Wetland Winter Walk

Way back in the days before kids, marriage, or thinking about long term employment goals, I majored in Environmental Education.  Silly me.  Who cares about financial stability when you can work a series of low paying seasonal jobs with no health insurance?  Oh the things I would tell that college age girl.....  The upside is that I learned a lot of environmental science knowledge that I enjoy sharing with others.

Today was a non school day.  I didn't make plans for a playdate since it seems everyone and their mom has been wracked by illness and Robin's bronchiolitis turned into pneumonia.  But the morning was beautiful, the sun was shining, and Robin seemed to be doing alright.  Adventure beckoned.  I loaded up the the kiddos and we went to check out North Creek Park.  As soon as the kids heard the mention of nature walk, they grabbed their nature backpacks, checked their supplies, and practically ran out the door.

North Creek Park is located right on the Bothell/Mill Creek line.  It is a beautiful, quiet peat bog with a boardwalk complete with interpretive signs running through the wetland.  I was immediately thrust back to my days at Huxley College.

"We are sedges.   We live at the water's edges.  We help hold eroding ledges."

We saw lots of wood ducks.  Our greatest find was some frog jelly.  I had hoped we might spy the beavers who reside there.  Robin chirped away on my back as we walked along.  We did not end up completing the loop, but as we finished our walk we saw a red tailed hawk soaring right above us.

I nerded out on the walk a little, explaining the processes of a wetland.  I pointed out the different types of plants one finds in a wetland and taught them this neat little gem:

"Sedges have edges and rushes are round and grasses have segments that go all the way to the ground."

North Creek also boasts a really great playground.  Despite claims of being tired from walking, Eileen and Linus immediately found the energy to climb.  I had to drag them away.

Robin found the morning exhausting.

As soon as we got home the kids begged to go outside and play some more.  They dug up a treasure in the backyard they buried yesterday.  Linus then put on a puppet show for Eileen.  I love love love the days when Linus decides Eileen is better as a playmate then nemesis.

Eileen was focused on giving Robin lots of love.

I'm sure the afternoon will be less idyllic, but this morning fed my soul.