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Service Project and a Fossil Hunt

11/20/2023

The SAIL Pathfinders had a busy weekend, joining with several others to help prepare Thanksgiving care packages for the prison, before heading out to hunt fossils as part of our broader studies and activities this year.

Bright and early, several members of the SAILs turned out to help make 1000 Bags of Hope that included books and literature, toiletries, snacks, and other items for delivery to a local women's prison as part of the prison ministry program. The SAILs have been participating in this project for several years as part of our community service and outreach mission.

After packing bags, we packed up and headed east to collect fossils near the Brazos River. The site has been explored since the 1800s, and contains fossilized seashells, sharks teeth, and other marine life, many preserved exceptionally well. During our previous Pathfinder meeting, we had a chance to look at the types of fossils we would encounter, so the Pathfinders were prepared to know what to look for. Although we had a little light rain during our outing, it was a productive and enjoyable day on the river bank (we even found an otolith - a fossilized fish ear bone!).

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Making a Field Jacket for a Fossil

11/15/2023

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As part of our study of fossils, dinosaurs, and creation, the SAIL Pathfinders practiced making field jackets for moving delicate or large fossils from an excavation site. Although our upcoming fossil dig will only be small marine organisms, it was fun to practice a skill used in larger dig sites and for dinosaur and other large fossils.

After gathering our tools, we began by carefully excavating the "fossil" bone, leaving it standing on a pedestal of dirt and rock. We gently cleaned off excesses substrate, being careful not to further damage or chip the "fossil."

Once the "fossil" was cleaned, the exposed bone was covered with a layer of wet paper towels to protect it from the plaster we used for the jacket (sometimes aluminum foil is used rather than wet paper towels). Near the ends of the bone, we packed gaps with some mud to stabilize the "fossil" and and allow the plaster cast to fit snugly to protect the "fossil."

With the "fossil" bone protected, we made up the plaster mix, cut strips of gauze, and dipped the gauze in plaster to begin wrapping the "fossil" and some of the surrounding substrate to stabilize the bone for final excavation and transport. In a larger field excavation, burlap is often used, instead of the lighter gauze we used for practice.

After ensuring that we had placed the cast around the ends of the "fossil" bone, and strengthened the long shaft, it was ready to set the jacket aside to dry. At our next meeting, we will finish the excavation, and have a "fossil" ready for transport back to the lab!

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CTX-N TLT Training Nov. 4-5, 2023

11/14/2023

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With nervous anticipation 4 TLTs, Jacob, Jasmine, Lindsay, and Rachel, plus Ms Linda arrived Sabbath afternoon at the Nails Unit of Lake Somerville for the Central Texas North Teen Leadership Training camp. After lunch and introductions, several presentations were made about the TLT program, then we went to settle our things in the tents.

The tent assignments were designed to split-up and mix the 6 clubs to aid everyone in getting acquainted. It was interesting to observe the difference between the girls’ and boys’ tents. The girls’ sleeping bags were all lined up neatly with precise personal boundaries, whereas the boys’ things were very random with no boundaries. The boys method may have contributed to making friends more quickly, though!

Sundown worship was enjoyed around a campfire with singing and S’Mores, followed by some hot Gnocchi soup. The highlight of the evening was the fast, exciting game of cat and mouse, with chasing and leaping-over-tall-people cats (Jacob😁) going after quick and elusive mice! After settling down with a coyote chorus lullaby and a beautiful moon, all enjoyed a peaceful sleep.

On Sunday, the breakfast was a bountiful feast of waffles, fruit, cereals, muffins, etc.

One of the sessions for the morning’s instruction included D & C (Drill & Ceremony) where some new marching moves were learned and old ones practiced.

Finally, after another delicious lunch of quesadillas, rice & beans, we struck camp, cleaned up, and said goodbye to friends, old and new, with the hope to see them at PBE or the next Pathfinder Event!

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Service Project and a Fossil Hunt

Making a Field Jacket for a Fossil

CTX-N TLT Training Nov. 4-5, 2023

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