Swamps, Bogs, and Marshes in the News

We've been talking about wetlands in class today, and I read this article the other day, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Global Warming Dries Up Peat Bogs

Take a look! MrE

Echo Hill Reflection

Tonight's homework:

Choose one picture or video on which to comment from the Echo Hill trip. Make sure to include a description of the setting (so we know which picture you're talking about), and a similar or contrasting experience that you had. Or talk about something that happened in that location; or talk about something you've done in your life that connects to that picture or video. Make sure to post your comment before the first bell rings for your class tomorrow--no posting in class. JE136

Echo Hill Day Two

Hello Interweb,

Camp Life has been great lately. We've been seeing whitetail deer and all kinds of other animals, we've been canoeing, playing ball, and having a great time with our friends all over the campground. Here are some of my favorite photos.



When we're not lounging around and spending time on the water, we've been going on some some pretty serious adventures. The Echo Hill Staff has been working with us in setting group and individual goals. This morning some students did group exercises with Nate, the Director of Questions while others went with Scott and Erin to climb the Giant's Ladder, an individual challenge. I was lucky enough to participate in both. Here's some shots from the giants ladder and a video of one student riding down the zip line.




I was talking to Ms. Herrity and she said that every kid made it to their goal, or at least part of their goal. That's impressive! Students were encouraged to take on an extra challenge if they felt the climb might be too easy; there were routes that were more difficult than others, and some kids even chose to carry along an extra challenge like a rubber chicken.



The Echo Hill staff member that supervised the Ladder from the ground said that this was one of the most focused, positive, and socially aware groups that they've had come through this summer, and that everyone was looking out for everyone else the whole time.

What else can a teacher ask for?

Echo Hill Day One

Hi All,

Here are some pictures of our first day at Echo Hill. We had a nice ride up and then went about our business here at the school. My first class was Bay Studies. We took one of the vintage wooden skipjacks out on the bay and learned about all kinds of things -- fish features, bay history, adaptations, antique and current fishing methods, predator-prey interactions-- it was fantastic, Captain Carrington did a wonderful job.

We caught a 2 foot blue catfish that had been living in an old crab trap on the bottom; our cod net (now outlawed except by special educational permit) pulled up the trap, the catfish, and decaying catfish that the first cat was living off of.







A bit disgusting, but awesome nevertheless. We caught a Blue Crab (too small to eat), a bunch of white perch, a couple of pumpkinseeds and a couple of American eels.



Capt. Carrington and 1st Mate Molly told us the story of how all American eels travel to the Sargasso Sea to mate, and how the European eels make the same trip, but that the two species never interbreed.

What a day. I'm ready to crash. Too much learning.

The Molly Harris Garden

I know that Mr. Martire sent this around to the faculty earlier this week. It's hard to imagine just how much rain fell that day. Luckily we recently studied the water cycle, so this makes a great example of concentrated runoff.