Summer Outside!
I’m just back from Chincoteague where I checked out the birds, the ponies, and the intercoastal waterway on a pontoon boat! In this photo, I’m slogging through a marsh stream which was in low tide. As amazing as it seemed, two welks were found trying to dig into the mud so gulls would not get through their shells and end up as dinner. Along with the welks, fiddler crabs, a variety of clams, and many jellies were found in this stream. In our biology unit, we discuss these life varieties. If any one has pictures or samples, feel free to share!
Does anybody have any pictures of the great outdoors that you can post for us in this blog? Feel free to do so!
THE MUST SEE GUY IN CHINCOTEAGUE!! is definitely Captain Barry! Captain Barry will pilot a pontoon boat FOR YOU so you can just enjoy the nature! He knows where to go to see the most wildlife and get you right in the middle of it. If you see him from a distance over the water, you’ll think you’re seeing people walking on water!
CLAMMING THE CAPTAIN BARRY WAY…means stopping at what seems to be the middle of the water in the Intercoastal Waterway which in some places is very shallow, getting off the boat, and WALKING! We dug our feet into the mud to find clams which feel like rocks. Captain Barry then shucked a clam for me and I got to eat it RAW right there!! Super cool!
July 13th, 2008 at 7:02 am
hi everybody. i am excited because tomorrow i am going to a french camp in minnesota for two weeks. i have done two other camps this summer (so far), and one vacation (so far). i went to dominican republic (which was really awesome). there was an ocean, pools, a kids club, and lots of other cool stuff. that is all i have to say.
-Nikki
July 13th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Oh!! Very cool, Nikki! Amy just got back from Dom. Rep, too! She set me a photo, so maybe she’ll put that up here as well.
French camp? Is that the language camp that has multiple villages set up similar to Epcot in Disney? I saw a documentary on that place and it looked as if it was a really intensive language experience, for people intending to be truly bilingual and use that language in their careers, etc.
Good luck with that and let us know how it goes!!
July 13th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
this year i started a vegetable garden i planted seeds in april and now i have plants in my backyard i have tomatoes that aren’t red yet, beans that are ripe and a watermelon plant, but the watermelons haven’t started growing yet i also have some flowers like marigolds
July 13th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
my french camp is at concordia language villages. i dont think it is set up like epcot. there are different language villages spread out over the country. i cant wait because i am going with my friend who i havent seen in 4 years. her name is mackenzie.
-Nikki
July 13th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I just swam all day.:-) It was really fun as I love swimming. Quite a few insects, though, especially dead ones. I accidentally sad on a ladybug! XD
July 14th, 2008 at 7:21 am
For my vacation I went on a cross-country trip! We stopped at Yellowstone National Park. It was really fun seeing all the bison and elk, they were everywhere! While going on ranger tours they told me the same
stuff we got tested on in class about the geysers, hot spots, and the volcano.They also had a Junior Ranger program about the things that live in the geysers and springs under extreme conditions that you had as an extra credit project. There are lots of things I already know from you, but it is still fun to go on the ranger talks. I wish you were there with me to see Old Faithful because it was beautiful! See you in September!!!
July 14th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Pranav! You didn’t tell me in April about your vegetable garden!!! Awesome nature guy! I think we should try to do that at school…maybe after school? We’ll have to meet and discuss that in the fall and see what the possibilities are. Some schools have greenhouses so they can experiment and grow all year. Where to get the $? Let’s put our heads together on that one.
Nikki–Yes, that’s the language village I was thinking about. They are WORLD famous for their ability to get people to function in other languages. Submersion is the key while you’re there, from what I gather. Super cool. Ok…we’re going to want lots of pictures of the village!!!
Mary–Ok–Next question–What types of bugs were they? What are the typical insects in this area? I’ll bet since you’re such a computer whiz that you could have that answer and post some pics in seconds. Just remember, if you borrow info or pics from the Net, you’ve got to cite the website you took it from. Email me if you want help with that, but definitely have to cite the place you get the pics and info from to be on the up and up!
OK? But, give it a try…I know you’re so quick you’ll find tons of info and maybe how we can all avoid getting bit, too!! 
Skylar–Awesome, awesome trip. Really, the only way to get a good look at what America is like is to drive it. I did it a few years ago with my boys and we had THE BEST time. So, yes…interesting that you ALREADY knew all about the mechanics of hydrothermal vents and extremophiles! See?!?! That work paid off!!! You had knowledge and could add to it!!! That is very, very exciting to me, so I hope you felt really confident when you had that experience. Awesome, awesome!!! Good, good. Not a wasted moment!
Yes, I did the ranger talks in Yellowstone about your age as well and still have fantastic memories of that. My brother and I were invited to build the bonfire at some of those talks in the evening and it was this huge, huge deal for the kids. Yosemite is a similar experience with the ranger talks…lots of ranger lead hikes of differing difficulties for all kinds of people. But, at that time, when I was young, my parents were super fit and we did as much as we could and had a BLAST! I know you did, too!!
Any pics?
July 16th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Has anybody been tent camping in VA? I know it’s sticky hot out, but I just bought “The Best in Tent Camping” by Randy Porter so I can look for some spots in this state I haven’t been to yet. While Shenandoah is basically in our backyard, not a huge distance away, I feel like I’m tapped out on that place! So, to venture further, I bought this book last night.
Anybody got any great spots to camp that they just love and can tell us about?
–Mrs. CG
July 16th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I did go 2 hershey’s park w/ my friend & brought home a ton of chocolate!!!!
XP
July 16th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
but so far during the summer i just swim, watch youtube and buy itunes songs
o ive made like 1 friend in all of 2008- no progress lol
July 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
mrs.cg -about camping- avoid lake fairfax its got duck feces
July 16th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Hi Khoi,
Well, alright. I will be steering clear of the duck mess at Lake Fairfax!!! Yes, I know what you mean. That’s just mess and no fun. And I want to feel like I’m really away from this urban area, too. Hmmm, keep thinking for me. There’s got to be an idyllic spot. We just cannot have paved over everything, have we?
It does sound like you’re having a relaxing summer doing the things you like to do best, Mr. TechGuy! I’ve spent a lot of time on my computer, too, and have just recently gotten into YouTube, so all of you can laugh if you remember me putting it down in class last year! Now, I think it’s great! Although, I must say, I’m not on YouTube watching idiocy! I’m trying to find some more interesting clips that just the nonsense I’m aware of from before!! What are you watching on there these days?
And about that other matter…You know, I have two women that I’ve known for years and years that I still call my friend. Not having a big gang of friends around you isn’t unique to you even though I know you and many of the kids from class think it is. It’s not!
Hey!! We should blog about that!!! Friends and relationships with other people!!
Way to go Khoi!!! You’re so creative! You think of EVERYTHING!!!
–Mrs. CG
July 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
So far this summer I’ve gone to Kings Dominion, done a 2-week art camp, gone to the pool a lot (especially for swim team), and watched my little sister’s championship B-ball game. Saturday we have our last swim meet (our team -Autumnwood – vs Glade) and then a 6 hour drive to Spencer, West Virginia to go to my cousin’s wedding then stay there for 2 1/2 days then drive halfway home and go to deep creek lake for the rest of the day and leave wednesday (in the afternoon). On July 27th I go to sleep away camp for 2 weeks (until august 8th) here’s the website- http://www.sandyhill.com . On August 17th we go to Williamsburg (Busch Gardens) on the 19th we go from williamsburg to VA beach until the 23rd.
-Ally
July 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
PS
I’m really shocked if you have ever heard of spencer- It’s a tiny little town and the closest mall is 2 HOURS AWAY!!!!!!!
-Ally
July 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
HI Ally!
Wow! Very busy so far for you! How was the wedding? I’ve been to Deep Creek to ski but never checked the scene out in the summer. What is there to do there in the summer? Can I put my kayaks in that lake?
You know, I’ve had students go to Sandy Hill for sleepaway camp before. It gets rave reviews! Have you been there before or is this the first time?
Have a great time! And if you can take a camera, can you take pictures of your time outside for us?
–Mrs. CG
July 18th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Mrs. CG-
The wedding is tomorrow. The last time we went to Deep Creek Lake we went waterskiing and we did go kayaking. There is a waterfall somewhat near the lake that go can go swimming in! That was really cool but you had to be careful about the current and slippery rocks. This is my 3rd summer going to sandy hill, but last year I had to go home early because I had strep throat that I caught from my sister. Every year I’ve gone with my next-door neighbor, Lexia. This is the first year I’m allowed to go for 2 weeks (you have to have finished fifth grade) and during the weekend we go bowling, rollerblading, to a major amusement park. Also, when you go for two weeks, you get to stay in air-conditioned Lodges with electricity instead of cabins with no AC and no electricity. It’s on the Elk river which feeds directly into the Chesapeake Bay. I am taking a disposable camera, so this will be a good opportunity to figure out how to use the scanner on my printer.
-Ally
July 21st, 2008 at 5:37 am
“Has anybody been tent camping in VA? I know it’s sticky hot out, but I just bought “The Best in Tent Camping” by Randy Porter so I can look for some spots in this state I haven’t been to yet. While Shenandoah is basically in our backyard, not a huge distance away, I feel like I’m tapped out on that place! So, to venture further, I bought this book last night.
Anybody got any great spots to camp that they just love and can tell us about?”
I’ve backpacked in Northern VA a few times…I absolutely love camping. One place that I enjoyed a lot was the section of the AT that’s commonly referred to as the “roller coaster”–if you hike it, you’ll see why. It’s nearby Mt. Weather and I think parts of it pass through Shenandoah Nat’l Park. It’s very nice for a short backpacking trip of a few days. I also enjoyed camping in Prince William Forest, nearby Quantico. It’s a beautiful place for camping and hiking, and it also has a lot of history around it…for instance, the old abandoned cabins you’ll sometimes see are remnants of an OSS spy training center used in the 1940’s. It much less of a “backcountry” experience than the AT, of course.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Mrs.CG, did you get my pictures of Yellowstone? I have just been hanging out with my friend. Are you excited about the students you are going to have?
July 24th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Mrs. C-G,
I just got home from my UVA summer enrichment program. We had a morning class of science, math art, or SS, and i got into science =D
My morning class was “Earth Alert” which was all about how the Earth is in trouble. On one day we learned about the Exxon Valdez, and I was getting all the questions right *cackles madly* because you already taught me. Afternoon class was mythology, but i had a poopy teacher, so it was a snooze. This week i’m helping a teacher a VBS, WITH 3&4 year olds. You know, i never really thought i’d died and gone to down under. IT IS TOTAL CHAOS!!!!!!! Reminds me of our classroom =P Well, good wishes, hope ur all having fun, and see ya!
-Alek
July 26th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Hi Alek! Awesome! That’s supposed to be a great program for GT kids. That unit we did about the ocean was fantastic! There were cool activities for us, which hopefully will have you remembering those facts forever! All the questions right?!?! YOU GO, KID!!! So…um…what is this lunacy of you taking care of toddlers? Did I read that right??? And you’re having a ROUGH TIME, YOU SAY?!?!
Welcome to my world, Alek….welcome to my world…!
–Mrs. CG
July 26th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Oh, yeah, Alek…I am sitting here LAUGHING OUT LOUD.
July 27th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Weel, for your information, I ACTUALLY did a good job. I know, that goes against every law of physics we have yet discovered, but i did it!!!!
YA!!Any way, thanks for the recomandation to UVA, i didn’t see it, but my mom did, and she said it was good. I couldn’t have gotten there without you. O, and a note to everyone here, the food at UVA is terrible!!!!
July 27th, 2008 at 4:56 am
1 last thing to say,
Don’t get just the foods u know, they taste REAL BAD, i figured that out the hard way. AFter the 3rd or 4th day, I just went to were the longest line was =P. Trust me, you’ll actually be eating if you do that.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Longest line theory, Alek, is the same as my theory to never eat in restaurants that are open but have little to no cars parked there. That means the food isn’t any good!!!
Oh, and BTW, my recommendation was stellar, just so you know.
–Mrs. CG
July 31st, 2008 at 11:36 am
Oh yeah, I got into John Hopkins for the process of writing. It is really fun.