Stinging Nettles- Ouch!, Yum!

 While hiking or just working around the yard you suddenly feel a sharp, burning,itching pain anywhere you have bare skin. Welcome to one of the plant kingdom's little nasties - the stinging nettle. Found and used world wide we have more than our share in Washington, the climate and habitat are ideal for them. Wildcat Woods is no exception and with this cool wet year there's a real good crop.
Stinging needles are covered with very small needle-like spines, made from a silica like material (sand), hollow, very small and sharp. At the base of each needle is a small bulb containing formic acid, histamine and some other chemicals. This is what causes the sting.
Cure(s) for the sting are many and varied, Outdoor Adventure kids have been learning about them- many times on a first hand experience!
Found world wide the nettles are eaten, used as a natural medicine and subject to a lot of research for their medicinal properties.
OK that's the human side, while exploring Wildcat last week some sharp eyed 3rd graders  observed a segment of the web of life happening. Scattered around in a patch of stinging nettles were many bright and hairy caterpillars happily munching away on nettle leaves. That story continues below.  

We've decided on a new type of project for Outdoor Adventures after the crazy weather we've been experiencing lately.

Add a break in the weather + a pond + a bunch of 5th graders and see what you get!

It all started out as a class on water hydraulics (sailing cedar boats) Some of them actually sailed into the middle of the pond and had to be retrieved, oh oh.

Where are the boys in all of this? Chasing frogs! Take note they are wearing boots (full of water)

Spring is just around the corner (we hope) and that means frogs. 

Wildcat Woods is no exception Pacific tree frogs have taken up residence in our "frog pond" near Wildcat bridge.

The little orange fence is too keep the little green pond inhabitants, above right, and the eager

human folks apart. In the spirit of hands-on science we conducted an experiment. Well the color of finger nail polish have an effect on the behavior of the tadpoles when they hatch?

Wait and see!  

The boys conducted their own experiment, not as scientific but one that has been practiced by

untold generations of kids If it moves grab it!  As shown above above one small amphibian wasn't fast enough. Pleas note all the captures were done in a safe manner 1. wet your hands

before picking a frog up  2. Do not squeeze them   3. Quickly turn them loose where you found them

Food for Thought

Shelter at Terribithia Phase 2 DONE!

Two weeks ago with the fine "Spring like weather" the 5th graders pushed hard to finish our shelter. In an organized teamwork fashion the plastic membrane was added, fir boughs next and a final layer of invasive Scot Broom was added. In a little over an hour the shelter finished on the outside. The test will be how will it stand up to the strong winds that blow through Wildcat.

Taking a quick break the kids test the shelter for size.

It's done!

Home sweet shelter - all the classes contributed to the effort and in my
opinion it rivals anything I saw in Alaska built by the quote "survival
classes"