Camping at a State Park

On our recent trip to the eastern side of the mountains. The boys loved to play at our campsite. From the first night's arrival as they moved easily in the dark: walking on logs and circling round the campsite. To morning's light when they kicked up dirt and hauled around pine needles into giant loads on their compost truck.

Then so much fun at the at the lake and later visiting the horses and the ampitheater.

These two and a half year olds are learning about the world through experience and stories. It makes me very glad that our state has a State Park System and our city, great libraries.

As the boys played in the dirt and pine needles I wondered how long this park had existed. Although, I am not sure of this exact park, Lake Wenatchee State Park, a little research says our State Park System will be a 100 years old in 2013. What are we doing to ensure the protection of these amazing resources? What are we doing to get more people- those who have never been here before out in the wilderness so that they can understand the importance of these places?
In the early part of the 20th century there was a lot of investment into creating parks. Now I know that they are struggling to stay operating despite the Great Outdoor Initiative.

It would be a sad day if the little patches of dirt amongst the trees and forests were left to become weed and garbage covered. Nature would return, but what about us?

Getting out of the City

We had planned on leaving at nap time, right after our morning urban adventure and lunch. But, as it goes doing final packing with young ones it took a little time more than we had planned. Who knew that we would have to wait for the compost man to come up the street and that right behind him would be the mail carrier. By then it was almost 3:30 and so as we turned to head east into the mountains we found ourselves caught in egregious traffic.

As we drove slowly along we wondered. Is it worth going through this traffic just to be free of the city? If there had been an easy turn around we probably would have taken it. We were torn: desiring the peace of the mountain air but hating this slow passageway in our car. In our daily lives we do as much as possible to never be in the car and yet here we were in a long line of autos filing slowly down the road.

We broke free of the traffic, but now it was already nearly five. We wondered if we really should show up to our campsite late in the evening. Dark clouds were overhead and it already seemed as if night would fall soon. Besides, as we went through the list of our gear we realized that Shawn's and my raincoats had been left behind and that our tent would probably not keep out water. Was the forecast which said the next few days would be sunny correct or would we only be getting to the campsite and then needing to pack up in the dark to escape rain in our secondhand tent?

This is the challenge of getting out of the city. There are so many things to pull you back to the comfort of home, especially when you have two kids in the back already crying because they have not napped and they are not used to riding in the car.

But, the lure of the mountains won. Their grey darkness had already cast its spell on us and turning around would have been too sad. Since it was a weekday we knew that if things got too desperate we could probably find a cheap hotel. Thankfully, drives in the northwest when the roads are clear of obstacles go quite quickly. We saw beautiful trees, train trestles, and rivers. We told stories and sang a few songs. We arrived over the winding pass in a great heave. Theo got carsick at the entrance to the campground and the sun stayed glimmering through the trees just long enough to find our site.

We had made it from the grasps of urban life and now we were happily in the wild.

Backyard Chimenea Campfire

"Why did it take so long for us to do this?" asked Shawn as we sat and watched the wood burn in the little ceramic chimenea that has been sitting unused on our patio since before our kids were born.

I looked at our boys and realized that it took these past two and a half years to be able to have our arms free. Then you have to consider Seattle weather as well as the time of sunset. Yesterday was just the perfect day for a little fire in the yard.

The boys had taken a late nap after a day spent exploring the beach at Discovery Park so this meant that there was a lot of time after dinner for adventure and fun. Since the weather was cool and dry Shawn and I came up with the idea of "how about a fire." We don't have an indoor fireplace, but we have a lovely ceramic chimenea in the yard on our stone patio. We gathered some supplies and headed out of doors. It was still too bright outside at first so the boys just played. Since our yard opens onto our neighbors it was natural that soon it was four and five boys all playing together. Being out of doors just invites play. The neighbor child's cap and goggles as well as our boys pretend cellphones, a few balls and a bat, led to plenty to do before darkness set in. But as is the case, summer days drift into summer nights and soon it was dark enough to light the fire. Unlike our campfires lately, the wood was dry and we only used a recycled envelope to create enough flame to burn the dried wood we have had sitting around.

The flames danced upward and the smoke went out the little chimney. A fire invites community and it wasn't long until the mom next door and her son joined us. Our young children were enchanted by the flicker for a short while, then they ran around in the growing darkness until the inevitable fall occurred. Luckily, Theo was not badly hurt and the kids gathered in our arms. We all watched the wood, fire and embers. The adults talked until it was time for songs. We sang a few classic favorites -including the abc song, Sam's request, along with Twinkle Twinkle and Ba Ba Black Sheep- songs that are to the same tune. The neighbor boy next door was the first to say, "I am running out of energy" and he left with his mom.

Our boys stayed in our laps for only a few minutes more and then helped dad get water to put out the fire.

As we went into the house Sam and I lingered behind. It is not often that you notice stars in the urban sky, but last night they were present. Sam layed down on the grass and I joined him. For ten minutes we noticed the stars. We pointed out the bright ones. The one "over there and over there." We saw the clouds and Sam noticed the trees above us as well. The boys don't yet know about wishing on a star...but what more could a mom wish for than getting to spend such a peaceful moment with her child knowing her other boy and husband are happily starting snack in the warm light of the kitchen.

Camping Trip to the Beach

This week were able to take a short trip to Deception Pass State Park. On a weekday (for us Thursday) you can get there without a reservation, but we were out of luck when Friday rolled around so it was a one night stay. It is a lovely area on the Northern part of Whidbey Island. The views in the area are amazing, however, be prepared for a lot of air noise. The navy air base is just south of the State Park and the rumble of planes is constant.

In anycase, the boys were oblivious to the noise. They had found their new love- the driftwood beaches of the Pacific Northwest. Little driftwood piles became their house. Rocks became pancakes. Another log was their "Thomas the Train." "Mom, dad, ride the train" they said constantly.

Since our campsite was in the woods we cooked dinner on the beach and watched the sunset. The sun disappears fast these days. :) Which meant we needed to set up the tent in the dark as we had not done it earlier.
Shawn got it up. The boys and I tried to start a fire. We made mostly smoke and finally embers as the wood we had bought seemed too wet.

Camping was fun, but it is definitely a chore. From the packing to the unpacking to the packing of each item numerous times. Shawn asked, "why do people do this?" at some point around the time the dishes from breakfast needed to be cleaned. We looked around and words couldn't express it, however the boys playing in clouds of campground dirt with their little toy dump trucks loaded with rocks and twigs seemed to express the answer.

Reflections on a Nature Play and Learn

Megan and I, along with the Audubon naturalist, Ali, hosted a "play and learn" for 2-3 year old children and their caregivers on Thursday at the local park. It went well. Thanks to many helping hands, including grandma and my husband who kept my own boys engaged with activities while I helped lead the session.

The children found activities to do and parents and caregivers connected with one another and enjoyed being in the sparkling sunshine. Acorns falling from the oak tree above blessed our day.

The things that worked wonderfully were:

Simple activities for kids to engage in and then when critical mass was reached to do introductions.

Ali introduced how the program came about and mentioned other opportunities for families at the park.

Megan and I had people share names and ways that they enjoy nature with children. (this went well, however if there was a way to get more specific it might be helpful- such as "we go out onto the porch each night to check where/ or if there is a moon visible in the sky).

After this we had children and their caregivers choose stations with which to interact.
There was a bug magnifying lens station.
A reading area- although books were spread out at each station.
A natural play material area with sticks and leaves and acorns.
An art area.

I spent most of my time at the art station and since this area had numerous smaller activities it seemed most busy. There was drawing, painting, pipe cleaner art, and the project I had intended to be the focus which was making coffee filter butterflies (better for a slightly older group).

Pictures show that there were sweet moments of interactions with parent/ child/ naturalists in each station.

20 minutes or so later we had a clean-up time and then moved into playing with the parachute, singing a song of Ring around the Rosie and then heading off into the woods.

Some people broke off at this point to take care of children's specific needs: playing at the playground, having snack. Toddlers need to be somewhat self directed. In my experience this is perfectly fine. The people who did go on the hike were just excited to be sharing the joy of nature with their children. Several of the parents told me that although they were often at the play area they had not gone on this close in trail. Discoveries were made: from the soft touch of the thimbleberry, to the giant lightening tree. Kids played with sticks and cones. They "read" the new signposts showing a map of the park alongside their parents.

As the hike winded down. Many of the parents and children stopped in to visit Lumpy the Turtle before heading back for "ants on a log." Celery sticks with hummus and dried cranberries.

As one of the leaders I realize the first time of doing anything is the hardest. It took a lot of visualization and planning. I give a huge thank you to the Audubon Center for allowing us to make this happen! We had to have a room reserved in case of rain. The color flyers, the promotional information, and the brown paper-bag signup worked splendid. Thanks Ali! We did allow for a few drop-ins and although the intention was to get people without computer access an opportunity to join in- I think in retrospect that there needs to be a clear cap that if you do not sign up online there will be a first come first serve maximum of five more.

A huge thank you to Vivian who was accompanying her family to the play and learn. Her help made a great difference.

I can see doing more "play and learns" in the future.
I could also imagine doing just a tot hike-- but it would have to be a very small group of parents and their children 5 kids and their adults?

Other tips/ questions for the future would be;

Do we need a picture release form?

Still wondering what more to do to get families who are unfamiliar with the park to attend:

We had flyers in Spanish and English, but the one family I heard was going to come did not arrive until the program was over (2 hours late).

The promotional bus passes only encouraged one family who usually drives to the park to try an alternative transit.