Creation Care Camp

The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. (Psalm 24:1)
We have just completed three weeks of Creation Care Camp where more than 60 children ages 6 to 13 participated in activities that guided them toward a deeper appreciation for our world (we hope!). Each week followed a curriculum of geology, botany, entomology, ornithology, and recycling/composting.We played hard, covered a lot of ground, got dirty, and had a ton of fun!

The stones along the road would burst into cheers. (Luke 19:40)

Day one had us out on the long Geology hike through the San Marcos Foothills Preserve Park. We worked hard to understand geomorphology, the dynamic nature of how the earth is shaped and continues to be shaped. Along the hike we were visited by friendly California King Snakes, Gopher Snakes and had the opportunity to watch several Brush Bunnies and gophers in a restoration area along Atascadero Creek. It was kind of like a zoo…

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! (Proverbs 6:6)
On day two we focused on recycling and composting with a visit from my friend Eric Lohela. Kids are all now certified recycling cops and will hold you accountable! After that my friend Dr. Michael Caterino of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History visited us, and we went sweeping for insects. The kids really enjoyed being able to tear apart old oak logs in search of larvae and termites.

The trees of the field will clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12)
On day three we set out on our native plant walk. After touching, smelling and even tasting a few of the plants along the trail we came back to the farm for a snack and a time with Tima who shared with us how the Chumash of Santa Barbara used the native plants. She brought along several baskets, a bow, and many toys made from plants in our area. She even got us up singing and dancing a couple traditional songs. We finished the day planting pumpkins for a fall harvest party, beans to take home, and working in the field to help the tomatoes with Farmer Emiko.

...not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your father knowing it. (Matt. 10:29)
On day four of our camps Mark Holmgren led us on a bird walk through the San Marcos Foothills Preserve Park. Seeing our resident pair of White Tailed Kites each week was a highlight. After that we spent an hour with Max the Great Horned Owl and Kachina the American Kestrel presented by the Santa Barbara Audubon Society’s Eyes in the Sky program with Gabriele Drozdowski and Sarah Jane Robertson. It made it extra special in that while we were out hiking one week we found a feather from a Great Horned Owl and a feather from and American Kestrel.

But ask the animals what they think—let them teach you; let the birds tell you what's going on. Put your ear to the earth—learn the basics. Listen—the fish in the ocean will tell you their stories. Isn't it clear that they all know and agree that God is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand… (Job 12:7-9)
For the older kids there was a marine ecology day at Arroyo Burro Beach for the last day of camp. We played Erosion Explosion and gathered data for a Pacific Mole Crab study for NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries. Alicia Cordero ended our day with an amazing snack at the beach of Chumash treats: acorn mash, seaweed, salmon, Chia treats, and fry bread with nectar. Incredible!

He counts the stars and calls them all by name. (Psalm 147:7)
We also held an evening event that brought everybody out from the three weeks of camp for some astronomical fun, a night hike, a slide show, and desserts. The Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit were on hand to help us see Saturn, rings and all, as well as share pieces of meteorite and starry tales. The hike felt a bit like a 60-person-long-pied-piper-serpentine up and around the botany trail. Lots of smiles. A few of us even got to see the night-only blooming native Soap Bulb in full bloom.

Sixty kids + 45 families + a dozen volunteers + an incredible site = Fun!