The SAIL Pathfinders held their annual introductory overnight this past weekend. The overnight allows the Pathfinders to review their various camping skills, integrate new Pathfinders into the club, and gain some experiences in the outdoors. This year, as we are working as a club on the Rivers and Streams and the new Dams and Levees honors (among others), we had two outings over the weekend - a five mile hike to Longhorn Dam and a four mile kayak to the Tom Miller Dam - both along Lady Bird Lake in Austin.
During both activities we had the opportunity to share with others who the Pathfinders are and what they do, we learned about the riparian ecosystem, and we learned to overcome some of our own self-imposed sense of limitation. Every Pathfinder completed the hike and kayak trip, even if at times they weren't sure they could do it. As most Pathfinders were in tandem kayaks, they had to practice teamwork and cooperation, and learn how to encourage one another and rely on one another. In addition to our hiking and kayaking over the weekend, the SAILs practiced setting up camp, cooked and ate our meals outdoors, played some games, and made up our teams for the Pathfinder Bible Experience. These activities allowed the club to come together to integrate the new Pathfinders and Staff and prepare us for this new Pathfinder year.
During both activities we had the opportunity to share with others who the Pathfinders are and what they do, we learned about the riparian ecosystem, and we learned to overcome some of our own self-imposed sense of limitation. Every Pathfinder completed the hike and kayak trip, even if at times they weren't sure they could do it. As most Pathfinders were in tandem kayaks, they had to practice teamwork and cooperation, and learn how to encourage one another and rely on one another. In addition to our hiking and kayaking over the weekend, the SAILs practiced setting up camp, cooked and ate our meals outdoors, played some games, and made up our teams for the Pathfinder Bible Experience. These activities allowed the club to come together to integrate the new Pathfinders and Staff and prepare us for this new Pathfinder year.
Hiking along Lady Bird Lake
Some of our the plants we encountered on our walk
The Pecan, Sycamore, and Palmetto are fairly common riparian trees and shrubs in our area, along with the Bald Cypress, Eastern Cottonwood, Black Willow, Buttonbush, and Osage Orange.
The Pecan, Sycamore, and Palmetto are fairly common riparian trees and shrubs in our area, along with the Bald Cypress, Eastern Cottonwood, Black Willow, Buttonbush, and Osage Orange.
A weekend camping (indoors)
Kayaking the Colorado River
The dams at each end of Lady Bird Lake
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