Because our last nature study with Mr. Charlie was so much fun, Bente arranged for another one at a different park a few weeks later. Sadly, instead of the warm June weather we expected, we got a chilly, rainy day. Thankfully we were good to go with jackets and umbrellas, so we didn't have to cancel!
Luke & Elise learn with the Uhligs
The plant they identified.
I actually have no idea what it was since I was with Elijah the entire time.
No nature study for me...
Coolest part: they found a snapping turtle in the creek!
Mr. Charlie pulled it out and gave everyone a good show before releasing it.
Nature study is for the weak and simple.
Car study is where it's at!
Elijah and I spent all our time next to this road.
It was a thrilling morning.
Catherine found the giantest Totoro leaf!
Apparently giant leaf hats may have some psychosis-inducing side effects.
Said side effects may include the desire to paint your face with berry juice.
Said berry juice may end up being slightly more permanent than expected.
Different day, more nature exploration!
We actually just came to play on a school playground, but we happened upon a treasure:
Hundreds and hundreds of tiny, tiny frogs!
And also cicadas, because...Brood X.
Catherine spent the entire time collecting the tiny frogs in her cup and then releasing them. It was really cool/terrifying to see her dump out the pile all at once. Like some sort of Biblical plague, teeming with tiny hopping frogs in a giant, seething mass.
A plague of tiny frogs
It actually was kind of horrifying because there were just so many of them. Any time you stepped on the grass you knew you were stepping on at least one tiny frog. Thankfully the kids weren't too traumatized by the mass casualties. And now we know to come visit this playground every year in mid-June!
