Adventuring Out

We recently took an outing to The Marine Mammal Center, located in the Marin Headlands.
It was a great visit to further our studies on ocean life. As well as reminder of how much our lives impact the world around us. Many of the steller sea lions, elephant seals and harbor seals that were being treated at the center were there for being under nourished or abandoned by their mothers. The surfer that approached Ella during our seal "rescue", was very informative about the waters being too warm for the anchovies and herring to be close enough in the ocean for the pups. The moms have to swim farther out to the colder waters to feed. Too far for the pinniped pups to swim. Often left on the beach abandoned and starving. However, "Nearly 8% of animals that the Marine Mammal Center helps are injured by human caused hazards." We were reminded that the choices we make daily have a huge impact on the environment. It was encouraging to see all the volunteers, donating their time to help this wonderful cause.

On our way home from The Marine Mammal Center, we drove along the coast and stopped in Half Moon Bay. Our day ended with everyone exhausted and fulfilled. Such a great day of knowledge and inspiration. Taking in all the beauty around us. Leaving us so much to be thankful for.

Ocean Studies Continues

Our visit to the tide pools seems to have pushed us into ocean studies. We can't get enough of learning all about the ocean, specifically the Pacific. Basically, our backyard. Of course I am all for field trips when it comes down to learning. Not only does it get us outside and exploring, there is something for everyone. (Now if I could only get our dogs trained to be service dogs, .........).

We visited the Seymour Center, just 10 minutes from our house. We have been here a handful of times before, but with the girls older and really drinking in all the new information that they can, it was far from being "old hat." We took the guided tour through the research facility, where they have two bottle nosed dolphins. And learned what it is they study and how they aquired the two dolphins from Miami, Florida. We weren't allowed to take any pictures, so I highly suggest taking the tour yourself next time you are in town.

Inside the center, there is plenty of hands on learning. It is a nice reminder that this center is a research center. Not an aquarium. It is small, everything that is displayed is what you would actually see out in the ocean, right outside the center's doors.

 

 

 

 

 

Most importantly, we learned that the incidence at the beach, the one where I felt so great helping put the sea lion back in the water. Well, I wasn't suppose to. Gulp.
Like I said, these field trips, there is something for everyone....

Tide Pools

Last week the kids and I packed up the van, brought the dogs along for the ride, and headed up the coast. Specifically to Davenport Landing, and intentionally at low tide. I was eager to go on an outing, go exploring, lose ourselves to the wondrous beauty of nature and not worry about time. (Unless of course the tide started coming back in.) It was a beautiful day, during the week, the beach was all ours. Give or take a surfer or five.

Homeschooling/ unschooling/ no schooling, whatever you want to call it, I call it noschooling, because let's be honest here.Well, I'll be honest at another post, anyhow, this schooling of ours can get pretty tricky. Mostly, it is the meeting of everyone's needs, including the dogs......
I figured we would snap some photos of what we saw, head to the library during the week and learn about what we saw and touched. We saw quite a lot, unfortunately no sea stars, but many urchins, anemones, crabs of all kinds, and other inhabitants of the tide pools.

We had a wonderful time exploring, splashing and discovering. We have been to the tide pools many times before, however this time was a bit different. As we headed back to the van, satisfied with our outing, we decided to let the dogs have one last swim before heading home. We dropped our bags, grabbed the ball, headed to the shoreline, only to stop and stare. There above the shoreline was a beached baby sea lion. Two people were looking at it and of course our one dog Rascal decides to zoom in for a closer look. Thankfully, Ella was on top of it and called him and had him on leash before any damage was done to the sea lion or Rascal. With the help of a surfer, a local and myself, we eased the sea lion onto a blanket and helped it back into the shore break, which then it proceeded to swim away. Connor and Phoebe were at my side, Ella standing a ways off with the dogs. Hurray! We all felt so good! Phoebe and Connor excited to be so close to a sea lion, seeing everyone come together to help nature.

We headed back up to Ella, she told us she spoke with a surfer. He commented that many sea lions are washing up, the climate is changing, there is no fish. Our hearts sank. " We'll look it up", I said.
With that, we headed home, still full of excitement with all that had happened.

The funny thing for me is this. I have quite an amount of curriculum sitting at home, waiting to be opened and taught. All the "important information" children "need to know" by the time they are in such n such grade. Well, that curriculum kind of just sits there because when a day like this happens, it really hits home to me that, life is what teaches us. You just have to be open to letting it.

Emerging from the fog

Time is speeding quickly past me. I can scarcely remember yesterday, let alone an hour ago.......
Life is full and I learned that keeping this blog space is excellent for keeping family and friends up to date on all our doings. Not to mention, convenient when it comes to recalling what it is exactly that we are learning while homeschooling/unschooling/no schooling?( Uh, more on that later.)

I feel as though I have been in a fog the past few years. Trying to get my bearings so to speak. Every day is different, presenting different challenges, especially as we learn from home, from life.
I have decided to start up this ol' blog of ours again, see what it can teach me maybe? Or just enjoy looking through it as time goes by. So, if you would like to, please join us as the fog is lifted and our adventures continue.