Happy Solstice

Once again, we mark that point in our journey around the sun when days are stretched to their breaking point and nights are compressed into the smallest possible temporal space. Now, the trend can reverse itself for six months. To my mind, this is one of the few holidays that actually means something, at least when one considers the big picture.

Usually, the Summer Solstice falls on or near the first day of summer camp. This year, we've already had a whole week of camp at this point. Given recent events, there have been some changes in our protocols and procedures. Basically, it just means more sign-in and sign-out sheets attached to clipboards, and parents now have to line up to affix their signatures to said sheets. There has been a small amount of grumbling about this, since the process is essentially a speed bump in the dropping off/picking up process. People are busy! They've got places to be! That person with a clipboard is slowing them down! Fortunately, during the week, many parents knowingly rolled their eyes and accepted the changes with good humor.

The other big change is having an actual security guard on site during the sleepover on Thursday night. It's the same guy who kept me company for the final month of science camp this year, which is good because he's a nice guy. While he sits awake in the hub all night, the five staff members on duty sleep on the field with the kids. This year, we have new cots, which are both more comfortable for us and more visible to kids. Oh yeah, having five people instead of four is a change as well. The fifth person has the unenviable job of being the one who gets awakened by kids who need to use the bathroom. This week it was Algae, and she reported only being awakened once, so I guess it's not too bad.

I had Group Two this week (out of 8 groups, with Group One being the youngest), and it was a pretty good group, with only a couple of boys who always seemed to be doing the opposite of what they were supposed to be doing.

There is a rattlesnake back in the hole on the edge of the lower field, but since it basks just inside the lip of the hole, I haven't yet managed to relocate it. Maybe during the coming week sometime...

Apparently, the park rangers now don't want kids splashing around in the pond. It figures - they make it look all nice and then deny access. Typical paper pusher mentality. We had a good hour of fun before the ranger drove by though.

I led a couple of critter hunts, and although we didn't find anything spectacular, the usual suspects were out and about.

There was a small Alligator Lizard under the board where I expected to find an Arboreal Salamander (the salamander was back the next day).

There was a little Garter Snake in the transition zone between chaparral and forest, just where I told the kids there was likely to be one. I like it when the wildlife cooperates like that.

One of the kids found a big, fat Forest Scorpion under a piece of wood. During the week, we found several more, including at least five on them on the night hike. It's a good thing they're not dangerous.

Here's my favorite dead Douglas Fir tree, with its crown of Poison Oak.

I'm not the only one taking pictures. In fact, there are quite a few staff members and volunteers who are excellent photographers. Here's a picture of me, taken by Honey Badger.

Despite recent events, our happy island in the stream of grim reality has survived, and continues to thrive. Out in the stream, species are disappearing while the masses prefer to wallow in fetid pools of ignorance.

Here's an account of my recent trip to Baltimore, published on my music blog because it's basically a review of a music festival.

Currently listening to: In Gowan Ring "Visions of Shadows That Shine" Perfect music for the Solstice. Perfect music for anytime.