An Educational Day at the Dunes

We started the day with a nature walk from the Montview trailhead. Our guide was ranger Paul, who was a serious birder. He knew all the bird calls and could whistle like any bird. He was good with the kids on the tour, and pointed out the various trees and plants. He spoke good Spanish, and had spent time in South America.

After lunch, we went to the kids talk at the picnic area, where they passed around arrowheads, a mammoth tooth, as well as animal skulls of bear, coyote, pronghorn antelope, and great horned owl. A good program by Bridgette, a young student from North Carolina.

After the kids program, we went to the visitor center, where Erica bought a wood kit of a bald eagle. Richard and Erica assembled it when we got back to the camper, but it took thought, teamwork, and carefulness.

Before dinner, Richard, Ariana, and Erica walked over to play on the dunes for a while. Marianne cleaned up the camper and cooked dinner. We were greeted with delicious hot chocolate. We got back just in time, before the rain started in earnest.

Richard

The first thing we did today was go to a bird program run by ranger Paul. He was amazing at bird calls! We saw many birds and i found out that I thought him that Douglas Firs tasted like orange. After the program we went back to the camper for a good lunch. Then we went to the kids program about what people found at the Sand Dunes run by Bridgette. She showed us skulls, a mammoth tooth, and arrow heads. After the program we went to the Visitors Center where I bought a poster, a postcard, a magnet, a bookmark, and a water bottle!Then we went home and decided to go to the dunes and play for a while. The river was cold but we still had fun. We came home to some hot coca and some spaghetti. A great day.

Ari