Of kids and camp, heat and humidity

Camp is over for the summer, and I am glad about that. I love working with the kids. I love the hikes, but this summer has not been kind. On the last day of camp, the heat and humidity didn’t let up. It sure would have been nice to have had even one week with comfortable weather but that was not to be.

This week’s camp was a decent one, despite the weather. The third group of the day found a luna moth not long out of its cocoon. The wings were unfolded, but the tail was still a bit wrinkled. The kids were thrilled, as was I. The heat reduced the number of frogs and toads we found, but the kids seemed happy.

All the kids seem to love the large millipedes we found along the trails. I don’t know what it is about millipedes that the kids love so much, but every one has to let the thing walk across their palms so they can feel it tickle them.

When the temperature hit 94 at 3 p.m., just in time for the last group of the camp, the session was with the youngest ones, the 7-8 year old kids. We decided to forego a hike in the sweltering, breeze-less woods and play around the lake instead. The kids chased frogs, were thrilled with the two dead ones they found, waded in the water and looked at dragonflies. They waded in the pond with their shoes and socks on, looking for more frogs and seemed to have a delightful time.

I’m ready for more hiking, but I think after 42 times along this particular trail, I’ll pick another one for a bit. And I think I’ll wait for the weather to be just a bit cooler, too.