Kid Tracks Column: Hands-on approach to geoscience

Children spend time in school learning about Earth science and geology, but the subject can be a bit, ahem, dry when reading about it in a book. Thanks to the Geological Society of America (GSA) and their EarthCache resource, parents have an easy, hands-on way to explore geological features while enjoying time outdoors with their families. And not to worry, you don't need to remember anything about Earth science lessons to play this game with your kids. EarthCache ''Masters'' does all the legwork for you.

On its website, EarthCache.org, the GSA explains its approach to educating the general public about geosciences.

''People who want to visit Earthcaches can gather information about a site and what they will experience there through educational notes provided. The notes are written so that an upper-middle school student can understand the science concepts.''

When a tween can grasp the concept of a glacial erratic, basalt deposit, conglomerate quartzite, glacial striation and waterfall formation because of a game she played while hiking with her family, you can be assured it's a novice-friendly way to learn about Earth science.

The only tools you need to find an EarthCache are a smartphone with a geocaching application to access EarthCache listings, or a hand-held GPS to input coordinates and a computer to print out the educational notes.

A few years back, my family found our first EarthCache. It was a glacial erratic near Conway, N.H. That's geologist vernacular for a large boulder sitting in a place where you wouldn't expect to find it. The (basic) geological explanation for this piece of misplaced rock is that it was transported thousands of miles from its original home by a glacier during the last ice age. The glacier melted, so the rock stopped moving.

Upon finding the ''largest known glacial erratic in New England, '' according to the listing, we made a post on the website to prove we'd found the location as well as a photo of ourselves in front of it.

Acadia National Park offers an EarthCache experience that takes visitors to six unique park locations. Without giving away too much of the fun, we went on a hike to find Mt. Desert Island's sea level before the last ice age changed it. There is nothing like climbing a mountain and finding a landmark to demonstrate to a child (or an adult for that matter) how significant the change in sea level is now.

During a driving trip to New York City, we made a detour through Springfield, Mass., to find dinosaur prints. The EarthCache listing directed us to a little hiking trail known to locals but not widely advertised to tourists. It was fascinating to see and touch the footprints and know that dinosaurs crossed this path 190 million years ago.

The EarthCache Masters Program is the GSA's way of encouraging goal-oriented types (children and adults) to learn about geology. There are four pin levels - from Bronze to Platinum.

For people to earn their Silver (second) pin, they need to research and post their own EarthCache listing. My family listed Mount Apatite because it was a location we've enjoyed hiking and mining over the years, and one where we can easily identify several types of rocks and minerals.

If you do a key word search on EarthCache.org for ''Gem Trackers'' you'll find our listing explaining the area and the kind of gems you can find.

If you asked me about my earth science class in high school, it's unlikely I would have told you it was enjoyable. But I have a feeling it ranks pretty high on the fun 'o meter with my girls.

MORE * Learn more about EarthCache at earthcache.org

* The first international EarthCache event will be held in Portland in September. To find out more about this family-friendly weekend event, go to www.earthcacheevent.org

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram, Dec. 11, 2011

A sheep holiday greeting

When you're in 4-H you never know what kind of email forwards you'll get about animals. Livestock offer a lot of fodder for amusing email exchanges because there is a lot of humor to be had in the little things you "get" when you actually raise farm animals.

The particular forward we received today was just good old fashioned livestock cuteness so I thought I'd share it.



Life has been hectic so I have yet to write a full blog entry about anything lately. But I'm thinking about doing some retro entries of past events at the Almeida homestead (and travels) soon.

For now, happy December!