Exploring As Education!

Explorers make the best learners! It’s true. So we strive, in our homeschooling day and philosophy to encourage exploring. It’s why we adventure so frequently and it’s really paying off in the brave spirit our kids are overtaken with sometimes. One of our favorite adventures is to visit the same place during different seasons and see how our adventure changes, how the land changes, how we change! Our first real, conscience attempt at this was Fish Lake, here in OR. It’s on the way to a destination Addicus travels to frequently for work. So he’s able to regularly judge it’s progress and help us be prepared. (we always suggest doing your research and being prepared) We first found it, like TOO many things we find, looking for a bathroom break. When you travel with three children, in a car, pit stops are just a reality. We have found MANY a great find due to the call of duty. Maybe enough for an entire post, you ask? Probably ;) Fish Lake In July

Guys! In the span of several months, this lake completely disappears. We read the info plaques on our first visit and assumed that the local agency who erected it, HAD to be wrong. There was NO way that lake was going to disappear. In August

Our next visit revealed the ‘no longer tadpoles’ jumping around the short grasses. We walked out into the path a bit, but not far as we weren't ready for a full-sun-exposure hike that day. In September

Upon our return, we had sunscreen, glasses and hats, we were prepared to wonder through the grasses. This was cut short when we honestly wondered what was living in such tall grasses. Nessy perhaps? You never can be sure ;) In December

Over the winter holidays, we tripped over to Bend, OR (see here). No pass through the mountains is complete without at least checking on Fish Lake… and using our favorite outhouse.

The entire thing was frozen! We completely missed it refilling with water and skipped to the icy part. Maybe this year, we'll make it in time to see it filling back up. We now have several, OR hot spots for seasonal exploring. I’ll admit, the PNW gives us greater opportunity for this kind of seasonal exploration. (even still, I’ll take a muddy waterfall trail and a pill box exploration, over this 'seasonal' fun, any day… just sayin’ ;) Where are you exploring? Reoccurring or not. Let us know! We love adding to our list of places to check out. Taps, taps. Lights out. !jen

#exploring #Hiking #Oregon #Navy #homeschool #seasonaladventure