FIELD TRIP: What it is like to be a K9 officer

What's it like to be a K9 dog and its handler?

We learned firsthand from Officer Matt Gliniany and Stryker during our field trip there in October. Then we toured the Plymouth Police Station, crammed into a tiny cell, and hopped inside a squad car.

I think the highlight of the day may have been the park afterwards. The Plymouth Creek Playfield off Fernbrook Lane had some really cool features, including a swinging raft! And a merry go round you can climb and spin on!

What do a retro truck, a hungry snake, a giant gumball machine, chickens, and stars have in common?

They were all part of the artist-designed mini-golf course at the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis. We took the kiddos there on a gorgeous fall day, gave them balls and putters, and let them have fun.

The course is closed for the season, but it'll be back, with some old and some new art pieces next year.

After we golfed, we checked out the sculpture garden -- what was left of it anyway. They're in the process of updating it, and a chunk of the art had been moved.

IF YOU GO
SINGLE COURSE (9 HOLES): $12 adults, $10 students ($9 Walker members, children ages 6–12). FULL COURSE (18 HOLES): $19 adults, $16 students ($15 Walker members, children ages 6–12). Free for ages 5 and under with paid adult.

Get a little dirty, climb around at Tamarack Nature Center

Crawl, climb and splash at Tamarack Nature Center in White Bear Township. The kiddos loved our visit to this Ramsey County Park, and I just wish it was closer to our home so we could go more often!

Tamarack Nature Center is a 320-acre preserve within Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park. More than four miles of turf trails, paved trails and boardwalks provide year-round access to forests, prairies, ponds and the Discovery Hollow and Garden natural play area. Of course, if you're going with young kids, you won't likely get past the natural play area!

• Build a tree fort in The Wood
• Climb the cliffs to The Overlook
• Make a dam in The Stream
• Get growing in The Garden
• Get muddy in The Mud Table

IF YOU GO
https://parks.co.ramsey.mn.us/tamarack/Pages/tamarack.aspx

Address: 5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township, MN 55110

Phone:(651) 407-5350

Discovery Hollow and Garden Hours​
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Friday-Sunday: 9 a.m.- Dusk (1/2 hour after sunset)

We built a bird feeder

Thanks to the nifty kits and directions from Elpis Enterprises, we built bird feeders ourselves!

I was so impressed by how they made it easy for the kids.

Elpis Enterprises offers experiential workshops to over 1,200 youth a year. Education is best achieved through concrete experiences that are reflected upon and applied toward real situations in their lives with the goal of the continuation of the learning exploration. Elpis offers many youth their first opportunity to build something with their hands and see their creation come to life on shirts worn by their peers as part of their own youth program.

Elpis wood products are made from recycled cedar fencing.  They work directly with fence contractors to recycle cut-offs and old fences through the Elpis program. Adult staff, volunteers and interns process the wood and turn it into kits for Elpis programs and products.

Elpis Enterprises (Elpis is Greek for Hope) is a Saint Paul-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides job training, work experience and job placement for homeless or precariously-housed young people ages 16-23. Through several social enterprises, youth build skills, build experience and build relationships in the community. Young people develop as individuals and potential employees by working in real enterprises gaining the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to overcome homelessness and become contributing members of our community.

What does pollution do to our water?

Talking about birds during our study of Grandfather's Journey > led us to discussing how their feathers work > which led us to talking about what happens to feathers in oil spills > which led us to talking about pollution in our earth. Whew! And we could have kept going!

How do feathers work?
We put a layer of feathers in a ziplock bag and then ice cubes over that. Then we tried it out - was it cold? No! The feathers did a great job insulating our skin!

How do birds clean up after a gasoline or oil spill?
We talked about what happens during oil spills (and when gasoline spills out of a boat motor) and how tough it is for birds and other wildlife to clean themselves. We spilled oil on a feather and tried to clean it off with just water, and then tried to clean it off with soap and water. What do birds do in the wild when they get oil on them?

What impact does pollution have on the water?
Our discussion naturally led into how we pollute the earth, and as I was writing an article about the pollution at Lake Hiawatha in our neighborhood, we headed over there with a garbage bag and picked up some trash. Wow! There sure was a lot of trash between the playground and the lake. We filled up our bag within 10 minutes with an array of things. When we got home, we put it all in a glass jar. Imagine being a fish and swimming through that! Imagine being a bird and trying to dive for food in that! We all agreed it was pretty gross.

What does it mean to be a good steward?
Our discussion pushed out into what it means to be a good steward of our world and God's amazing creation. We all agreed it's important that we not litter, that we reduce our waste, and we do what we can to help the animals and our planet!

Then we watched "No Impact Man," and learned about how one family in New York City did their best to limit their impact on the earth. They got rid of their tv, stopped using toilet paper, bought organic food, and used candles. It gave us some good ideas on ways we can change our lives in order to be better stewards.

And then we went to a farmer's market, a place that seeks to grow things in a sustainable way that doesn't load up our precious earth with chemicals! This is one way we can make a difference.

How does a bird beak work?

Ever wondered at how the different types of bird beaks work and what type of tool they are like? We investigated that during our study of Grandfather's Journey.

First, we checked out a handout that shows various bird beaks, and compared and contrasted them. (Scroll down in this forum http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-subjects/group-v/zoology/14536-notes-zoology-10.html)

Then we got a clothespin, a tweezers, a spoon and a scissors to simulate the various ways birds use their beaks, and we tried to pick different items up! We recorded our observations on this handout I created.

Autumn Fun: Lendt Pumpkin Patch

Lendt Pumpkin Patch in Stacy isn't big, but it was perfect for our little ones. Our visit was mostly about running around and playing with each other, so we didn't need all the bells and whistles of the nearby Pinehaven Farms.

The price was just right too - FREE!

There's a small corn pit, and amusement area for the kids. It mostly consists of a few slides, and wooden cutouts they can poke their heads through and play pretend games. They're is also a concessions truck there in case you can't leave without a tray of cheese curds.

On Saturday and Sundays, they offer face painting and concessions. And if you have a group of 10 or more, you can arrange for a hayride.

IF YOU GO:
6903 Wyoming Trail · (651) 462-1516
9:00 am to dusk
7 days a week