Elms Beach

This was the field trip we've been waiting for all year, the overnight camping trip to Elm's Beach! It did not disappoint :)  We got there on Thursday morning and set up camp.  Ethan set up my tent for me, which was so sweet.  Lots of the adults mentioned how thoughtful they thought that was. He's a good boy who takes care of his mom :)

We had several lessons that day.  One was on photography and the kids were sent off with cameras and nets and told to photograph insects.  They caught a lot and got some good photos.

There was a lot of free time.  We spent it mostly at the beach where the kids fished with nets and skipped stones.  We also went on a little hike and the boys played tag in the tall tall grasses.

After dinner we had turtle races, they were loud and boisterous and a lot of fun.  Then we split into tent groups and made up skits.  Even the parents had to do a skit. 

We had a bonfire on the beach and went on a night hike, which was a teeny bit creepy.  I think around 11pm everyone was in their tents and quiet. 

Bright and early Friday morning the kids were up and we had breakfast, more lesson time, lunch, and then the best part fishing with the net.  The kids were surprised and a little nervous when they were instructed to walk into the water, in their clothes, up to their arm pits to set the net.  They pulled it to shore and then harvested fish from the net.  They caught a lot of fish and put them in a bucket to keep alive until they could take them back and classify them.  We repeated the process many times and they loved it and were soon fishing pros.

The kids were not allowed to swim however many of them "slipped on sandbars" and ended up underwater.  They then had to splash to shore.

It was a great time.  All the kids were so well behaved, so engaged in all the activities, so happy to have outdoor free time.  The parents enjoyed visiting and we all learned a lot.

We came home filthy and wet.  Ethan picked 19 ticks off himself over the 2 days.  I had 2.  I guess he's sweeter than me. 

At night we heard a chorus of frogs that were loud and foxes in the woods and waves crashing on the shore.  It was awesome.