A Fall Aquatic Adventure

On Tuesday, September 7, 2010, my assistant Anne and I led six of the HASC children on a unique hiking expedition: an aquatic hike down our stream within Heathcote Valley. It was an unforgettable expedition indeed. It must have taken us twenty minutes alone to make sure all six students were properly outfitted with shoes to get wet, a backpack with lunch, water bottle, nature journal and drawing utensils. We also added toilet paper to our supplies as a possible necessity. Lastly, each student was given two hiking poles.  

My dog Rochelle was in high glee as she bounded about us on our way to the trail toward the creek.  But first a group photo became the necessity before launching out on our adventure. 

The group before our aquatic hiking adventure!

At last we struck off on our journey. Nadia, who had recently moved to the US from India, had never experienced the likeness of walking down a creek. She wore these little red boots for the journey which continually filled with water.  Nadia and I laughed together each time we emptied her water-filled boots. That experience for her was a teachable moment to know what shoes work and don't work for an aquatic hike. She had insisted on wearing those boots, but learned from experience to choose other footwear. I stayed with her for the beginning leg of the journey until she built up confidence. Anne was at the rear cheering us on and supporting those that fell behind.  

Nadia and Ursa hiking down the stream

We enjoyed the lush serenity of the forest on both sides as we journeyed down the stream. We all had to beware of slippery moss and mysterious murky waters. There were a few perilous moments where some murky water was much deeper than anticipated but we all managed to wade through the deep parts thanks to the assistance of our long poles. The group came upon a place in the stream where past storms had choked it up with debris and it had been made further stationary with multi-flora rose.

I held back thorny bush stems for students to climb over a few logs to safety.  

After the group made it past this semi-treacherous part of the hike, my dog decided to celebrate on a hummock beside the stream. She had been bounding ahead nimbly throughout the hike, as four-footed creatures tend to do. But for some odd reason, like many dogs do, she began spinning around in circles and yipping excitedly. It was as though she was celebrating the milestone of the groups teamwork to get through the brush. We all laughed and it was great fun seeing how amused the children were by Rochelle's antics.

As we made our trek, the brush began to narrow our watery path more and more, until finally after a half hour hike, the students seemed mostly in unison to turn around and go back. I had hoped it could have been an all-day journey and had visions of picnicking beside the stream under a tree's canopy near a water hole. But alas, I did not want to push them. I wanted the experience to wet their appetites for future wilderness-like adventures. I realized the capacity of my crowd and I wanted to break them in slowly to the rugged outdoors.  When they had had enough, I felt it important to heed the majority's desire to turn back.  

Those who had fallen behind were now leading the way back!

On our trek back, Nadia became one of the leaders. They all seemed in a rush to get back to the learning center. I believe it was for the safe haven of the play-ground. When we returned, they all sat down at our picnic table in the play yard, opened up their lunch boxes and ate hungrily.  They sure had earned their food and what a pleasant way to end a great early fall adventure!

Namaste!

Gloria