Outdoor School!

   
Hey Everyone!

    I just got back from Outdoor School, and I had the most amazing time. My class (Mr. Wierth) Went on Wednesday, and got back today. It was so much fun to do so much hands-on learning, and getting to be in such a cool setting.

    All the people in my cabin, Cascade, were really awesome, especially the Student Leaders! My Student Leaders were Frootbat and Olive. They were so cool, and Frootbat actually goes to Lincoln, where I might go, because the house I'm moving to is on the edge of the Lincoln/Wilson boundary.

    I loved field study so much. On animals field study, we went on a hike up in the forests at Camp Namanu. It was amazing there. We didn't see any deer on the animals hike, but we did get to play games and learn about how animals are an important part of the forest.

    In soil field study, we learned about the layers of soil and their roles in the environment. We learned about the different types of weathering, like physical and chemical. It was really fun. We took samples of different kinds of soil, and described their texture and color. Did you know there are over 700,000 known types of soil?

    In plants field study, we also went hiking. We learned a lot about fungus, and it's role in the forest ecosystem as a decomposer. We determined the age of nurse logs, and saw some pretty amazing plants.

    In water field study, we learned about watersheds, pH, and how streams work.  We learned that, at Camp Namanu, we are in the Sandy River watershed. We tested the pH of our hands and our nametags, which are wood cookies. Apparently, whatever was on my hand was VERY acidic. So was everyone else's. I was surprised, because wood is also very acidic. We made a miniature stream and labeled the different parts, like cutbanks and waterfalls. We made another stream, and along side it we made a city, a farm, a clearcut, and a forest. Next, the city was sprayed with something to show the effects of pollution on the stream. The pollution made it into our little stream.

    Camp Namanu has the MOST AMAZING FOOD. Especially the cookies, which are heaven when the chocolate chips are melty.

    At the end of camp, I was sad to leave, but I got selected to be part of the honor guard at the final flag ceremony. It was a huge honor to be selected for it.
   
    I was so sad leaving Outdoor School, but I will try to come back as a student leader some day.



      -Rory