Field Trippin'

We get to do whatever kind of field trip we want as homeschoolers and I haven't always taken advantage of it, but this year we've been busy!

We went to the Foothills Learning Center.   The boys saw deer, which isn't unusual, but it's so cute like they put Bambi on staff or something.

 We went to Birds of Prey and learned how songbirds are caught and tagged in this net.   We learned that a house sparrow is an introduced species and they aren't tagged. 

That little bag has a tiny bird in it. They let the boys carry them.  My blood pressure rose just a little!

Trevor didn't want to be a swan that day, I guess.

Here he is being careful.

They blow on their bellies to see how much fat they birds have built up before flying south.  They also measure wings and record other details.

This helps falconers find falcons. 

Then, the first weekend of October we visited the Idaho Bird Observatory that overlooks Lucky Peak and Boise.  The views are so amazing. 

I never get tired of the light and shadows of the foothills.

You need a car that will take you to the top on these deeply rutted, somewhat steep dirt roads.

Best friends.

Scott got to release this little bird.  They told him to blow on it just a little.

Another songbird net.

Oh, my heart.

They catch the birds of prey. by using a live pigeon as bait.  Then, they are netted.

There were two college students recording data with their awesome binoculars while we were there that morning.  They fielded many many questions : )

My friend Janelle set us up with some awesome projects and field trips-- including this one at a community garden in SE Boise. 

We put this row to bed for the winter.

The workers got their tools from the community's very nicely organized tool shed.

Add manure.

Trevor seemed to think this was more "work" and not fitting of our usual science time.  So we rebutted with discussions about the physical, chemical, and biological sciences involved. 

We added worm casts to the soil in the end. This is a bucket of worms and worm composting stuff.

Then we took a tour through the Warhawk Air Museum. 

The museum director was fantastic with the kids.  And, honestly, for an almost 90 minute tour, the kids did amazing.  I can't believe how well they listened. 

Then, we spent some time with the father of a homeschooling  family-- who spent time in the Air Force and who now plans to uses his knowledge for a non-profit organization called Rise Above to help struggling teens.     

For $49 we got 30 minutes of teaching on planes and how they work and 30 minutes in the air. Trevor got to take the controls.   He even flew us over our house!  So cool.  This was my favorite field trip.

Then we spent an afternoon at Idaho Botanical Gardens.

After learning about gymnosperm and angiosperms, I heard  "I'm collecting spermies!" while he pointed to his little dixie cup in the inside pocket of his coat.  

Joel learned that roly poly poop is square-ish.