Janet Huckabee Nature Conservatory Field Trip

On Tuesday I followed three buses full of 5th grades on a field trip. We traveled over the Boston Mountains, through the only tunnel in Arkansas and on to Fort Chaffee in Ft. Smith. The bus drivers had been told that the Conservatory was at Fort Chaffee. When we arrived we were a convoy of three buses and five carloads of parents. We went past the old Refugee housing, past the old military housing and past lots of other empty buildings. We never saw a living soul. Suddenly at the crest of a hill, I could see a huge twelve foot tall chainlink fence topped with barbed wire. There were cameras, loud speaker and sirens on it. But, still no people. Then, like out of a movie, these military vehicles came screaming up the hill from behind the fence. They had their sirens on and all sorts of colored lights flashing everwhere. Out hopped Official Military Officials in full camoflauge. It seems that if we were to have gone a few feet farther, we would have been trespassing on government property and been in BIG trouble. The military officials came out from behind the fence and gace us an Official Miltiary Escort to the Conservatory. The driver of the car got out and waved to the kids and laughed. I suppose he got a big kick out of the bus loads of 10 year olds almost getting arrested. I thought we were headed for the Federal Pen!

When we did arrive at the Conservatory we were about 45 minutes late what with the Federal Offense and all, so they had to put a rush on our tour. First we went on a big hike in the woods. The kids spotted a snake, and much to my surprise, they did not run AWAY from it, but instead TOWARDS it. The trail leader warned us to watch out for ticks and now, even two days later, my back still itches from the mere mentin of that word. ick. We got all hot and sweaty - what a way to start our day. But then we got to go inside to the A/C and look at a bunch of stuffed animals. I don't mean stuffed bears and monkeys like at FAO Schwartz, but the real once they were live now they have glass eyes kind of stuffed animals. I am not into that sort of thing. Let 'em live, I say and let's just look at pictures of the animals. But, I digress. They also had lots of snakes, turtles and lizards in aquariums. I was looking in one aquarium at a rattlesnake when it struck the glass right at me! They can feel free to stuff that guy.

After that we went back outside and down to the lake. They put some of the kids in hipwadders and had them go out and seine the water looking for fish habitats. They kids tought it was funny when the absolute wealthiest, best dressed, head cheerleader girl in school put on the hip wadders. My son hid in the bushes hoping he wouldn't be chosen to don the hipwadders. He wasn't.

Next it was on to the portion where the kids waded out and skimmed the bottom of the lake looking for minnows, fish and on one occassion - a Tic Tac box. One girl exclaimed "This is the best field trip EVER" since they have always been told, "Don't get dirty, don't get near the water" etc. This time it was jump in, dig in the dirt, etc.

I checked DS out at the end of the day so he could ride home with me. I got on the Interstate to come home and kept finding myself headed South instead of North. Even when I turned North the damned exit would curve around and make me head South again. I think we crossed the river six times. I finally figured it out after a Sonic run for some ice cream and we arrived safely home back North.

I'll post pictues later when Blooger decides to BEHAVE......