The winter #WEOUTSIDE crew had an amazing overnight trip up to the Bryant Pond 4H camp for a whole bunch of winter activities as we finished up the season. Special thanks to Reid, Mary, Chelsea, and everybody at the camp for hosting the group and teaching everybody so much!
First, we headed out onto the ice in the warm spring sunshine for some ice fishing with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Chelsea from IF&W is an amazing teacher and showed the kids how to check the ice depth (19 inches), how to drill the holes with an auger, and how to set up traps and get the depth right. She’s also great at conjuring up fish no matter what the conditions might dictate – they started getting little Yellow Perch all over the lake! And then Will took the crown by reeling in a 12-inch splake – enough to save to cook up and eat later.
The 4H camp also has a climbing wall, which is a great activity when mud season arrives. After an excellent lunch, all the kids hit the wall with gusto, with most of them making it to the top on at least one of the four separate courses. Will took the crown again by ascending all of them. Even MANA program staff Marie got up to the top!
There was an evening hike, some quiet time for hanging out and Uno, then a trip out on the ice under clear, moonlit skies. It’s great that these kids get to experience the Maine outdoors and get ready for their futures here in Maine by enjoying all that nature has to offer here.