This week we explored the wonderful world of decomposers and all the magical places they can be found. We uncovered the mysteries of mushrooms and their thread-like mycelium – an underground network that acts as a nutrient highway between plants and fungi!
On Monday we started digging into the world of decomposition and the plants, animals, and more that make the world of the living… well, livable. These specialized critters break down all the parts of the world into usable energy. We searched through the camp room to find and experiment with bacteria and petri dishes, then washed our hands and moved up the food chain.
This Tuesday we were visited by a special guest from Denver Parks and Recreation who taught us how to find these decomposers in our own parks. We looked at these critters under a microscope and saw all their special traits. Then we released them back into the park to keep on decomposing.
Wednesday was Clam Day! We learned all about our super cool river friends, the clams of the South Platte River. They can filter our river water to make it safer for us and all the other critters to enjoy. We even encountered a clam and many of their shells at critter crawl in the river.
This Thursday was field day! We had a beautiful day out in the sun to transform into decomposers, learned how to sort trash, and raced around filling up our cups with water and knowledge. We cooled down in the afternoon by sharing stories and searching for critters in and along the river.
On Friday we finished up digging into these decomposers for the week. We filled balloons with the power of yeast, decomposed logs with mushrooms of our own creations and caught some awesome critters at critter crawl. Then, we all celebrated our individual strengths at graduation and left for the holiday weekend with a new sense of understanding for our small friends that kick start each and every food chain that we come in contact with.
Camping with My Outdoor Colorado