Youth Summer Program

A busy week for me helping out with the refuges' youth summer program and doing a "test run" for my canoeing program.  I had a lot of fun though.  I was in charge of the fisheries program for the youth summer program.  I had to educate kids (ages ranging from 5-12) about the fisheries program with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and taught them a thing or two about fishing.  This is what all that preparation was for with those fishing poles that I mentioned in my previous blogs.  You know, the cleaning of the fishing poles and then the testing of the fishing poles for 8 hours in the work day for one week. 

I was also a guide for the world famous "Cruisin' the Canal" canoeing program set up by the one and only, me.  I took some friends and family (The Enfield River Rats) (age ranging 28-___(insert age here)) out around Montezuma for a nice paddle on the Erie Canal.  You couldn't have asked for a better day that day.  Actually, you could have asked for a better day if you wanted to, but I don't think anyone did ask for it.  It wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold.  It was just extremely hot and not at all cold.  But no one got burnt and no one passed out so that was a plus.  Well this is my life for week 8 (I think) into my summer internship.  Enjoy. 

First day of work for the week was a scorcher.  One of the youth summer program groups cancelled because of the heat wave so that gave me a little more time to procrastinate and get things done at the last minute.  Honestly I can't really remember what I did this day.  I should probably start writing things down of what I do.  I'll do it next week.  Well the next day was the first group for this youth summer program.  There were 15 kids so it was not too hecktic.  I really didn't know what to expect, so I was anxious to get started.  All went well.  I had fun and I think the kids learned alot.  

But, there is nothing like a bunch of 6 and 7 year olds running around with fishing poles that are triple there height, casting these things with razor sharp hooks off a floating dock that rocks like crazy when boat traffic goes by.  Don't worry these kids were fine.  No one got hurt in this process.  I only ended the day with a hook in the finger, a stab wound from the fish, a black eye, and soaking wet clothes. No big deal.  But the kids were fast learners.  By the end of the day, all the kids were able to cast the poles better than the pros and almost all the kids caught a fish.  I also made a couple new friends.  AWWWW.  Alright enough of that.  The most important thing is that the kids had fun and they learned alot about nature and being outdoors, instead of being cooped up inside playing video games all day eating cheetohs and ramen noodles.  That actually sounds good now.  You know what "they" say, never write blogs when you are hungry.  Alright, onto the next day.  

Well lets actually jump ahead two days because I did pretty much the same thing.  We had another group come in for the second day of the youth summer program.  This time though there were about 50 kids instead of 15.  I thought it would be a little more hectic, but it wasn't too bad.  The kids were well behaved and listened to what I was saying.  No one got hurt in this one either.  I think this day ran alot smoother than the first day too.  Probably because I had more proctice.  I had no injurys either.  The only injury was to the fishing line. 

How is it that you can have a pole all rigged up and looking nice then you give it to one of those kids and they will have that thing so tangled and knotted up, its not even funny.  It was a little funny though.  One of the kids comes to me and says, "can you fix this".  I looked at that pole and there was line in places that I never knew could have line on.  I tell you what though, after these two days of the youth summer program, I became really good at fixing and rigging fishing poles.  Thanks kids.  So that was all I really did with this summer program.  We still have two more days in August so you might hear about that later on. 

Jumping back a day now, I got to be the guide for the world famous "Cruisin' the Canal".  I know all of you have heard of this.  I am kindof a big deal.  I took the "Enfield River Rats", a world renowned breakfast club, out on the waters for a nice stroll around the refuge.  We got to see all kinds of birds, Eagles and ospreys and herons, oh my!!  Great sights, great people, and great weather.  Also people that have never really canoed before became professionals.  They are racing this week.  It was about a two mile paddle along one of my favorite pools on the refuge.  I did my best for educating them about the refuge and what we, at the refuge, are all about.  I also brought them to an area where no man has been before, well except for the people that have been there.  No refuge visitors though are allowed back there unless they are permitted.  Everyone said they had a great time.  Lets just hope they really meant that.  But if they didn't, I had a great time and that is all that matters, right?.  I am always a fan of canoeing and getting in the outdoors.  Also, cheetohs and ramen noodles.  I should really eat something, but not yet.  Everytime I have gone out there though, it has been a whole new experience for me.  Thanks to those that joined me for this trip.  I really enjoyed sharing and showing you what I usually experience here around Montezuma on a daily basis.

Well that was my week in a nut shell.  It was busy preparing everything and getting all the equipment together.  It was an awesome week of lessons and learning.  Everyone learned something new, I hope.  Well, hope you all enjoyed the week 8 extravaganza.  My week 9 is amazing already but you will hear about that later on.  If you like my posts please stay tuned and don't flip channels.  Have a great week and I will see some of you soon.  I would also like to say Happy Birthday to my dad. (July 28th, 2012).  Hopefully he reads this on saturday and no time before or after saturday.  And for the species list: 

Trumpeter swan, Canada goose, wood duck, coot, spotted sandpiper, great egret, great blue heron, green heron, belted kingfisher, elk, American bald eagle, osprey, blackcrown night heron, wild turkey, double-crested cormorant, turkey vulture, red tailed hawk, yellowlegs, ruby throated hummingbird, mourning dove, rock dove, caspian tern, black tern, purple martin, American crow (which is smaller than a raven), white tailed deer, marsh wren, and much much more.......