We needed some sunshine (and so did some of our friends), so we visited the ASPI Rockcastle River Wilderness Demonstration Site last weekend after the intense storm and rains Thursday night. The River was transformed. We watched debris whirl and flash past in its middle. Logs floated by with immense force. Although it was calmer along the banks, we were careful to teach and enforce strict safety!
You may be able to see by the shadows that we were there early. There was somebody there before us, though!
Below the flood plain at the Bamboo Forest, what must be tons of beautiful sand had been deposited by the flood waters. Most of it was perfect for playing, but some was a bit muddy. (It made very realistic looking scat.) When I wasn’t appreciating a sand building or animals or hole dug with only a stick, I was looking for the landmarks that would tell me exactly where we were. I knew where we were on Earth, even on the ASPI Trail Map for the area, but as for what, exactly had been beneath our feet or the water 20 feet out into the river – that took some clues. I found the dead trees reaching up out of the water, not 10 feet from the bank – they are usually about 35 feet or more. With a little more work, we discovered a bit of trail down to the old dock – it was smoother sand and ended in water about 15 feet before it will in the summer. I wished I had a class focussing on river features, deposition, and erosion to witness this. Our small group proved to be appropriately impressed with the flooded features.
How long can children play along a river in the sand? I don’t know, because we eventually set out a picnic lunch and lured them away with food.
With good food and plenty of water in our bodies, we hit the trail – the Zalla Trail. A five-year old was in charge of the map and kept track of our progress at each trail marker. Another five-year old, a seasoned hiker on this trail, was our leader. An eleven-year old kept an eye out for bear and two seven-year olds were self-appointed waterfall explorers. Baby got to ride in the back pack.
Mountain climbed! Waterfalls explored! We went back to the Mary E. Fritsch Nature Center to explore a little more.
It was fun to watch the children each gravitate toward different exhibits. Baby loved the birds. Some were almost as big as he! Another child kept coming back to the collection of jawbones. The 5-year olds “sailed” the geology boats along the painted river, and everyone always loves a pair of diffraction glasses.
The next two weeks at the Rockcastle Site we will be hosting two dozen college students and 120 high school students in Service Learning projects. They will help with the annual sweeping-out and cleaning-up, but also add to our exhibits and facilities. This summer we hope to have the buildings open to the public every weekend and most weekdays. Bring a picnic – and come back! It’s not only the river that’s changing!
