Holy Child seventh graders have been travelling to Echo Hill Outdoor School (EHOS) on the upper Chesapeake Bay for several years. It is an highly anticipated three-day, two-night trip about 90 minutes from HCA. This year, 13 Seventh Grade intrepid students and two teachers made the trip from Monday, April 15th to Wednesday, April 17th.
The Chesapeake from The Bluff at EHOS
The weather was dry but VERY windy on Monday, but that didn't stop the superb staff at EHOS from taking us on our first adventure: a trip on the research vessel Twilight. Even though we didn't venture out into the larger bay, the certified USCG captain, Captain Ian, took our "crew" into sheltered inlets and creeks of the bay where we explored the local estuaries.
On the Twilight, our students gained hands-on experience about the importance of estuaries, watersheds, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. They caught and handled American eels, perch. and catfish in pre-set traps. They measured water turbidity with a Secchi Disk, saw numerous bald eagles, and learned about ospreys and their important role in the Chesapeake's food web.
That first evening was too chilly and windy for us to sleep in the platform tents so the staff put us into the dorms (boys and girls separate, of course). We were occupied with different activities before heading to The Whip (an old carnival ride structure re-purposed as a dining hall).
We learned about S.L.O.P. (ask a 7th grader!) and had fun doing so after enjoying the great food served family style. That evening, we went on a guided night hike to experience the quiet of the Bay and surrounding forest as sunset descended upon us.
On Tuesday, we went on our next adventure, the Giant Swing! Each student was encouraged to trust themselves, their equipment, and their teammates to go as high as they were comfortable on the 40-foot swing in the Adventure Camp. All students attempted the swing and many went all the way to the top!
The boardwalk in the swamp.
Boarding the Scanoe!
Investigating methane-producing microbes!
Our investigation taught us, among other things, about the importance of swamps and marshes in the ecosystem, how organisms can adapt to environments without oxygen, and that mistletoe is actually a parasite growing in the swamp!
That evening, the staff provided us with a cookut in the woods where we enjoyed burgers cooked over a campfire (they even had vegetarian options available here, too). Following a hayride in the EHOS tractor, ably driven by James, we were able to spend Tuesday night in the bunks in our tents, girls in Near Side camp and the boys at Far Side camp. Conditions were rustic and somewhat primitive but everyone seemed to get a good night's sleep!
A typical EHOS tent
Sunset from The Bluff
On our final morning at EHOS, we ate in The Whip, packed for the trip home, and then headed
to the woods for a lesson in survival in the wilderness. We learned the fundamentals for constructing shelters out of materials at hand on the beach.
Finally, many thanks to Dr. Kellich for leaving her children and joining us on our (non-glamping) adventure as the chaperone for the girls!
HCA's 7th Grade Class gathers with one of our instructors, Sauhil.
