Trail mapping at Wolfe's Neck Farm

My family spent the last two days at Wolfe's Neck Farm with the 4-H Trail Blazers mapping the trail system there.

The Trail Blazers were originally supposed to map the trails at the farm and mark the trail's features using GPS/GIS technology but with the serious Nor'Easter we just had, the group was also asked to mark the coordinates of the storm damage locations. And boy were there a lot of fallen trees there!

The kids were up for the challenge and by the end of the second day, they had walked the entire trail system multiple times and marked all the coordinates needed not only for the new trail map and a new addition to the trail system but also all the storm damage.

An adult trail crew will be at the farm this weekend and is planning to use the kids' data to actually do the storm damage removal work.

Of course the group took lots of pictures - and video - of our time at the farm.

Not all the 4-Hers knew each other so they played a quick icebreaker to learn everyone's names. When it was L.'s turn to say her name and share her favorite ice cream, she couldn't think of a flavor and decided that 'everything' would be her answer.

The kids played a couple of games to practice marking waypoints with the GPS units before the group set out onto the trail. That was key knowledge for the mapping project.

The group was also given a quick overview of the trails by Mitch, the Farm's manager, so they could ask questions about how to prioritize storm damage they found and the type of features the farm wanted them to mark for the final map.

L. was her usual self with needing to bring along some random items. At least she only brought one Webkinz to the farm, instead of three she took on our Georgetown hike).

Each set of partners was given a GPS unit to mark coordinates of either a feature (bridge, signs, outdoor classrooms, etc.) or storm damage (fallen trees mostly) and a clipboard to write down those coordinates along with a physical description of the feature/damage. Then the groups split up to work on different parts of the trail.

4-H Trail Blazers work

While clearing away branches and brush from the trail, L. collected supplies to make a fairy house. She simply can't resist any opportunity to make one.

And speaking of fairy houses, it was a real bummer to hear about the serious storm damage to Mackworth Island today!

In Falmouth, state conservation officials said the hiking trail on Mackworth Island has been closed indefinitely because of damage from heavy rain and winds that reached the speeds of a Category 1 hurricane. There also were washouts on the causeway that connects the island to the mainland. Access to the island, which is home to the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, is being restricted.

But even with the job the kids had to do, they still found time to have some extra fun too.

L. taking a break with her dad and acting silly.

Lichen Lincoln

Balancing on logs

Acorn whistles


Work and Fun


AN EXCITING DISCOVERY

One of the kids spotted a musket bullet in a splintered fallen tree and after more investigating, we found several others. That was the talk of the day! 

Finding musket bullets in tree

And of course L. was in her glory in the mud. There were a lot of washed out areas along the new long trail we were mapping the second day. And it was great that all the kids had a good sense of humor about being so muddy. We all were certainly wearing plenty by the time we returned to the trailhead.

Plenty of mud and snow

The 4-H Trail Blazers ranged in age from 10-16 years old.

You can see more photos from the Trail Blazers in My.MaineToday.com
Wolfe's Neck Farm mapping project

[Update: The damage report map]

Map of damage coordinates plotted by the kids for next trail crew