Ben, Katie and Davey came out on Tuesday night last week, under the almost full Blue Moon, for Dark Skies and Wolf Howls. While the moon had washed out much of the sky, we could still find all the big northern constellations -- Big and Little Dippers, Draco, Casseoipea, Arcutus, Andromeda, and the Summer Triangle.
They remembered from last summer how to call the owls, and which owl makes which call. The Barred Owl who is most concerned about Who is in the kitchen, and calls Who Cooks for YOOOUUUU? The Great Horned Owl doesn't care who the chef is, but wants to know Who is Cooking Chicken? WHOOOO? WHOOO? WHOOO?
We hiked to the toboggan hill, with other guests, to try our luck howling for the wolves. One single voice answered us, a big wolf, all alone. After a few minutes talking about wolves and bats and deer and owls, we howled again. This time Davey and Ben howled with me, doing their best "wolf puppy voices" and right away they were answered. How incredibly cool is that, to howl in the dark and be answered by a real wild wolf?
A few days later they came to the door, very excited. They had found the jawbone of a whitetail deer while exploring in the bush. They gave me one of the bones to add to my Show and Tell Collection -- Davey kindly modelled the antlers that are part of this collection of nests, feathers and funky things. Thanks for that!
We think that kids interacting with Nature like this is the best possible experience they can have, and we're thrilled to be part of it!
I love getting away from the cities, on nights when the moon's not out, and getting a look at just how many stars you can really see when you get a chance.
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