Today we start our day focusing all about OYSTERS! We were given the opportunity to learn so much more about oysters, their importance to the Chesapeake Bay, and their life cycle as we visited Horn Point Oyster Hatchery. We started off with a tour of the facilities in the Oyster Hatchery, where we learned more about the oyster reproduction system, from spawn to spat, and how to determine the difference between a male and female oyster. We learned of the production of a variety of oyster larvae which were then used for restoration efforts, research and educational purposes. After our tour of the oyster hatchery, we got to go right next door to checkout the fish hatchery. Over there, we got to learn more about sturgeons, diamond back terrapins and some other cool fish. Once this tour was over, we got to get our hands dirty. We headed back over to the oyster hatchery, were we got to help one of the employees at the hatchery pack on of the tanks with bags of oyster shells. This was an amazing group effort, which helped pack a tank with 100 bags under 7 minutes, which was a great way to end of our morning.
We headed back to camp for lunch, and had about a two hour break. Once this break was over, we headed back to the hatchery and got our hands dirty. First we help spread oyster spawns into the tank filled with the shells we packed earlier. Then we split up into groups and went to different stations to help with either counting oysters or cleaning the conditioning stations. This was all that there was to do, and we got it done (as a group) in under an hour - Yet another fantastic display of group effort. After our record setting time for doing this work, our day at the oyster hatchery was practically over.
We headed back to camp to prepare for dinner. The kids were then given a very nice surprise. It was time for showers! The kids had been looking forward to a shower for a long time now. To make the showers more efficient and less time consuming, we limited each student to a 6 minute shower. I can safely say that they all did very well with this time limit, and got some good practice in using less water when taking showers - so when they come home, you can try out this time limit with them. :). After showers, we got to enjoy our dinner. But things get so much more exciting after this. We had warnings of a thunderstorm coming our way. As we waited for it to start raining, the kids were just looking up at the clouds (with a safe place to shelter of course). And in the span of 30 seconds we all experienced one of the most awesome things in our lives. The rain fell, but the sun was still shining! Then, we saw it! A rainbow, so bright and clear, right in front of us stretching over the river. BUT WAIT! What's that over the first rainbow? Is that a second rainbow? YES IT IS!! A SECOND RAINBOW!! We got to see a double rainbow very clearly in front of us over the Choptank river. Needless to say, the kids were excited, and we all got to take a picture in front of this beautiful rainbow gift from the sky. After our excitement with the rainbows, everyone just hung out and relaxed. We then did our circle for the night, and went to bed in preparation for the next day.
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| A beautiful sight to behold - a double rainbow right over our campsite. |
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