Pickering Creek!!!!
Today was the Biology trip to Pickering Creek, the trip I had been waiting a MONTH for! I was so excited! I got up on time, made a peanut butter sandwich, packed an extra change of clothes and headed out the door, wearing tennis shoes and a flannel shirt.
I felt wonderful.
So we leave at 8:15. We get there, drop our stuff off, and split into 4 groups. My teacher, Mrs. Detrich, didn't let us pick our own groups. I was tossed into a group of kids I didn't know, and they looked like I didn't really want to. They were the kids that always go with the teacher's group, because they can't be trusted.
Ugh.
I was with a girl I know, Karina. She's really smart, and we played softball together for years. At least I had her to talk to, along with Mrs. Detrich. She loves the bay, like I do. She and I have a lot in common.
That's NOT weird...
Okay, so, on with the day!
My group went bird watching first. Our guide was named Mandy: she was really excited about birds. And in the total 3 and a half miles with her, I learned TONS about birds, and the forests, and trees. And I heard Mrs. Detrich yell at least 50 times at kids to put sticks down and pay attention.
And we're HOW old...? Nobody but Karina and I payed attention, and even she didn't like it.
I loved it.
After the hike we collapsed at the picnic tables with other groups and ate lunch, around 11:30. Afterwards I headed back to my crappy group and found that Karina had decided to change groups.
I was alone.
But it wouldn't ruin my happy day!
We went fishing after lunch. We used nightcrawlers as bait: basically you just cut the long worm in half with a pair of scissors and stick it on the hook. It's no big deal...I do it almost every day. But nobody wanted to touch the worms, and Mrs. Detrich saw that I had done mine flawlessly and was about to cast. "Can you help them?" She asked, and I nodded, set my rod down, and set to work, cutting worms.
I never got to fish.
NOBODY BUT DETRICH AND I HAD BEEN FISHING BEFORE! So I had to cut bait and help people learn to cast off.
I NEVER got to fish.
But...it was okay. We weren't done! The best part was yet to come!
SEINING.
We were going seining (wadeing), in waders, in the creek! You wear big waders (a waterproof suit, including attached boots, that allow you to walk into the water up to your armpits) and try to catch fish and other aquatic animals with a big net. It doesn't sound so fun, but HOLY SHIT IT IS! I've done it plenty of times before.
The lady in charge was named Kelly. She was smart. After it all, she told me I should work there. (yay!) I answered all of her questions about salinity, turbidity, PH levels, dissolved oxygen, and nitrogen problems. We had a really educated discussion about it all, and then I helped people put on waders. (seriously, it's not hard to do...)
Waders cling to you in the water. It's a pressure thing. It's like they're lightly squeezing you, which is a weird feeling but an okay one. I'm used to it: most people are not. A lot of people didn't even touch the water because of it. Oh well, their loss.
I caught a big fat pumpkin fish and smiled down at it when I plopped it in a bucket full of water. Kelly said it was the biggest fish caught all day.
Yay!
After our "educational" discussion, Kelly said that I had a lot of background information that could be found useful at Pickering Creek, and that I should look into working there this summer, with little kids.
I just might.
My day was AWESOME, despite my group.
HAPPY DAY!
I felt wonderful.
So we leave at 8:15. We get there, drop our stuff off, and split into 4 groups. My teacher, Mrs. Detrich, didn't let us pick our own groups. I was tossed into a group of kids I didn't know, and they looked like I didn't really want to. They were the kids that always go with the teacher's group, because they can't be trusted.
Ugh.
I was with a girl I know, Karina. She's really smart, and we played softball together for years. At least I had her to talk to, along with Mrs. Detrich. She loves the bay, like I do. She and I have a lot in common.
That's NOT weird...
Okay, so, on with the day!
My group went bird watching first. Our guide was named Mandy: she was really excited about birds. And in the total 3 and a half miles with her, I learned TONS about birds, and the forests, and trees. And I heard Mrs. Detrich yell at least 50 times at kids to put sticks down and pay attention.
And we're HOW old...? Nobody but Karina and I payed attention, and even she didn't like it.
I loved it.
After the hike we collapsed at the picnic tables with other groups and ate lunch, around 11:30. Afterwards I headed back to my crappy group and found that Karina had decided to change groups.
I was alone.
But it wouldn't ruin my happy day!
We went fishing after lunch. We used nightcrawlers as bait: basically you just cut the long worm in half with a pair of scissors and stick it on the hook. It's no big deal...I do it almost every day. But nobody wanted to touch the worms, and Mrs. Detrich saw that I had done mine flawlessly and was about to cast. "Can you help them?" She asked, and I nodded, set my rod down, and set to work, cutting worms.
I never got to fish.
NOBODY BUT DETRICH AND I HAD BEEN FISHING BEFORE! So I had to cut bait and help people learn to cast off.
I NEVER got to fish.
But...it was okay. We weren't done! The best part was yet to come!
SEINING.
We were going seining (wadeing), in waders, in the creek! You wear big waders (a waterproof suit, including attached boots, that allow you to walk into the water up to your armpits) and try to catch fish and other aquatic animals with a big net. It doesn't sound so fun, but HOLY SHIT IT IS! I've done it plenty of times before.
The lady in charge was named Kelly. She was smart. After it all, she told me I should work there. (yay!) I answered all of her questions about salinity, turbidity, PH levels, dissolved oxygen, and nitrogen problems. We had a really educated discussion about it all, and then I helped people put on waders. (seriously, it's not hard to do...)
Waders cling to you in the water. It's a pressure thing. It's like they're lightly squeezing you, which is a weird feeling but an okay one. I'm used to it: most people are not. A lot of people didn't even touch the water because of it. Oh well, their loss.
I caught a big fat pumpkin fish and smiled down at it when I plopped it in a bucket full of water. Kelly said it was the biggest fish caught all day.
Yay!
After our "educational" discussion, Kelly said that I had a lot of background information that could be found useful at Pickering Creek, and that I should look into working there this summer, with little kids.
I just might.
My day was AWESOME, despite my group.
HAPPY DAY!