca along the hike. Buckley's Yucca is the most common, but there is at least one Spanish Bayonet, and not too far away one example of the Twistleaf Yucca. Yuccas are succulents, but not cacti. All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.

Lichens, Mosses, Spikemosses, and Ball Mosses: If you look around, there are many intersting smaller plants to look at. The Lichens are symbionts between fungi and algae, and come in myriad shapes and colors. The three main shape patterns are Foliose (think of lettuce leaves), Fruticose (usually something on a stalk, but sometimes long and hairy), and Crustose (laying tight against the substrate). The true mosses around us often grow in tight clumps, usually near water or in shaded areas near the base of trees or rocks. The spikemosses (Selaginella) are a primitive vascular plant, but there were giant versions around with the dinosaurs. Finally, the ballmoss isnt a moss at all, it is a bromeliad, and thus more closely related to pineapples!

UP NEXT: Animals, Tracks, and Signs

0 Comments

October Camping

Preparing for the Campout: Part II

Preparing for the Campout

Archives

Categories