Cumberland Island Backcountry Adventure (Nov 2011)

November 30th, 2011 Backpacking,Cumberland Island

The Big Picture: In early November, we took a small group to my favorite place in America: Cumberland Island, Georgia. I feel so lucky to live so close to such a fabulous place. Often, when planning a Cumberland Island adventure, I worry that I’ll someday get bored with the island. But after fourteen visits in the last nine years, I’m still hooked! On this trip, my goal was to introduce the participants to the basics of backpacking and camping and be their guide in exploring a place that’s close to my heart. Our group of six included four adults and two kids.

Chilly mornings: Though the weather report showed temperatures rising into the low-70s by the end of the weekend, when we woke up and boarded the ferry on Friday morning, it was cold! We bundled up and looked for warmth from the sun in the clear blue sky. Luckily, it warmed up by late-morning and we were able to take off coats, fleeces and hats. The fire kept us warm in the evening. But Friday night was cold and both of our adult participants woke up shivering (the boys slept like rocks, warm as bugs in a rug, somehow). We resolved to use hot-water bottles on Saturday night.

Living in Live Oaks: The live oak trees draped with Spanish moss that grow everywhere on Cumberland Island are the most striking thing when you arrive on the island. There is one particular tree growing about a mile from the ferry dock that I love to climb. When brought the boys to it, they got excited – and then scampered up into its knarled branches. For the rest of their stay on the island, the boys (particularly the 14-year-old) spent most of their time in trees. If his mom (and me) had not said “no,” I suspect he would have slept all night in a live oak above our tents!

The Beach: Perhaps this is a special place because you can walk for miles on the Cumberland beach without seeing other humans? Maybe it’s the wild horses that we’ve several times watched strolling on the beach at sunset? Maybe it’s the amazing number of whelk and horseshoe crab shells that you can find? Maybe its the blue sky and calm ocean? Camping at Stafford Campsite is wonderful because it’s only a short walk across the dunes to the beach, where our participants spent a good deal of time.

Hike to an Abandoned Mansion: On Saturday, three of us took a 10-mile round-trip hike to Plum Orchard mansion – the winter home for the Carnegie family. When we were welcomed to the mansion grounds by wild horses…and by a ranger who led us on a tour of newly-renovated mansion. We had a relaxing lunch in the sun under the live oak trees next to the mansion’s white columns.

Hitchhiking on a Sailboat: Surprisingly, despite the long hike, there were 20-30 people at Plum Orchard. Then we realized that there was a regatta of sailboats from Jacksonville, Florida anchored in the Brickhill River next to the mansion grounds. While talking with some of the boaters, I asked if they would be willing to sail me back to the mainland – I’ve always loved strange hitchhiking stories. The captain of one boat gave a hesitant yes, but I didn’t push the envelope. But someday when I’m on Cumberland by myself, I plan to hitchhike back home on a sailboat!

If I could sum up this backpacking trip in three words, they would be: Tree-climbing, Horses, Exercise

To view more photos from this adventure, visit our Facebook page.

Kingfisher Academy Tree Club

November 30th, 2011 Classes,Kingfisher Academy,Outdoors Education

This school year, Jonah is leading an ongoing program called “Tree Club” with elementary students at Kingfisher Academy in Atlanta. Every two weeks, this group travels to an intown greenspace to study trees, explore the woods, and hike. We learn about two more trees each week and we’ve posted a blog about our adventures and our trees.

Visit the Tree Club blog by clicking on this link or on the photo to the right!

B*ATL Bicycle Tour

November 30th, 2011 Bicycle Tour

Now that it’s winter, we’re catching up on some past-due blog posts. Expect more stories about trips from the spring and summer of 2011 to be posted in the next weeks.

Jonah leads bicycle tours of the Battle of Atlanta and was the tour guide for the annual B*ATL Festival’s bicycle tour in July 2011. This tour takes cyclists through many of the modern Atlanta neighborhoods where the Battle of Atlanta was fought during the Civil War 150 years ago. We bike from East Atlanta to Edgewood to Inman Park to Cabbagetown to Grant Park to Ormewood…then return to East Atlanta, where some of the first shots of the battle were fought. Though only a very few of the remains of the Atlanta fortifications are still visible in Grant Park, we cycled past the Lowes were General Logan led his famous charge, over the I-20 Interstate Overpass that used to be Leggett’s Hill (the central point of the battle) and through the MARTA station where DeGress’s battery once stood. Below are some photos of the tour (click on each photo to view a larger version):

Summer 2011 Day Hikes

November 30th, 2011 Day Hike

Now that it’s winter, we’re catching up on some past-due blog posts. Expect more stories about trips from the spring and summer of 2011 to be posted in the next weeks.

This summer, we led day hikes to Rabun Bald and Emery Creek Falls. Though the weather was hot, we had beautiful views from the peak of Rabun Bald (the second tallest mountain in Georgia) and cool water (including swimming) at Emery Creek. Below are some photos of our hikes (click on each photo to view a larger version):

2011 Arbor Montessori Backpacking Trip

November 29th, 2011 Arbor Montessori,Backpacking

Now that it’s winter, we’re catching up on some past-due blog posts. Expect more stories about trips from the spring and summer of 2011 to be posted in the next weeks.

The Big Picture: In April 2011, Sure Foot took a group of 8th grade boys on a 3-day backpacking adventure before their graduation. We completed the 13-mile Jacks River Trail loop (including 16 river crossings) in barely 3 days. We had superb weather and were even able to take a dip in the icy cold Jacks River water. Because these young men were so experienced in the woods, Tyler and I (the Sure Foot guides for this trip) were able to help them have many adventures that would be beyond other groups.

Our Adventures…

Hiking: These young men were athletic, hard-core hikers. When I gave them the choice of a short first day or a long first day, they chose the long hike. Though we barely arrived at our campsite before dark, they were strong hikers – even with 25 lb packs!

Tree Climbing: I had been talking up my “favorite climbing tree in Georgia” from the moment we stepped onto the trail. This 70 ft hemlock tree has recently become infested with the wooly adelgid, which will slowly kill it. But for now, I love this stately tree, which allows you to safely climb over 60 ft into its canopy.

River Crossings: This trail has 16 river crossings – and no bridges. Though we’ve hiked this route in late fall and early spring, April is a great month to do it because your feet don’t get quite so cold. Though we all picked up walking sticks to help ourselves cross the river, everyone was very self-sufficient and sure-footed. (Though, of course, we each took an accidental dip at some point.)

Fire by Friction: Tyler taught the boys and me how to make fire by friction. On our second night, we were able to avoid using matches or lighters to cook our meal.

River Exploration: Our our second campsite, the boys spent hours exploring the river, building bridges from logs, and hopping from rock to rock. I, however, was the only person willing to jump into the river on our cold third morning!

Graduation: Each of our participants graduated from Arbor Montessori School this spring. I hope they can use these photos as their graduation shots…

  

If I could sum up this backpacking trip in three words, they would be: relaxing, adventurous, and varied

Spring Kingfisher Camping Trip

November 29th, 2011 Backpacking,Camping,Kingfisher Academy

Now that it’s winter, we’re catching up on some past-due blog posts. Expect more stories about trips from the spring and summer of 2011 to be posted in the next weeks.

The Big Picture: We’ve been working with Kingfisher Academy students for several years now, and by the Spring of 2011, the middle school students were virtually pros at camping. With beautiful weather, we set out for a two-day camping trip near the Chattooga River. Because this group of students had so much experience camping (they had even been on a full-fledged backpacking trip in the fall), our goals on this trip were to introduce them to some of the flora and fauna of north Georgia, learn some fire-by-friction skills, and have fun!

Activities: Though we walked 1/2 mile to our campsite, this didn’t tire the students out. The sun was shining, so we went down to a sandy beach along the Chattooga and swam. I’m still amazed that the kids stayed in the water as long as they did (it was kind of chilly to me!) but this was a group of water lovers. Unfortunately, we heard thunder that evening, and had to set up a large tarp structure to stay dry around the fire that evening. Sarah and Tyler (two of our guides) gave lessons on making fire using a bow-drill. The next day, we took a day hike and taught each student one native plant that has a special use. The students, in turn, had to teach each other the plant that they were now an expert on.

The plants we learned: Pipsissewa, Tulip Tree, Hemlock, White Pine, Trillium, Rattlesnake Plantain

Graduates: On this trip, we had three students would be graduating from Kingfisher Academy in May. Upon graduation, these students had each been on at least 3 camping trips with me though none of them had ever been camping before coming to the school. I hope these take this experience with them in their lives, knowing they can do anything!

If I had to sum up this camping trip in three words they would be: Capstone, Laughter, Swimming

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2011 Family Camping Trip

September 30th, 2011 Camping

The Big Picture: I’ve been excited about this trip for some time – partially because Cloudland Canyon is one of my favorite State Parks in Georgia and partially because this trip introduced a new style of camping to the Sure Foot repertoire: Pioneer Camping. Though most of our adventures take participants to primitive campsites, this one included the amenities of a State Park. I was interested to see if we could still produce the connection with nature when paved roads, running water, RV campers, and plumbing were so close by. But though we had to use our cars to access the park’s trail system, the moment we stepped onto the trail, the magic of the woods surrounded us. And sitting around our campfire, surrounded by a semi-circle of tents at night, we listened to the soothing sounds of the forest and were easily able to forget the stresses of city life.

The Participants: I love introducing people to camping, and on this trip, we were able to help two families to bring their kids to the woods. Our adult participants had some experience camping, but the boys (one almost six and one almost seven) were new to it. No matter, they took to it like water. Everyone carried a backpack with some of our gear to the campsite and the boys diligently helped their parents set up tents and lay out sleeping pads and bags. Our group was a nice mix of interesting adults and fun kids. Dana facilitated games that everyone participated in, and the boys made up their own games in the woods.

“Pioneer Camping”: At Cloudland Canyon, the most primitive style of camping offered is called “Pioneer Camping.” This means that you have to walk away from your vehicle to get to your campsite, but your campsite includes a lean-to Appalachian Trail-style shelter, two picnic tables, a fire ring, and a nearby privy toilet and water spigot. Though several scout groups were nearby and serenaded us with their shrieks and laughter, the pioneer sites were quite comfortable and private. And when we drove by the park’s car-camping sites later in the day, I felt relieved that we were “pioneers” and didn’t have to share our campsite with the hum of generators, wires from RV satellite dishes, and piercing light from other campers’ gas-powered lanterns. Though I’ll soon be excited to return to the primitive sites near the Chattooga River that I love so much, I hope to lead many more pioneer camping trips at Cloudland Canyon!

Beautiful weather: Looking back on the last three years of Sure Foot trips, I’m amazed at the good luck we’ve had in 2011. Back in 2009, we had lots of trips with precipitation, like this, this, and this. But in 2011, sun and warm temperatures have prevailed! The meteorological blessing continued on this family camping trip. Though it was chilly enough for us to put on jackets in the morning, it was perfect sleeping weather and sunny skies prevailed all weekend.

“Level 2″: On our Saturday hike on the West Rim Trail, we came to an area of rock outcrops and boulders on the edge of the canyon. The two boys squeezed down a channel between two boulders and I hustled to keep up. Though I knew there was no dangerous cliff nearby, it’s always a good idea to have an adult nearby when 5- and 6-year-olds are exploring. We climbed around, over, and through some incredible rock formations and then emerged back on the main trail. The boys were so excited about the adventure that they dubbed it “Level 1″ and asked me to find a “Level 2″ for them to conquer. They asked the right man – I love designing impromptu adventures. So, we found a boulder to scramble over to accomplish “Level 2.” Later, if my memory serves me right, building the campfire was “Level 3″ and the hike to the waterfall on Sunday morning was “Level 4.” I still haven’t figured out if the “levels” were video game terminology – or maybe degrees in some new secret society? I’ll have to ask the boys next time I see them.

Picking Up Sticks: Never before have I had a group be patient enough to collect, process (break up into smaller pieces) and sort (by size) firewood to the anal-retentive level that I prefer to do it when I’m by myself. But these two boys were so good at it! Armful after armful, they brought sticks of all sizes and piled them near our fire ring. And then the three of us worked to snap sticks to the appropriate size and then sort them into piles: tinder (the smallest), kindling, small, medium, and large. Finally, I showed them how to build a pyre, collect try leaves, and start a fire with only one match. Though they were both a little nervous around the fire at first (which is a good thing), they eventually both learned how to safely lay new sticks on the fire without burning themselves or throwing the sticks (which can disrupt the structure of the campfire as well as cause sparks to shoot).

If I had to sum up this camping trip in three words, they would be: Relaxation, Exploration, Positivity

To view more photos from our adventure, visit the Sure Foot Facebook page.

July 2011 Family Camping Trip

July 25th, 2011 Camping

The Big Picture: Our two families on this camping trip had kids of very different ages (4 and 10), but the same reason for coming on this adventure – they love camping and want to introduce the activity to their kids, but their spouses prefer hotels! So, they joined me for a father-son and mother-daughter weekend in the woods!

The River Wild: Because it’s the middle of the summer, we camped near the Chattooga River, so we could wade in the water and go swimming whenever we felt like it. Though there was no rainfall to cool us off, the river was a perfect place to relax and stay cool.

Pyromania (in a good way): Though we we were not chilly in the evening, everyone was very excited about fire-building.

I have been practicing my fire-by-friction skills, so I brought out my bow-drill, spindles and fireboards and tried to produce an ember. Our 10-year-old worked with me, using the tandem bow-drill method, and we produce a lot of smoke, but no ember. Was it too humid? Did we not have the strength and endurance to drill long enough? Or were we just unlucky? No matter the reason, we sweat a lot and had a good time with it. And then we built a pyre, collected tinder, processed the wood we’d collected, and started a fire with only one match. It was a bit too hot to sit close the fire, but both of the kids really enjoyed the process and the result. In the morning, the 10-year-old and I were able to unearth enough coals from the previous night to restart the fire without matches. Here’s a video of us trying to create fire-by-friction:

Don’t Talk with Strangers: This advice isn’t quite accurate in the woods, because no one really seems like a stranger. Though we were were the only group camped in our area, we met many other nature-lovers this weekend. There was a group of 20 students from Kennesaw State University who’d backpacked 10 miles as part of a required class for their P.E. major. Though these students were worn out and tired, I hope that seeing our group in the woods helped them feel proud of their accomplishment and hopeful for a future in which many young people spend weekends in the woods.

We saw many groups of people in canoes, kayaks, and tubes, floating the river. And we met and shared our swimming hole with a nice family who also has fallen in love with the Chattooga River. Though movies like Deliverance make the wilderness sound scary, weekends like this one remind me how much community can be built through camping.

Firsts: This was a trip full of firsts! This was everyone’s first camping trip with their kids. And the kids built their first fire and had their first time swimming in a river.

If I had to sum up this camping trip in three words, they would be: Community, Swimming, and Enthusiasm

This was a fun camping trip with wonderful participants. Every time I lead a family trip, I am reminded of just how important it is to bring children to the woods!

To view more photos from our adventure, visit the Sure Foot Facebook page.

June 2011 Family Camping Trip

June 27th, 2011 Camping

The big picture: On the weekend of June 4th and 5th, the Tanki’s, a wonderful family of 4, traded in the big city lights of Atlanta for the serenity that the North Georgia mountains quietly offer.  Clara and Jeff took this peaceful but exciting journey with their adventerous little ones, Tristan (4 1/2 years old) and Chloe (2 1/2 years old) – and with me (their Sure Foot guide, Sarah).

Much Ado’ About Nothing: It was quickly apparent that these parents wanted their first backpacking trip as a family to be peaceful and flexible, but filled with opportunities to experience wonder and adventure.  After hiking in on the short but scenic trail to our camping spot, Clara and Chloe relaxed in their tent while I took the other two on an adventure to the sandy beaches along the Chattooga River.  Clara later had her own adventure with the children at the bottom of the roaring Dicks Creek Falls.

The next morning allowed us some time to re-experience Dicks Creek Falls, where Tristan and Chloe again lost themselves in the adventures that the sand, rocks and water had to offer.

Firsts: For Clara, Tristan and Chloe, this was not only their first backpacking trip, but their very first time to eat s’mores!  Yum!!

If I had to sum up this backpacking trip in three words they’d be:
Peaceful, Adventurous, and Relaxing.

I had a wonderful time with the Tanski family, especially with Tristan and Chloe – two of the youngest hikers I’ve ever hiked with…I must say they may be better hikers then some people 5xs their age!

Great job, Tanski family ; )

Woods Wise Discovery with Fayette Montessori

May 17th, 2011 Camping,Fayette Montessori,Woods Wise Discovery

I’d like to introduce you to Woods Wise Discovery – the new nature education and camping adventure created by me and Sure Foot’s newest guide, Tommy Tye.

The Woods Wise Discovery program provides an overnight field trip based on the adventure of a backpacking/camping trip and enriched with nature-based education.

A group of eight Upper-Elementary students, two parents, and one teacher participated in our recent Woods Wise Discovery program near the Chattooga River in north Georgia. The weather cooperated and we had a fabulous week in the woods.

This three-day field trip was designed for the students to learn by doing. Tommy and I both subscribe to the belief that education is most effective when the teacher takes the “back door into learning.” Instead of introducing an academic subject, we teach by introducing a skill or a game and then present the academic aspects of this “fun” activity once the children are engaged. The kids soak up the information naturally without any need for “lecture” or “textbooks.”

One example of this was during the first day of our adventure: It was lunch time and I fluttered about, trying to guide each child on the seemingly simple task of how to make a sandwich in the woods – using a sharp pocket knife to cut the meat, balancing the bread on your knee or resting it on a log while spreading your peanut butter on the other slice, using your spoon to scoop Nutella and then licking it clean. Though we successfully fed ourselves, I was pulled in all directions with questions and requests for help, and was wiped out afterwards, barely able to down my own sandwich.

One day two, however, I was able to say, “It’s lunchtime! You know how it works, so please get the lunch bags and prepare the meal.” And the kids did it without any help from me.

These children came into a totally new environment – with similarities to home, but significantly different – and were able to, after one “teaching” session, internalize the new systems and successfully complete tasks that formerly were anathema to them. I hope they can integrate this skill of learning-by-doing into their schoolwork and into their lives as they grow older.

Though the first day of any Woods Wise Discovery trip was focused on teaching camp skills and setting up our small village in the woods, Tommy’s programming was truly what made this trip so special.

On our first evening, Tommy showed us how to create fire by friction. The kids helped collect kindling and set up piles of sticks of increasing thickness. Tommy used his bow drill to produce an ember, placed that embered in a nest of tulip tree bark, and then used his breath and the kids’ kindling to feed the flames.

We had a great evening around our fire, roasting s’mores and telling stories!

I wish I could show you every activity that Tommy set up for the students. He taught about animals (and “tricked” us into stretching) by having us do Tai Chi inspired by wildlife, he helped us all practice hand-eye coordination through a Native American stick-tossing game, and the students learned body control and attentive listening through “Fire Keeper” and teamwork in “Caterpillar” (pictured to the right). Tommy showed us plants that can be used for medicine and food. And we identified snakes, caught (and ate!) crayfish, and waded in water as much as possible.

But the most fun activity for me to watch was Tommy’s lesson on fire. He asked the kids what is needed to make fire and they answered, “fuel, heat, and oxygen.” Then Tommy proceeded to explain each step of fire-making and demonstrated how to produce sparks using a flint stone and piece of steel.

The students examined the sparks close up and Tommy taught them about heat by having them behave like molecules bouncing around as the temperature increased (I was jealous that I didn’t get to participate in that activity). Each student then built his or her own “nest” of pine straw and then created fire using the flint and steel. After the students were all successful in making fire, they even taught me and the two dads to do it. This was my first ever fire created without the use of matches or a lighter. I was incredibly impressed by these kids!

And I recommend you read Tommy’s list of academic connections that are covered in one lesson on fire (click here to read at the bottom of this post).

In the midst all of this learning, we also went to the sandy beach along the Chattooga River and played in water and sand. We waded at the base of Dicks Creek Falls, climbed the rocks beside the falls, and I helped the kids slide down a short (and safe) section of the falls.

By the end of our three days, the kids were preparing meals with little help from me, purifying their water whenever they needed more, and they even packed up their backpacks like pros. It’s amazing what three days in the woods can accomplish!

But before we left to go back to school, Tommy had one more lesson: shelter-building! Each pair of students built a debris shelter (using only dead sticks and leaves) for Tommy’s rubber duck. After 30 minutes of work, Tommy poured “rain” on each shelter – did the duck stay dry? In most cases, no. So the students put their heads together and worked as a team to build a debris shelter 10x bigger than any of the previous ones. The duck STILL got wet in the “rain!” So Tommy explained how large a debris shelter must be to truly protect you from the elements. The debris must be almost one meter thick!

It left me excited to someday to build a debris shelter before a rainstorm and then try to sleep out with nothing but the clothes on my back. Would I stay dry and warm?

I hope you’ve had as much fun reading about this as I did getting to know this group of Fayette Montessori students. And I invite you to have Tommy and I lead a Woods Wise Discovery trip for your group!

Click here to view more of the photos from our trip.

And read Tommy’s academic connections for his fire building lessons below…

Here is one brief example of the potential academic connections and other benefits that we see in learning the simple earth skill of friction fire making:

  • Natural history – Location and identification of appropriate plant materials
  • Ecology – what grows where and why, how to find what you need, ecological significance of fire
  • Social Studies – Ancestral skills and cultures from around the world, symbolism of fire, myths regarding fire
  • Anthropology – Uses of fire, Significance/meaning of fire in human history, timeline of humanity, timeline of use of fire, timeline of control/creation of fire, variety of fire creation techniques
  • Physics – wood properties for success, friction and heat, critical temperature, linear vs. rotary friction, pressure vs. speed, rotating spindle on string, durability and abrasion resistance, density, decay
  • Math – 2 vs 3 dimensions, circles, rectangles, square edges, dividing circle into 3rds and 9ths
  • Physical Education – form, technique, muscle memory, physical fitness, control of breathing, rhythm, tempo
  • Critical thinking – trouble shooting and problem solving, attention to detail, patience, using the mind to control impatience in delicate moments (e.g. avoid crushing coal in excitement), using intuition over mind (don’t over analyze, trust the feel of the motion, go with the flow)
  • Knife use and safety
  • Cordage skills
  • Knot tying
  • Personal growth – resourcefulness, focus, perseverance, questioning, attention to detail
  • Team building from 3-person bow-drill
  • Team building from group fire (some gather tinder, some lay the fire, etc.)
    • This can take the form of a competition between two groups
    • Done appropriately, this can foster sportsmanship, fair play, and a sense of appropriate competition, in addition to positive group dynamics and working toward a group goal