Field Trips & New Digs

Victoria Setting Up

It’s been a busy week. Tuesday and Wednesday we went on field trips with the rangers. We chaperoned first and second graders on nature hikes.  These hikes were to show the kids some of the animals of the desert and how they live. The rangers talked about the different animals, what they ate and where they lived. They gave examples of how different critters have a part to play in the food chain.

Ranger Jessica Talking To The Kids

The kids had to look for evidence and count how many species they could find. They looked for the actual animal like small lizards and insects. They also looked for places the creatures may live and what they might eat. They found plants and had to identify what animal ate them. They found burrows and holes that might be used as shelter. They also found the scat (poop) of animals and tried to figure out what animal made it. The rangers gave them workbooks to draw pictures and make notes of their discoveries.

All of the kids and parents were great. Everybody seem to have a good time and enjoy being in the great outdoors. I enjoyed myself as did Victoria. I have very little experience with little kids so I was probably the most nervous person on the hike. Watching these little guys hike up and down these mountain trails was a bit stressful for me. They all did great and we had no incidents so I guess I worried for nothing. After the hike, we helped load everyone on their bus and waved goodbye.

Hiking The Trail

Ranger Robin Taking A Question

Today we moved, we have about a month before we have to be in Wyoming. We will take about two weeks to travel from Arizona to Wyoming. So we have a couple of weeks to kill. Our rent is due at the RV park and by the month it is a good deal but not so good by the week.

We talked to Amanda the head ranger and offered to extent our stay and help out if they could provide us with an RV site for the duration. She had to go through the chain of command to her supervisors and we were quickly approved. After filling out more government paper work we were set to move to Katherine’s Landing for the next couple of weeks. We have to put in a few more hours a week of work for the site but that is ok, we are having fun helping out.   

Our New Digs

Katherine’s does not have the amenities of the RV park but we are in a national park with lots of wildlife and great views of the mountains. We will enjoy doing some hiking and maybe biking and the lake is just down the road. When we have to work the commute is about 150’ away. I think it will be a nice stay.

As I am writing this we have our first visitor. Check this guy out. Evidently he is regular in the neighborhood.

Wiley Coyote