Eighth Foray
Senses Hunt, Questioning, Adopt-a-Habitat Journaling

Autumn

Senses Hunt
Find the best place to listen for nature sounds. Then, see how long it takes to hear at least three different sounds. Name this place and mark it on your map. See if you can figure out what is making the sounds. Write down the sounds in your Field Journal. Remember to begin your entry with the date, time, setting, and present weather.

Now describe a bird's call or any other natural sound that you hear, using words or letters. For example, the gathering call of the California Quail has been described as "Chi-ca’-go!" or "Come-right-here!" and the sound of a seal as "Arhk, Arhk." Phonetically write the sound you hear.

Hot and Cold
Use your hands to find the warmest and coldest places and mark each of them on the map. In your journal, explain how these places change during the night.

The Nose Knows
Stop at two different places. Close your eyes and focus your attention on the sense of smell. Find two different smells and describe them in your journal. See if you can figure out where they come from.

 

What Nature Teaches Me
The river taught me to keep going, go with the flow because it always is moving even under ice in the winter. It can be the same with a tough problem. You might get stuck and come back later or get some help. If you work through the problem you will feel proud of yourself and you will be confident to tackle the next problem that you may come across. The river also taught me that you shouldn't be pulled under by depression, pressure, anger, or frustration. If you are, then you should try to calm down or, if the instigator is a person, try to think about their good point, not their negative points.

The trees taught me not to break under pressure. If you are over burdened you should put some of whatever is your burden down instead of yelling at everyone and being really on the verge of super frustration. During winter the trees are burdened by the snow. If there is too much they will let some of it drop off instead of having their branches snap off. - student

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