This afternoon L. and I were debating which animals were smart and which were not.
Now before I offer L.'s ranking, I will preface this with the scenario going on at the time. Our foster puppy, a very active and friendly 6-month-old black lab, was sitting on the living room floor licking his genitals. He does this "about 100 times a day, every day," according to L.
So with that said, and the fact that L. has first-hand experience with each animal on her list and clearly has an affinity for a particular type, I will share with you HER ranking of animals based on intelligence as she sees things...
#1 - Pigs
#2 - Cats
#3 - Dogs
#4 - Sheep
#5 - Chickens
#6 - Ducks
#7 - Guinea Hens
Pigs are at the top of her list because...
"They know how to cool themselves off with mud."
"They poop in the same place all the time so they don't mess up the rest of their space."
"They know when you're coming to visit them even even when you're sneaking up. "
"They are always happy to eat. "
and...
"They don't sit around and lick their private parts all day."
And just for the record, G. our family's true dog-lover, did not agree with this ranking. Although she did concede the last point was a good one.
When it came time for G. to do her list, the debate about the cat ranking between the sisters went like this...
"L., cats are not smarter than dogs. You can't train a cat."
"Yeah I know. THAT is what makes them smart!"
G. conceded that point as well in her own ranking. And added a couple of other animals she has first-hand experience working with on a regular basis.
#1 - Horses
#2 - Cats
#3 - Dogs
#4 - Pigs
#5 - Chickens
#6 - Cows, Sheep (a tie)
#7 - Guinea Hens
#8 - Ducks
And I do have to laugh about the sheep ranking. They are awfully cute but L. & G. will tell you that, "they're just not too bright." It doesn't mean L. doesn't love her sheep, she really does, but it is amusing that she's come to the realization (as many farmers of sheep will tell you) that they just aren't too smart about anything.
How about you? How would you rank the intelligence of the animals in your life?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Kid Tracks Column: Horseshoe crab migration at Thomas Point
A trip with a group of friends to watch the historic mating migration of horseshoe crabs at Thomas Point Beach turned out to be an interesting and educational outdoor adventure. Of course, I should have anticipated the questions this sort of migration might prompt. It was a ritual mating for these creatures after all.
Horseshoe crabs have been visiting Thomas Bay to mate and lay their eggs on the sloping sandy beach for the past 300 million years. If you know your history, that’s about 100 million years before the dinosaurs.
According to Pati Crooker Mulligan, the owner and manager of Thomas Point Beach, the horseshoe crabs arrived earlier this spring than in years past. She said during May’s full moon, there were “eight to 10 crabs deep on the beach at high tide.” She believes the warmer temperatures this spring played a roll in the early en masse arrival.
It seems human visitors have also been arriving in larger numbers in the past five years. According to Crooker Mulligan, word is spreading about this annual event in Thomas Bay.
The horseshoe crabs typically arrive looking for some action ... errr, mates ... with the full moon’s high tide in May. Then they usually hang around the beach until mid-June.
Our large group - 10 kids ranging in age from 4 to 14 years old – visited the beach about a week after the full moon. The foggy conditions kept the temperature hovering around 60 degrees, which wasn’t exactly ideal beach weather, but it didn’t seem to bother the crabs, or the kids.
We saw several pairs of mating crabs as well as some individuals crawling and swimming just below the surface of the water at the shore. One of the older kids made a comment about the occasional single male crabs we spotted (males are smaller than females so gender is easy to identify) and wondered aloud when these single guys would find a “girlfriend.”
There were also the inevitable questions about why the male crabs were laying on top of the larger females. Yeah, well this migration was about reproduction and being the brilliant mother that I am (note much sarcasm here), I had not really anticipated how I might respond to these questions.
Of course answering was trickier than usual because there were several kids who were not my own. Thinking on the fly, I stuck with some old advice to keep things simple and answer only the question asked by the child. My explanation of “mating to have babies so they can come back next year“ satisfied the group. No follow up questions were asked before the kids moved on to the next activity on their agenda, building a big sand castle.
(I will always be grateful for small favors – and sand castles.)
It might seem like this trip should have been all about the horseshoe crabs; that we should have spent hours admiring the creatures and talking about their history and their contributions to our world today. Yet that wasn’t realistic with our large group of active kids. The moms in our group had done some research about these creatures ahead of time and shared interesting tidbits we’d learned with the kids at various points during the afternoon:
* Did you know horseshoe crabs have blue blood?
* Did you know that these crabs’ special blood that can protect us against certain kinds of poisons? The medical profession uses their blood to detect bacterial toxins on medical instruments, intravenous drugs and vaccines, which helps prevent us from getting sick.
* Did you know the female carries the male onto the beach then buries herself and lays 20,000 to 60,000 eggs? These eggs provide food for many birds but there are always enough baby crabs that survive for a future visit to the beach.
* Did you know all the crabs we see on this beach are adults and at least 9 years old? They have a life span of 16 to 40 years.
There were plenty of other things to see and do at the beach and campground and we took full advantage to simply enjoy our day outdoors. The big metal seesaws and roundup at the nearby playground were durable enough for larger kids and kept the teens there longer than the prerequisite, “keep an eye on your little sister (or brother)” would normally require. And then there was the bonfire at the campsite. Although my family had not planned to stay overnight, our friends did and their campsite was well stocked with snacks. The s’mores and the campfire popcorn popper that worked like a charm over the fire were special treats for everyone.
Allowing kids to explore the natural world while having a whole lot of fun is what makes living in Maine such a great place to raise a family. But the next time I decide to take the kids to a migration event, I’ll be better prepared to explain about the lovebirds.
Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine, July 2010.
Horseshoe crabs have been visiting Thomas Bay to mate and lay their eggs on the sloping sandy beach for the past 300 million years. If you know your history, that’s about 100 million years before the dinosaurs.
According to Pati Crooker Mulligan, the owner and manager of Thomas Point Beach, the horseshoe crabs arrived earlier this spring than in years past. She said during May’s full moon, there were “eight to 10 crabs deep on the beach at high tide.” She believes the warmer temperatures this spring played a roll in the early en masse arrival.
It seems human visitors have also been arriving in larger numbers in the past five years. According to Crooker Mulligan, word is spreading about this annual event in Thomas Bay.
The horseshoe crabs typically arrive looking for some action ... errr, mates ... with the full moon’s high tide in May. Then they usually hang around the beach until mid-June.
Our large group - 10 kids ranging in age from 4 to 14 years old – visited the beach about a week after the full moon. The foggy conditions kept the temperature hovering around 60 degrees, which wasn’t exactly ideal beach weather, but it didn’t seem to bother the crabs, or the kids.
We saw several pairs of mating crabs as well as some individuals crawling and swimming just below the surface of the water at the shore. One of the older kids made a comment about the occasional single male crabs we spotted (males are smaller than females so gender is easy to identify) and wondered aloud when these single guys would find a “girlfriend.”
There were also the inevitable questions about why the male crabs were laying on top of the larger females. Yeah, well this migration was about reproduction and being the brilliant mother that I am (note much sarcasm here), I had not really anticipated how I might respond to these questions.
Of course answering was trickier than usual because there were several kids who were not my own. Thinking on the fly, I stuck with some old advice to keep things simple and answer only the question asked by the child. My explanation of “mating to have babies so they can come back next year“ satisfied the group. No follow up questions were asked before the kids moved on to the next activity on their agenda, building a big sand castle.
(I will always be grateful for small favors – and sand castles.)
It might seem like this trip should have been all about the horseshoe crabs; that we should have spent hours admiring the creatures and talking about their history and their contributions to our world today. Yet that wasn’t realistic with our large group of active kids. The moms in our group had done some research about these creatures ahead of time and shared interesting tidbits we’d learned with the kids at various points during the afternoon:
* Did you know horseshoe crabs have blue blood?
* Did you know that these crabs’ special blood that can protect us against certain kinds of poisons? The medical profession uses their blood to detect bacterial toxins on medical instruments, intravenous drugs and vaccines, which helps prevent us from getting sick.
* Did you know the female carries the male onto the beach then buries herself and lays 20,000 to 60,000 eggs? These eggs provide food for many birds but there are always enough baby crabs that survive for a future visit to the beach.
* Did you know all the crabs we see on this beach are adults and at least 9 years old? They have a life span of 16 to 40 years.
There were plenty of other things to see and do at the beach and campground and we took full advantage to simply enjoy our day outdoors. The big metal seesaws and roundup at the nearby playground were durable enough for larger kids and kept the teens there longer than the prerequisite, “keep an eye on your little sister (or brother)” would normally require. And then there was the bonfire at the campsite. Although my family had not planned to stay overnight, our friends did and their campsite was well stocked with snacks. The s’mores and the campfire popcorn popper that worked like a charm over the fire were special treats for everyone.
Allowing kids to explore the natural world while having a whole lot of fun is what makes living in Maine such a great place to raise a family. But the next time I decide to take the kids to a migration event, I’ll be better prepared to explain about the lovebirds.
Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine, July 2010.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Camping with animals
Silly if you thought this entry is about bringing a dog camping. We're a 4H family and we just got back from a weekend of camping with a large group of 4Hers. That means animal options are much more varied than your average dog, or cat.
We traveled to our camping adventure (Maine 4H Days at Windsor Fairgrounds) with a chicken in a cat carrier. L. talked me in to this because she really wanted to take classes being offered on how to show poultry at the fair.
A couple of the younger kids in our group took a rabbit fiber class and each came back to the campsite with an actual rabbit afterward, which was not anticipated by any of the parents. Even though both of the kids' families had a rabbit at home, the logistics of purchasing one while camping wasn't so simple.
The kids were sure the rabbits could simply sleep in the tent with them but one of the moms hastily made arrangements for the rabbits to sleep in the poultry barn that night.
Our most amusing animal visitor though was Twinkle the goat (not owned by anyone in our group). Twinkle felt right at home at our campsite and decided to jump up on a chair to hang out. While one of the moms suggested to Twinkle's handler (not the goat's owner) that allowing a goat to sit on a chair wasn't a good idea because of the indiscriminate pooping goats do, the handler assured her the little balls weren't a big deal.
But moms do know best because while that conversation was going on, Twinkle decided to take a tinkle while perched on the chair.
After a long beat of silence, there was not one adult who could contain their laughter. The hilarity continued long after Twinkle made an exit with her handler saying, "Well, I hadn't thought of that."
Twinkle the goat not only visited our campsite but also attended the shelter building workshop in the woods taught by a couple of dads from our 4H club. Fino said that Twinkle tested the durability of the shelter by jumping on top of it (it held so the group knew they'd done a good job). I also heard Twinkle attended the nature walk class as well.
Never a dull moment when you're camping with a large group of 4Hers!
We traveled to our camping adventure (Maine 4H Days at Windsor Fairgrounds) with a chicken in a cat carrier. L. talked me in to this because she really wanted to take classes being offered on how to show poultry at the fair.
A couple of the younger kids in our group took a rabbit fiber class and each came back to the campsite with an actual rabbit afterward, which was not anticipated by any of the parents. Even though both of the kids' families had a rabbit at home, the logistics of purchasing one while camping wasn't so simple.
The kids were sure the rabbits could simply sleep in the tent with them but one of the moms hastily made arrangements for the rabbits to sleep in the poultry barn that night.
Our most amusing animal visitor though was Twinkle the goat (not owned by anyone in our group). Twinkle felt right at home at our campsite and decided to jump up on a chair to hang out. While one of the moms suggested to Twinkle's handler (not the goat's owner) that allowing a goat to sit on a chair wasn't a good idea because of the indiscriminate pooping goats do, the handler assured her the little balls weren't a big deal.
But moms do know best because while that conversation was going on, Twinkle decided to take a tinkle while perched on the chair.
After a long beat of silence, there was not one adult who could contain their laughter. The hilarity continued long after Twinkle made an exit with her handler saying, "Well, I hadn't thought of that."
Never a dull moment when you're camping with a large group of 4Hers!
Preview: Owls Head Museum Transportation Show
The Owls Head Museum will be revving things up to celebrate one of the most unique transportation eras of our time at the Fabulous '50s, Sensational '60s Car Meet & Antique Aeroplane Show next weekend. The older generation will find the stylish cars of their youth, while the younger folks can get a glimpse of what life was like, transportation-wise, more than a half-century ago.
"People get to see these cars and make a connection with grandparents and parents who grew up driving them. It's a good feeling to make a connection with a child or grandchild this way," said Park Morrison, public relations director at Owls Head Museum.
The 1950s and '60s, considered by many to be the decades that created some of the most unique and stylish cars, will be featured on Runway 17, the museum's family-friendly outdoor exhibit area. If you have a car from this era, or any pre-1990s car, you can put it on display. Car exhibitors are admitted free of charge.
But this event is not all about land transportation. World War I-era biplanes will take to the sky (weather permitting) on both Saturday and Sunday. Get to the museum early because the flying demonstrations of planes built between 1910 and 1918, which include the 1917 Fokker DR.I triplane (aka the Red Baron), will begin flying at 9:30 a.m. The air-show planes will land by 2 p.m. each day.
Coastal plane rides aboard the museum's 1941 Stearman and 1933 Waco biplanes will be an option for museum members this weekend, for a fee.
Little ones who want some hands-on fun will find plenty to keep them active at the museum as well.
"The Kid's Corral is always one of the busiest places at the museum because of the pedal car area," Morrison said of the area where kids can drive miniature versions of their favorite cars and planes around the corral. For adults who enjoy a nice ride, full-sized versions of the Ford Model T will be available for free rides. The kids can join in on this fun, too.
Another special kid-friendly activity is decorating bicycles in the "scraper bike" style. Kids should bring their own bikes and the museum will provide some decorating supplies (kids are also encouraged to bring their own special touches) to make a creative entry for the bicycle parade around the show grounds at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
For those young ones with a creative spirit and no bike to decorate, supplies to make a Styrofoam model plane will be on hand all weekend as well.
The museum's indoor collection of antique cars and planes offers dozens of examples of vehicles from the last century. About 90 percent of the collection is still operational. And the current exhibit, "Horse Power," features horse-drawn vehicles used in transportation and commerce. All will be open for visitors to enjoy at this event.
To round out an interesting day at the museum, visitors can enjoy live swing music from the Three Button Deluxe band.
"There will be a dance area for people to jump and jive," Morrison said. The band will play from 12:30 to 3 p.m. both days at the pavilion.
FABULOUS ’50S, SENSATIONAL ’60S CAR MEET & ANTIQUE AEROPLANE SHOW
WHEN: July 3-4
WHERE: Owls Head Transportation Museum
HOW MUCH: $12/adults, under 18 free
FOOD OPTIONS: The Squeaky Wheel is a full concession stand housed in an old caboose at the museum.
PARKING: Museum parking lot
DON’T MISS: Operational WWI planes flying each morning starting at 9:30
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great
BENEFITS: Proceeds from this event benefit museum programs throughout the year.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Event is rain or shine, but planes won’t fly in rain or fog.
MORE INFO: www.owlshead.org, 594-4418
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram June 27, 2010.
"People get to see these cars and make a connection with grandparents and parents who grew up driving them. It's a good feeling to make a connection with a child or grandchild this way," said Park Morrison, public relations director at Owls Head Museum.
The 1950s and '60s, considered by many to be the decades that created some of the most unique and stylish cars, will be featured on Runway 17, the museum's family-friendly outdoor exhibit area. If you have a car from this era, or any pre-1990s car, you can put it on display. Car exhibitors are admitted free of charge.
But this event is not all about land transportation. World War I-era biplanes will take to the sky (weather permitting) on both Saturday and Sunday. Get to the museum early because the flying demonstrations of planes built between 1910 and 1918, which include the 1917 Fokker DR.I triplane (aka the Red Baron), will begin flying at 9:30 a.m. The air-show planes will land by 2 p.m. each day.
Coastal plane rides aboard the museum's 1941 Stearman and 1933 Waco biplanes will be an option for museum members this weekend, for a fee.
Little ones who want some hands-on fun will find plenty to keep them active at the museum as well.
"The Kid's Corral is always one of the busiest places at the museum because of the pedal car area," Morrison said of the area where kids can drive miniature versions of their favorite cars and planes around the corral. For adults who enjoy a nice ride, full-sized versions of the Ford Model T will be available for free rides. The kids can join in on this fun, too.
Another special kid-friendly activity is decorating bicycles in the "scraper bike" style. Kids should bring their own bikes and the museum will provide some decorating supplies (kids are also encouraged to bring their own special touches) to make a creative entry for the bicycle parade around the show grounds at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
For those young ones with a creative spirit and no bike to decorate, supplies to make a Styrofoam model plane will be on hand all weekend as well.
The museum's indoor collection of antique cars and planes offers dozens of examples of vehicles from the last century. About 90 percent of the collection is still operational. And the current exhibit, "Horse Power," features horse-drawn vehicles used in transportation and commerce. All will be open for visitors to enjoy at this event.
To round out an interesting day at the museum, visitors can enjoy live swing music from the Three Button Deluxe band.
"There will be a dance area for people to jump and jive," Morrison said. The band will play from 12:30 to 3 p.m. both days at the pavilion.
FABULOUS ’50S, SENSATIONAL ’60S CAR MEET & ANTIQUE AEROPLANE SHOW
WHEN: July 3-4
WHERE: Owls Head Transportation Museum
HOW MUCH: $12/adults, under 18 free
FOOD OPTIONS: The Squeaky Wheel is a full concession stand housed in an old caboose at the museum.
PARKING: Museum parking lot
DON’T MISS: Operational WWI planes flying each morning starting at 9:30
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great
BENEFITS: Proceeds from this event benefit museum programs throughout the year.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Event is rain or shine, but planes won’t fly in rain or fog.
MORE INFO: www.owlshead.org, 594-4418
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram June 27, 2010.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Kid Tracks Column: Learning about trap shooting with kids
Trap shooting, with a focus on safety, can be a fun and exciting sport for older kids. It requires concentration and the ability to follow directions, both skills that tweens and teens can translate to aspects of their lives off the range.
The 14-year-old Almeida daughter takes aim at a just-released clay, far left, with a borrowed 20-gauge shotgun at Scarborough Fish & Game. Although she’s involved with a 4-H shooting sports rifle team, using a shotgun is a very different experience.
My daughters have been part of a 4-H shooting sports club for the past couple of years, shooting .22 rifles at an indoor range. Their club decided to visit Scarborough Fish & Game for an introduction to a different kind of shooting sport.
My kids were initially intimidated not only at trying to hit a moving target, but at the prospect of using a shotgun. The recoil of even the smallest of shotguns is stronger than their .22 rifles.
To help the kids -- and novice shooting adults like myself -- understand the basic principle of hitting a flying orange clay, the girls' 4-H leader offered some advice: "You aim with a rifle, you point with a shotgun."
This tip was of course offered after the rules of the range and basic gun safety -- the most important aspect of any shooting sports program -- were discussed in detail.
The trap field of play has five stations arranged in a semicircle. Clays are released on the shooter's "Pull!" command by a remote button release. We did not play a formal round of trap, which is five shots at each station location, since we were beginners. Instead, each of us found a station we felt comfortable with and did our best to hit the clays flying out of the trap house.
My 12-year-old had a good run in the center position directly behind the trap house and stuck with that location. I preferred a spot slightly off center, as did my older daughter.
My not-quite-100-pound child used a .410 shotgun, which is typically used by kids in her weight range. My 14-year-old opted for the 20-gauge, because she had the physical strength and size to handle it.
The girls did not care for the recoil of either of these shotguns, but both managed to hit their first clay out of the trap house. Each was surprised but clearly pleased, based on their big grins.
When I told one daughter I thought she did a great job, she scoffed, "Mom, that was just a lucky shot. I have no idea how I hit it."
choosing not to use a 12-gauge, the shotgun of choice for trap, the girls' chances of hitting a flying clay was lessened because of the lower gauge (not to be confused with a caliber rating, which I learned is a rifle term).
The "wad" of lead balls in a smaller gauge shell allows less room for error in hitting a clay target. The 12-gauge has a larger number of lead balls packed in a shell, so a shooter has a better chance of catching a piece of the clay.
My 14-year-old decided to give the 12-gauge a whirl for a couple of shots, but with a smile and a shake of her shoulder, put the shotgun back on the stand.
She declared that her favorite part of the day was pressing the button to release the clays on the shooter's command.
Although it was their first time out on a trap range, each of the kids managed to hit a few flying clays and found some success with the sport.
My girls aren't ready to give up their .22 rifles, but both agreed it was fun to try a different type of shooting sport.
As for mom, I discovered that I really liked this sport. Once I got the hang of the basic principle of pointing, rather than aiming, and was given the chance to use a really nice 12-gauge designed for trap shooting competition (thanks Joe!), I hit a few clays. I thought it was a whole lot of fun and my ex-military spouse is happy that his wife is interested in more visits to the range this summer.
Scarborough Fish & Game has a youth trap shooting league open to 10- to 19-year-olds that runs on Saturdays from mid-May through August. Club membership is not required, nor do kids need their own shotgun. There is a small fee to cover part of the ammunition costs each week.
This league's focus is on safety and providing youngsters an opportunity to learn the sport in a safe and enjoyable way.
The youth league will compete in the Maine State Trapshooting Championship in July, which also happens to be at its home range in Scarborough.
WHERE TO SHOOT
INDIVIDUAL and group lessons are ideal for a shooting novice. The following facilities provide equipment as well as instruction:
VARNEY'S CLAY SPORTS, RICHMOND
Two skeet fields and 10 sporting clay stations in the nearby woods. Owner Brad Varney is also tweaking an amplified version of skeet shooting he invented, called Super Clays, but he'll want to tell you about that himself.
HOURS: 4 p.m. to dusk Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. second Sunday of the month; and by appointment
COST: $50/hour private lesson; $75/hour for two people
FMI: 737-4993 or www.varneysclaysports.com
SPORTING CLAYS WALK-ON ADVENTURE, L.L. BEAN, FREEPORT
Open to adults and kids 12 and older, the walk-on includes instruction, equipment and the chance to try the sport in a low-pressure environment. L.L. Bean also offers half-day introductory coed and women's shotgun courses for $110.
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily until September.
COST: $20
FMI: 888-552-3261 or www.llbean.com/ outdoorsOnline/odp/walkon/odsFreeport.html
YOUTH TRAP LEAGUE AT SCARBOROUGH FISH & GAME, SCARBOROUGH
Equipment is provided for youths 10 and older (adult must be present).
HOURS: Saturday mornings through August
COST: Free; small weekly ammunition fee
FMI: 885-0535 or www.scarfg.org
TRAP SHOOTING ranges with open public hours this summer, no equipment provided:
* ANDROSCOGGIN FISH & GAME, 8 a.m. to noon Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, www.acfga.net
* FALMOUTH ROD & GUN CLUB, Sunday mornings year-round and Wednesday nights during daylight savings, www.frandg.org
* HERMON SKEET CLUB, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. www.hermonskeetclub.com
* SCARBOROUGH FISH & GAME, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, www.scarfg.org
* SOUTH BERWICK ROD & GUN ASSOCIATION, 2 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, www.sbrga.org
My 14-year-old preferred shooting slightly off-center on the trap field and hit a few targets from that position.
My 12-year-old found success hitting clays from the center position on the trap field, directly behind the trap house.
I got some pointers on trap shooting from Joe Hall at Scarborough Fish and Game. He graciously let me borrow his very nice 12-gauge for the lesson.
G. gets some pointers on shooting a 12-gauge, which was a larger than the 20-gauge she had been using earlier. The barrel was longer, which helps with accuracy, but was more challenging for her to hold steady to point and shoot.
G. was a good sport about trying the larger 12-gauge.
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram June 20, 2010
You can read more about the Almeida kids' shooting sports experiences here...
The 14-year-old Almeida daughter takes aim at a just-released clay, far left, with a borrowed 20-gauge shotgun at Scarborough Fish & Game. Although she’s involved with a 4-H shooting sports rifle team, using a shotgun is a very different experience.
My daughters have been part of a 4-H shooting sports club for the past couple of years, shooting .22 rifles at an indoor range. Their club decided to visit Scarborough Fish & Game for an introduction to a different kind of shooting sport.
My kids were initially intimidated not only at trying to hit a moving target, but at the prospect of using a shotgun. The recoil of even the smallest of shotguns is stronger than their .22 rifles.
To help the kids -- and novice shooting adults like myself -- understand the basic principle of hitting a flying orange clay, the girls' 4-H leader offered some advice: "You aim with a rifle, you point with a shotgun."
This tip was of course offered after the rules of the range and basic gun safety -- the most important aspect of any shooting sports program -- were discussed in detail.
The trap field of play has five stations arranged in a semicircle. Clays are released on the shooter's "Pull!" command by a remote button release. We did not play a formal round of trap, which is five shots at each station location, since we were beginners. Instead, each of us found a station we felt comfortable with and did our best to hit the clays flying out of the trap house.
My 12-year-old had a good run in the center position directly behind the trap house and stuck with that location. I preferred a spot slightly off center, as did my older daughter.
My not-quite-100-pound child used a .410 shotgun, which is typically used by kids in her weight range. My 14-year-old opted for the 20-gauge, because she had the physical strength and size to handle it.
The girls did not care for the recoil of either of these shotguns, but both managed to hit their first clay out of the trap house. Each was surprised but clearly pleased, based on their big grins.
When I told one daughter I thought she did a great job, she scoffed, "Mom, that was just a lucky shot. I have no idea how I hit it."
choosing not to use a 12-gauge, the shotgun of choice for trap, the girls' chances of hitting a flying clay was lessened because of the lower gauge (not to be confused with a caliber rating, which I learned is a rifle term).
The "wad" of lead balls in a smaller gauge shell allows less room for error in hitting a clay target. The 12-gauge has a larger number of lead balls packed in a shell, so a shooter has a better chance of catching a piece of the clay.
My 14-year-old decided to give the 12-gauge a whirl for a couple of shots, but with a smile and a shake of her shoulder, put the shotgun back on the stand.
She declared that her favorite part of the day was pressing the button to release the clays on the shooter's command.
Although it was their first time out on a trap range, each of the kids managed to hit a few flying clays and found some success with the sport.
My girls aren't ready to give up their .22 rifles, but both agreed it was fun to try a different type of shooting sport.
As for mom, I discovered that I really liked this sport. Once I got the hang of the basic principle of pointing, rather than aiming, and was given the chance to use a really nice 12-gauge designed for trap shooting competition (thanks Joe!), I hit a few clays. I thought it was a whole lot of fun and my ex-military spouse is happy that his wife is interested in more visits to the range this summer.
Scarborough Fish & Game has a youth trap shooting league open to 10- to 19-year-olds that runs on Saturdays from mid-May through August. Club membership is not required, nor do kids need their own shotgun. There is a small fee to cover part of the ammunition costs each week.
This league's focus is on safety and providing youngsters an opportunity to learn the sport in a safe and enjoyable way.
The youth league will compete in the Maine State Trapshooting Championship in July, which also happens to be at its home range in Scarborough.
WHERE TO SHOOT
INDIVIDUAL and group lessons are ideal for a shooting novice. The following facilities provide equipment as well as instruction:
VARNEY'S CLAY SPORTS, RICHMOND
Two skeet fields and 10 sporting clay stations in the nearby woods. Owner Brad Varney is also tweaking an amplified version of skeet shooting he invented, called Super Clays, but he'll want to tell you about that himself.
HOURS: 4 p.m. to dusk Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. second Sunday of the month; and by appointment
COST: $50/hour private lesson; $75/hour for two people
FMI: 737-4993 or www.varneysclaysports.com
SPORTING CLAYS WALK-ON ADVENTURE, L.L. BEAN, FREEPORT
Open to adults and kids 12 and older, the walk-on includes instruction, equipment and the chance to try the sport in a low-pressure environment. L.L. Bean also offers half-day introductory coed and women's shotgun courses for $110.
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily until September.
COST: $20
FMI: 888-552-3261 or www.llbean.com/ outdoorsOnline/odp/walkon/odsFreeport.html
YOUTH TRAP LEAGUE AT SCARBOROUGH FISH & GAME, SCARBOROUGH
Equipment is provided for youths 10 and older (adult must be present).
HOURS: Saturday mornings through August
COST: Free; small weekly ammunition fee
FMI: 885-0535 or www.scarfg.org
TRAP SHOOTING ranges with open public hours this summer, no equipment provided:
* ANDROSCOGGIN FISH & GAME, 8 a.m. to noon Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, www.acfga.net
* FALMOUTH ROD & GUN CLUB, Sunday mornings year-round and Wednesday nights during daylight savings, www.frandg.org
* HERMON SKEET CLUB, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. www.hermonskeetclub.com
* SCARBOROUGH FISH & GAME, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, www.scarfg.org
* SOUTH BERWICK ROD & GUN ASSOCIATION, 2 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, www.sbrga.org
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram June 20, 2010
You can read more about the Almeida kids' shooting sports experiences here...
Friday, June 18, 2010
Youth activities as a family affair?
The girls' 4H club took a trip to Mt. Apatite to learn about geology. We visited a couple of different quarries and all the kids dug around in the dirt, found treasures of various sizes and shapes and simply had a great afternoon being outdoors and hanging out with their friends.
But I think this picture sort of sums up why I like the girls' 4H club so much.
It's a true FAMILY affair.
There are no restrictions on younger siblings and moms and dads (and grandmas - one came on this trip) were all welcomed.
Not all "general" (not animal-specific) 4H clubs are like this, but I've seen a lot of that are. My girls joined 4H in early elementary school because I wanted to find an activity that could involve BOTH of them. I was already busy with a 25-hour a week job at that time and didn't have time to cart kids in different directions. And although I understand the thinking behind age-specific activities, because I had a child with some special learning issues, I knew she did not always have the cognitive skills to keep up with kids of her chronological age. And her sister (19 months younger), being a more mainstream learner, was excluded from activities simply based on her age even though she could have easily (and positively) participated in activities.
Early on I knew age-specific activities were not always a good fit for my family.
And I know I will catch some flack for this but I've always found the "tag-along" term to describe siblings of age-specific groups to be offensive. Again, I understand the younger siblings can be disruptive but a "contract" with the parent of younger kids to outline expectations of supervision (i.e., on the parent) would help make that a workable situation for many groups.
I think there is a lot of "drop off" activities for kids simply because parents are so busy carting each child to age/grade-specific activities that they don't have time to hang out at each child's meetings/practices. I often think it really is too bad that there can't be more family-oriented *regular & on-going* recreation programming available in the community so parents don't have to stress about simply serving as a taxi service.
There are certainly more programs beyond 4H that offer family-oriented activities, including many church youth groups.
I think Maine's Take it Outside initiative is trying to encourage families to explore the outdoors together through various events at state parks. And Obama's Let's Move initiative also has possibilities, although they don't always focus on the family affair piece as strongly in their promotion of it.
I wonder how others feel about this topic. Are you a true believer in age-specific activities because you believe siblings close in age need to have separate activities? Or are you one to seek out family-oriented programs so all your children can participate? Or are you just too busy with your own work schedule that it's easier to simply be a taxi service to drop them off at age-specific activities?
But I think this picture sort of sums up why I like the girls' 4H club so much.
It's a true FAMILY affair.
Not all "general" (not animal-specific) 4H clubs are like this, but I've seen a lot of that are. My girls joined 4H in early elementary school because I wanted to find an activity that could involve BOTH of them. I was already busy with a 25-hour a week job at that time and didn't have time to cart kids in different directions. And although I understand the thinking behind age-specific activities, because I had a child with some special learning issues, I knew she did not always have the cognitive skills to keep up with kids of her chronological age. And her sister (19 months younger), being a more mainstream learner, was excluded from activities simply based on her age even though she could have easily (and positively) participated in activities.
Early on I knew age-specific activities were not always a good fit for my family.
And I know I will catch some flack for this but I've always found the "tag-along" term to describe siblings of age-specific groups to be offensive. Again, I understand the younger siblings can be disruptive but a "contract" with the parent of younger kids to outline expectations of supervision (i.e., on the parent) would help make that a workable situation for many groups.
I think there is a lot of "drop off" activities for kids simply because parents are so busy carting each child to age/grade-specific activities that they don't have time to hang out at each child's meetings/practices. I often think it really is too bad that there can't be more family-oriented *regular & on-going* recreation programming available in the community so parents don't have to stress about simply serving as a taxi service.
There are certainly more programs beyond 4H that offer family-oriented activities, including many church youth groups.
I think Maine's Take it Outside initiative is trying to encourage families to explore the outdoors together through various events at state parks. And Obama's Let's Move initiative also has possibilities, although they don't always focus on the family affair piece as strongly in their promotion of it.
I wonder how others feel about this topic. Are you a true believer in age-specific activities because you believe siblings close in age need to have separate activities? Or are you one to seek out family-oriented programs so all your children can participate? Or are you just too busy with your own work schedule that it's easier to simply be a taxi service to drop them off at age-specific activities?
Monday, June 14, 2010
Preview: Windham's Summerfest
Windham will usher in summer at the high school on Saturday with a big parade, carnival rides, live entertainment and fireworks. It's all called Summerfest.
"We're hoping people get out and enjoy a family fun day of activities," said Brian Ross, Windham parks and recreation director.
Admission to the event is free, but participants will need a few dollars for the food booths and carnival games sponsored by local organizations to raise money for a variety of charities. Camp Sunshine will host a free Kids Zone with plenty of games for the little ones.
Summerfest kicks off with the Lions Club pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. in Windham High School's cafeteria. The parade begins at 10 a.m. and follows Route 202 from the rotary at Route 302 to the high school.
"We have the largest parade in the area, with 80 to 120 floats and units, antique cars and fire trucks. Last year it lasted an hour and 20 minutes," boasted Ross.
And because of this, he suggests that if you're planning to arrive at Summerfest between 10 and 11:30 a.m., avoid using Route 202 to approach the high school grounds.
There will be carnival rides for the under-12 crowd, but older folks can have their own thrills on helicopter rides, running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you have a pet frog, be sure to bring it along for the Frog Jumping Contest at 3 p.m.
A firefighter demonstration at 1 p.m. will help people learn how life-saving equipment is used when removing a person from a car damaged in an accident.
A craft fair, yard sale, business expo and antique car show are also part of the fun at Summerfest, and run all day.
Live entertainment at the high school grounds this year begins with Windham High's Battle of the Bands winners at noon.
The Back Porch Bluegrass Band takes the stage at 2:30 p.m., the Windham Chamber Singers at 4 p.m. and then kid-friendly entertainer, Wayne from Maine takes over at 6:30 p.m. Drive, a four-piece Top 40 cover band, starts its gig at 8 p.m.
A fireworks show at dusk (predicted at 9:20 p.m.) will round out a festive day.
WINDHAM SUMMERFEST
WHEN: Saturday, June 19
WHERE: Windham High School grounds
HOW MUCH: Free
FOOD OPTIONS: There will be 20 food booths, offering fish chowder, hamburgers, hot dogs, fried dough, pies and plenty more.
PARKING: At the high school; overflow parking at the skate park.
DON’T MISS: The fireworks
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great
BENEFITS: Game and food booths raise money for local charities.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Rain date is Sunday, June 20; the parade is Saturday rain or shine.
MORE INFO: windhamsummerfest.com
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram June 13, 2010
"We're hoping people get out and enjoy a family fun day of activities," said Brian Ross, Windham parks and recreation director.
Admission to the event is free, but participants will need a few dollars for the food booths and carnival games sponsored by local organizations to raise money for a variety of charities. Camp Sunshine will host a free Kids Zone with plenty of games for the little ones.
Summerfest kicks off with the Lions Club pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. in Windham High School's cafeteria. The parade begins at 10 a.m. and follows Route 202 from the rotary at Route 302 to the high school.
"We have the largest parade in the area, with 80 to 120 floats and units, antique cars and fire trucks. Last year it lasted an hour and 20 minutes," boasted Ross.
And because of this, he suggests that if you're planning to arrive at Summerfest between 10 and 11:30 a.m., avoid using Route 202 to approach the high school grounds.
There will be carnival rides for the under-12 crowd, but older folks can have their own thrills on helicopter rides, running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you have a pet frog, be sure to bring it along for the Frog Jumping Contest at 3 p.m.
A firefighter demonstration at 1 p.m. will help people learn how life-saving equipment is used when removing a person from a car damaged in an accident.
A craft fair, yard sale, business expo and antique car show are also part of the fun at Summerfest, and run all day.
Live entertainment at the high school grounds this year begins with Windham High's Battle of the Bands winners at noon.
The Back Porch Bluegrass Band takes the stage at 2:30 p.m., the Windham Chamber Singers at 4 p.m. and then kid-friendly entertainer, Wayne from Maine takes over at 6:30 p.m. Drive, a four-piece Top 40 cover band, starts its gig at 8 p.m.
A fireworks show at dusk (predicted at 9:20 p.m.) will round out a festive day.
WINDHAM SUMMERFEST
WHEN: Saturday, June 19
WHERE: Windham High School grounds
HOW MUCH: Free
FOOD OPTIONS: There will be 20 food booths, offering fish chowder, hamburgers, hot dogs, fried dough, pies and plenty more.
PARKING: At the high school; overflow parking at the skate park.
DON’T MISS: The fireworks
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great
BENEFITS: Game and food booths raise money for local charities.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Rain date is Sunday, June 20; the parade is Saturday rain or shine.
MORE INFO: windhamsummerfest.com
Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram June 13, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Sheep show - rain and flu snafus
L. had her first sheep show this past weekend and was a bit nervous, not only about walking in the ring but "fitting" (clipping and grooming) her lamb for the show.
I had my own troubles with the onset of a nasty head cold and no time to be sick.
The trick for L. is that she has wool breed lambs. Although she doesn't need to learn how to use the electric sheers to clip all the wool off like the light-colored meat breeds, she does need to learn how to use hand sheers proficiently. She's never been great with scissors because she's a left-handed cutter so the hand sheers are tricky for her (not to mention heavy). So we took her lamb to the sheep farm (where L.'s lambs were born) for some pointers from another 4Her who shows sheep along with the owner of the farm. They were both really helpful.
L. did some clipping and opted to err on the side of clipping less rather than more. By the end of her lesson at the farm L.'s beginner fitting skills had her lamb looking pretty nice.
Unfortunately the downpours on Saturday morning made things more complicated for L.'s show. Her lamb got soaking wet unloading from the livestock trailer and her wool looked a bit crazy and totally un-groomed. L. borrowed a livestock blow drier and used a low-cool setting to try to dry the wool. It's tricky business to blow dry a wool breed lamb. The lamb can turn in to a giant puff ball in no time, which is even further from ideal.
While L. was stressing about fitting her lamb and doing the show my head cold was even worse than it was the day before and I was developing laryngitis. Some people (my husband) might say that isn't such a bad thing but I really wasn't much help at all to L. during her stressful moments that day.
In the end L. went in to the ring and did just fine. The thunderstorms had several of the animals on their not-so-great behavior and L. felt that Minnie (the lamb's nickname, which is oh so much easier than Midnight Minette to say regularly) was not nearly as cooperative as she usually is. That bummed L. out because she works with her lambs on a halter just about every single day. But sometimes you just can't predict the weather, or an animal's behavior to it. But by the pair's second visit in the show ring (showmanship and then breed class), both lamb and kid were feeling more comfortable.
I was happy that G. had her own thing going on during the sheep show with her shooting sports club and didn't need any help from me. She and her buddies were working in the 4H snack shack taking orders, making subs and having a grand old time.
I had time to be sick on Sunday and stuck around home all day to rest and am hoping I can kick this head cold soon. I think I spent a bit too much in the cold and rain last week (there were a couple of activities but my time at Thomas Point Beach to see the horseshoe crabs is what I think sent my sniffles over the edge) and brought on the full force of this nasty cold.
I was actually thinking I might need to schedule a sick day in the family calendar sometime soon. We really do have too much going on...
When does our summer schedule kick in again? Maybe two more weeks?
Then I will have time to be sick... I think.
I had my own troubles with the onset of a nasty head cold and no time to be sick.
The trick for L. is that she has wool breed lambs. Although she doesn't need to learn how to use the electric sheers to clip all the wool off like the light-colored meat breeds, she does need to learn how to use hand sheers proficiently. She's never been great with scissors because she's a left-handed cutter so the hand sheers are tricky for her (not to mention heavy). So we took her lamb to the sheep farm (where L.'s lambs were born) for some pointers from another 4Her who shows sheep along with the owner of the farm. They were both really helpful.
L. did some clipping and opted to err on the side of clipping less rather than more. By the end of her lesson at the farm L.'s beginner fitting skills had her lamb looking pretty nice.
Unfortunately the downpours on Saturday morning made things more complicated for L.'s show. Her lamb got soaking wet unloading from the livestock trailer and her wool looked a bit crazy and totally un-groomed. L. borrowed a livestock blow drier and used a low-cool setting to try to dry the wool. It's tricky business to blow dry a wool breed lamb. The lamb can turn in to a giant puff ball in no time, which is even further from ideal.
While L. was stressing about fitting her lamb and doing the show my head cold was even worse than it was the day before and I was developing laryngitis. Some people (my husband) might say that isn't such a bad thing but I really wasn't much help at all to L. during her stressful moments that day.
In the end L. went in to the ring and did just fine. The thunderstorms had several of the animals on their not-so-great behavior and L. felt that Minnie (the lamb's nickname, which is oh so much easier than Midnight Minette to say regularly) was not nearly as cooperative as she usually is. That bummed L. out because she works with her lambs on a halter just about every single day. But sometimes you just can't predict the weather, or an animal's behavior to it. But by the pair's second visit in the show ring (showmanship and then breed class), both lamb and kid were feeling more comfortable.
I was happy that G. had her own thing going on during the sheep show with her shooting sports club and didn't need any help from me. She and her buddies were working in the 4H snack shack taking orders, making subs and having a grand old time.
I had time to be sick on Sunday and stuck around home all day to rest and am hoping I can kick this head cold soon. I think I spent a bit too much in the cold and rain last week (there were a couple of activities but my time at Thomas Point Beach to see the horseshoe crabs is what I think sent my sniffles over the edge) and brought on the full force of this nasty cold.
I was actually thinking I might need to schedule a sick day in the family calendar sometime soon. We really do have too much going on...
When does our summer schedule kick in again? Maybe two more weeks?
Then I will have time to be sick... I think.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Kid Tracks Column: Gem hunting with teens at Mt. Apatite
When mining for gems with older kids the trip does not have to be judged on the cash value of the actual gemstones found. The focus can be about having fun digging in the dirt to discover interesting looking stones. It’s all in the eye of the beholder when you have a couple of teen jewelry makers and novice round hounds with you at the quarry.
With two teens and two tweens in tow on an adventure to Mt. Apatite in Auburn I saw that even at their age, there was plenty of excitement over their discoveries.
“I like this rock because it’s see-thru and shimmery,” an 11-year-old declared upon finding a piece of clear quartz.
“I like this one because of all the colors. There’s black and purplish tones,” and as the 14-year-old turned over the rock she made another observation. “There’s some red in here too, look.”
“My favorite rock I found today changes colors when it’s in the sun. It gets all sparkly.”
But colors don’t have to be the only appealing feature. The shape of a rock can be just as important to the kids too.
“I like this one because it looks like an iceberg. And this one looks like stairs,” said my 13-year-old friend when I asked about the finds in her bag.
This day of rock hounding could have been considered a disappointment because we did not uncover any tourmaline, a gemstone several of the girls had hoped to find. But there were some great quartz stones in various shapes and sizes that the girls left jazzed about wire wrapping into necklaces.
In my attempt to prepare the girls, I took some time to talk to them about our trip to the quarry before we arrived to ensure everyone was in the right frame of mind.
* Don’t worry about finding valuable gems, look for what you like.
* Think about the possibilities of what you can do with the rocks you find. Would it make a good necklace? Would it make an interesting paperweight? Is it something you’d like to investigate to learn exactly how it was formed?
* Enjoy digging and getting dirty (a key point to remind teen girls)
When my kids were little, every single rock was an exciting discovery and did not require an explanation about its market value. When the girls were 5 years old (and even 9 and 10), if they found a gem they liked, it was automatically of value. Those days we left the quarry with a very full canvas tote bag. Now the girls are more selective and a gallon-sized plastic bag labeled with their names can usually cover a day of rock hounding. Although I miss those early days, my arms and back like their more discerning nature now.
Learn more about Mining and Quarrying in Maine
There is a collector’s guide on the state’s website that lists mineral collecting locations in Maine. Be sure when choosing a site make sure to find out if access permission is required before you arrive. www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/minerals
A suggested supply list
* Work gloves
* Gardening trowel for digging
* Hammer and flat head screw driver for splitting rocks
* Safety glasses (there can be a lot of flying debris when kids are splitting rocks with hammers, so be sure to protect their eyes. If you don’t have safety glasses, sunglasses work OK in a pinch.)
* Bandaids & antibiotic cream (rocks have rough edges and kids can get minor cuts when digging if they don’t keep their gloves on)
* Sturdy canvas bag or backpack to carry treasures home
Mining At Mt. Apatite
This is a favorite destination for my kids because it’s an easy half mile hike to the quarries. If you’re in search of some geocaching treasures (or want to give the game a try) there are several family-friendly boxes in this area. Go to geocaching.com for GPS coordinates.
To get the most accurate driving directions to Mt. Apatite, use this address: 64 Mount Apatite Rd, Auburn.
Once you park there’s a lot of weirdness with no trespassing signs. You can walk on the sand by the National Guard fence onto the trail. Once on the trail you have to stay on it - you can’t venture off onto the military-owned land.
To get to the quarry you follow the wide trail for about 1/2 mile. There are forks in the trail but stay on the wide trail that goes straight ahead (and it’s uphill but not too steep). Then you see a stone bridge at a fork in the trail. Take a left and follow that narrow trail to the quarries.
Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine, June 2010 edition
With two teens and two tweens in tow on an adventure to Mt. Apatite in Auburn I saw that even at their age, there was plenty of excitement over their discoveries.
“I like this rock because it’s see-thru and shimmery,” an 11-year-old declared upon finding a piece of clear quartz.
“I like this one because of all the colors. There’s black and purplish tones,” and as the 14-year-old turned over the rock she made another observation. “There’s some red in here too, look.”
“My favorite rock I found today changes colors when it’s in the sun. It gets all sparkly.”
But colors don’t have to be the only appealing feature. The shape of a rock can be just as important to the kids too.
“I like this one because it looks like an iceberg. And this one looks like stairs,” said my 13-year-old friend when I asked about the finds in her bag.
This day of rock hounding could have been considered a disappointment because we did not uncover any tourmaline, a gemstone several of the girls had hoped to find. But there were some great quartz stones in various shapes and sizes that the girls left jazzed about wire wrapping into necklaces.
In my attempt to prepare the girls, I took some time to talk to them about our trip to the quarry before we arrived to ensure everyone was in the right frame of mind.
* Don’t worry about finding valuable gems, look for what you like.
* Think about the possibilities of what you can do with the rocks you find. Would it make a good necklace? Would it make an interesting paperweight? Is it something you’d like to investigate to learn exactly how it was formed?
* Enjoy digging and getting dirty (a key point to remind teen girls)
When my kids were little, every single rock was an exciting discovery and did not require an explanation about its market value. When the girls were 5 years old (and even 9 and 10), if they found a gem they liked, it was automatically of value. Those days we left the quarry with a very full canvas tote bag. Now the girls are more selective and a gallon-sized plastic bag labeled with their names can usually cover a day of rock hounding. Although I miss those early days, my arms and back like their more discerning nature now.
Learn more about Mining and Quarrying in Maine
There is a collector’s guide on the state’s website that lists mineral collecting locations in Maine. Be sure when choosing a site make sure to find out if access permission is required before you arrive. www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/minerals
A suggested supply list
* Work gloves
* Gardening trowel for digging
* Hammer and flat head screw driver for splitting rocks
* Safety glasses (there can be a lot of flying debris when kids are splitting rocks with hammers, so be sure to protect their eyes. If you don’t have safety glasses, sunglasses work OK in a pinch.)
* Bandaids & antibiotic cream (rocks have rough edges and kids can get minor cuts when digging if they don’t keep their gloves on)
* Sturdy canvas bag or backpack to carry treasures home
Mining At Mt. Apatite
This is a favorite destination for my kids because it’s an easy half mile hike to the quarries. If you’re in search of some geocaching treasures (or want to give the game a try) there are several family-friendly boxes in this area. Go to geocaching.com for GPS coordinates.
To get the most accurate driving directions to Mt. Apatite, use this address: 64 Mount Apatite Rd, Auburn.
Once you park there’s a lot of weirdness with no trespassing signs. You can walk on the sand by the National Guard fence onto the trail. Once on the trail you have to stay on it - you can’t venture off onto the military-owned land.
To get to the quarry you follow the wide trail for about 1/2 mile. There are forks in the trail but stay on the wide trail that goes straight ahead (and it’s uphill but not too steep). Then you see a stone bridge at a fork in the trail. Take a left and follow that narrow trail to the quarries.
Mt. Apatite Trail
Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine, June 2010 edition
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Working weekend with hogs and kisses
The Memorial Day weekend was all about working around the house on projects that have been put off and put off. In the case of our deck desperately needing a new coat of paint for two years now, there really has been a lot of procrastination going on.
I vowed the three day holiday weekend would have a home improvement theme.
After a visit to the hardware store, I settled on a textured "no skid" deck floor paint in hopes that the grit will help make the paint job last longer than a year. I'm only slightly optimistic because the deck has a lot of traffic and the snow shoveling season is rough on painted deck floors (I never would have used paint on the deck floor if not for some bad advice from a sales clerk - next time we build a deck it's a simple coat of stain and sealer!).
I ended up with some extra white paint from the railings so L. decided to paint the pig pen door. The pen and shelter were made with recycled materials (i.e., picked up from the dump) so it was never pretty to start with and L. decided this year things needed a little sprucing up.
After the white base dried, L. was inspired to give the pig pen a title based on her favorite t-shirt from the Tractor Supply store.
"Hogs & Kisses"
This pen name is very apropos based on the fact that we are "kissed" time and time again when we enter the pen. Actually, I don't think a leg has ever made it in and out of the pen without at least one smudged smooch.
G. was outside taking pictures and caught our current kissers looking for some action.
I know, you're jealous of all the love we get from our backyard friends.
I vowed the three day holiday weekend would have a home improvement theme.
After a visit to the hardware store, I settled on a textured "no skid" deck floor paint in hopes that the grit will help make the paint job last longer than a year. I'm only slightly optimistic because the deck has a lot of traffic and the snow shoveling season is rough on painted deck floors (I never would have used paint on the deck floor if not for some bad advice from a sales clerk - next time we build a deck it's a simple coat of stain and sealer!).
I ended up with some extra white paint from the railings so L. decided to paint the pig pen door. The pen and shelter were made with recycled materials (i.e., picked up from the dump) so it was never pretty to start with and L. decided this year things needed a little sprucing up.
After the white base dried, L. was inspired to give the pig pen a title based on her favorite t-shirt from the Tractor Supply store.
"Hogs & Kisses"
L. plans to update her door with the names of every pig who lives in the pen. I'm wondering if I should be a bit concerned with the amount of space she's left for future pig names...
This pen name is very apropos based on the fact that we are "kissed" time and time again when we enter the pen. Actually, I don't think a leg has ever made it in and out of the pen without at least one smudged smooch.
A nearly perfect outline of a pig kiss on L.'s pants last summer.
G. was outside taking pictures and caught our current kissers looking for some action.
I believe Petunia is our special extra juicy kisser this year.
Groovy Smoothie is a real people kinda guy and super friendly. He'll just follow you around the pen until you give him a scratch.
I know, you're jealous of all the love we get from our backyard friends.
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