Now in Washington State and Oh My!

There is no way for me to put in words the beauty that I see all around me. We are so far off of the main roads that we no longer have cell phone service. And, once again, "Free WiFi"is what you pay for because I cannot upload any videos so far. I will simply add pictures from now on. Since this journey's main goal is to create short videos, I really felt that this blog should include as many samples and video logs as possible, but that just hasn't been feasible.

I have lesson after lesson all around me, from nurse trees' importance to plant adaptations to change in ecology due to climate factors. We will be here a little while for sure. If you want to know exactly where we are, find Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens. We are in the middle of this "Volcanic Triangle"!

I've made connections with our neighbor campers and have a lot of unexpected events ahead. These old gold miners are taking me with them to their secret spot and showing me their methods, all for the sake of science. This will be a great density introduction!

It seems all the retired here are former geologists or biologists or physicists and now just enjoy the land in one way or another. These that know the most about the world around them appreciate it the most. This is the transcendent message that I hope for to instill in my students: The more you know, the more you love. I am seeing with new eyes and learning more than I anticipated. I'm beginning to see that this trip may be more about my growth as a teacher with a greater appreciation for the subject that I love and teach.