Parent/ Child Raft Trip on the Tok River. Photographer: Kay Lynn Odle-Moore July 12, 2006

Checking Plant Species at Tok Mushers. Photographer: Kay Lynn Odle-Moore July 19, 2006

Taking an Incremental Bore of White Spruce on Mt. Fairplay. Photographer: Aleta Lavender July 26, 2006

Nature Art Day: Artists at Work! Photographer: Aleta Lavender August 1, 2006

To involve parents and kids in meaningful outdoor activities, Tetlin Refuge began summer day camps to highlight outdoor opportunities at the Refuge (see “Tetlin: A Day of Discovery” June 2006 Journal Report), fishing and aquatic biology (see “Tetlin: Kids and Parents Hooked on Fishing” June 2006 Journal Report), role of natural fire in Alaska, boreal botany, and nature art. 

July 11-12, Refuge staff shared their knowledge of fire ecology with 34 parents and their children in a popular camp including rafting through old fire areas.  Both days were spent exploring the area burned by the 1991 Tok River Fire.  The group examined plants, age and growth rates, succession, bird and mammal use, and mosaic patterns in the burn area.  The group was graced with close views of four great horned owls as well as northern flickers, American kestrels and LOTS of moose sign.  A picnic lunch on a secluded gravel bar rounded out the day.  Even with a little rain, both day trips were grand successes.

July 19 saw eleven kids and parents take a botanical hike through a wetland to identify, and press specimens.  Participants played games to identify common plants and create drawings for their “Young Botanist” notebooks.  On July 26, nine parents and kids took a brisk hike up Mt. Fairplay to discover alpine vegetation including pink plumes, dead man's fingers (Dactylina arctica,) lessing's arnica, mountain harebells, narrowleaf saw-wort (Saussurea angustifolia,) and black bearberry. 

August 1, 14 parents and children enjoyed a Nature Art Day where they crafted dream catcher mobiles with willow frames, painted scarves with botanical patterns, created note cards and bookmarks using pressed plans, simulated birch bark paintings, and sketches of plants followed by an art show in the Refuge conference room.  On August 9, the final summer session  included participants completing plant quizzes for prizes and a slide  show of their summer camps followed by a botanical scavenger hunt.  The children were  surprised with how much they’d learned about local botany.  Many students asked for similar camps next summer.