Written by Anna Cameron, 2019 citizen science summer intern
Tremont was a whirlwind of awesome this summer, as I’m sure it is every year. It began with two weeks of summer staff training where we got to know each other by voicing our expectations and anxieties for the summer, and what we need from others to build a sense of community. We talked about inclusive language and creating an atmosphere where kids can experience the outdoors as comfortably and freely as possible. All of which set the tone for relationships to be built between staff throughout the duration of the summer and for the overall experience of campers. I made so many great memories this summer, but there are a few moments that stand out most.
On the first morning, I knew this summer was going to be one for the books when all of the staff met at the council house to cook breakfast over a campfire. It was the time in the morning when the light is still a blue-gray and it’s just cool enough to wear a sweatshirt. There was hemlock tea (yes, that’s a thing), muffins, egg scramble, pancakes, and blueberry compote, all made in a cast iron skillet. I hope everyone can relate when I say that there is just something special about making a meal over an open fire.
Next, my favorite camp we were involved with this summer was Backcountry Ecological Expedition (BEE), which is a four day canoeing trip on Fontana Dam. This year, the research focus for BEE was mosquitos and their role as a vector for the spread of Lacrosse encephalitis in the Appalachians. At our first campsite, we spent some time searching for mosquito larva to determine what species were present in the area. We didn’t end up finding many larvae, but it was exciting to see campers get excited about the quest to find them.
…the best part of BEE was seeing our campers embrace being out of their comfort zones, and taking on the challenges and experiences together.
Another highlight of the trip was when we went on a short night paddle and used bat detectors to listen for bats. When we picked up our first bat signal and actually heard it on the detector, one of our camper’s jaws might as well have hit the bottom of the canoe. She was so amazed by it that she asked to use them back at our site and, again, at the next site. There were so many great parts of BEE like “creek crawling” through a stream that fed into the lake after our longest paddle day and then deciding to swim almost half a mile just because we could. Overall, the best part of BEE was seeing our campers embrace being out of their comfort zones, and taking on the challenges and experiences together.
…I’ve learned more this summer than I have in any semester-long college course, and I think that really speaks to the value of experiential and environmental education
As part of the citizen science team, I got to be a part of many different projects throughout the summer. Every day was different; one day we could be awake at five in the morning to set up mist nets for bird banding, and another day we might be surveying for nightjars on the Foothills Parkway. We surveyed salamander populations at Spence Field, participated in a fire recovery bioblitz at Twin Creeks, used beat sheets to survey insect populations around Tremont, and went snorkeling to look for hellbenders. I keep saying that I’ve learned more this summer than I have in any semester-long college course, and I think that really speaks to the value of experiential and environmental education. This summer, I’m leaving Tremont with more knowledge than I could have ever hoped to gain.
