Today at the Cobble blessed us with brisk morning weather and warm sunshine, a reminder that the season is waning and that we need to soak up the last glory of these warm months. We expressed our gratitude for the many good things that support us and learned about the natural history of the chestnut.
As we gathered together this morning, a Bald Eagle graced our morning circle, soaring in loops above. It’s head and rump were bright white—adult plumage—but it still retained some mottled juvenile coloration under its wings. We noticed these things and marveled.
This morning, the groups were tasked with a scavenger hunt of sorts. Part of their list consisted of various species that we were looking for, and the other part was a list of fun tasks to do, such as “fling a rock across the Housatonic River” or “Cross the Beaver marsh.” One group reported wading through waist-deep water—good old-fashioned fun!
At Flying Deer, we really value those moments that I’m sure so many of us can recall from childhood, when we were adventurers feeling the call of the wild. When the world seems ripe with opportunity for discovery and the testing of oneself out in the big wide world. We know how important these experiences are for personal growth and also for developing a love of these special natural communities that we adventure in!
We also really want to get to know the natural communities—”our wild neighbors” as we frequently refer to them. Today we encountered many of them. Here are a few:
- Tracks of Bobcat, Beaver, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron (and a sighting!)
- The nests of a bank swallows along the river bank
- Willow and Dogwood
- Sensitive Fern and Maidenhair Fern
- Many different tee species
- Cattail (and harvested the spikes for firelighting tinder)
- Wild Ginger
- White Baneberry
- Poison Ivy and Virginia Creeper.
You get the idea! There’s a lot to get to know out there.
We had a great time hiking to some of the greatest points of interest at the Cobble: The River, the geologic Cobble, The Caves, The Rock outcrop, the Ancient Cottonwood, the Oxbow and had fun running, hiking, hiding, and ambushing each other along the way.
To wrap up a good day, we kindled a fire, did a Sit Spot (a routine of Nature observation and sensory attunement) and new kids received Nature Names. To top it all off, we baked some cookies over the fire!
We had a great time, learned a lot and whipped up an awful lot of good memories.
—Josh and the Cobblers staff, October 9, 2020