What a difference a week makes.
Freezing, frigid temperatures,
Much too cold to walk to Elizabeth Lake and explore.
But not cold enough
To experience the Arctic air
For a short time.
Then back to class
To talk about our brief encounter,
Before writing about snow and cold.



What a difference a week makes.
Rising temperatures,
Milder weather,
Sunshine and cloud.
Occasional snowfalls,
A brief snowstorm,
Visible from the classroom,
Too good to miss.
Twenty-two tongues tasting the air.



What a difference a week makes
For a student and his family
Going on holiday.
A snowy drive to Calgary,
Followed by a long flight
To somewhere warm.
Exploring beaches and crystal-clear ocean,
Finding interesting objects
To share with his classmates on Skype.

A trip to Elizabeth Lake
To explore Nature's structures.
Rediscovering the remnants of the wasps' nest,
Barely hanging in its sheltered spot.

The Octopus tree
With its myriad of limbs,
Groups of four
Volunteering to hold up
Just one branch,
Appreciating the tree's strength.



A walk on the snow-covered ice,
Then a discovery,
The skeleton of a deer.
Questions.



Animal tracks leading to the woods.
A scramble through the undergrowth,
Making the trail.
A well-hidden nest,
Chest high,
A marsh wren?
A humming bird?

Revisiting Big Bear Tree,
Observing the trunk
With thick base,
Becoming less thick
The higher it towers.
Branches like outstretched arms,
All the way to the top.
Such strength
To support the trunk
And so many limbs.
From where?
The trunk?
The roots?
Arousing children's curiosity.
Looking, thinking,
Questioning.

Bare trees,
Stark branches.
Noticing moss and lichen,
A sign of decay,
Death.
Holes,
Many of them,
Drilled into trunk,
Evidence of woodpeckers.

A gentle rustling sound,
Heads arching skyward,
Watching limbs,
Dancing gently in the breeze.

Then a cry,
Another find,
A short walk off the path.
Armed with mitt,
Carefully clearing snow cover.
Cleverly hidden,
Lower down,
Another nest,
Different, unknown,
A mystery for another day.



Heading back,
A fallen tree,
A bridge?
A tunnel?
A reminder
Of something constructed at school.

Back on the snow-covered lake,
For one last time.
Walking carefully,
Pausing, looking, considering,
A mound among the cattails.
A chorus of voices,
Chanting, "Muskrat home!"

Back in school,
Drinking hot chocolate,
Feeling refreshed.
Questioning,
Recalling,
Connecting,
Sharing,
Reflecting.

Today the Outdoor Club had its first winter outing. Unfortunately there was not enough snow for snowshoes, but the weather proved to be ideal for hiking to the top of one of the Buttes between Cranbrook and Kimberley.


Despite the dull conditions and overcast sky, the panoramic views on the path to the top of the Butte were worth the climb.


There was quite a bit of excitement when the remains of a dead elk were discovered.


We were able to see the Rockies to the east, Baker and Cranbrook Mtns. to the south, and the Purcells to the west. We were amazed at how clearly the sound of the light traffic on the highway carried over a distance of more than a kilometer.

Birds ....
What amazing creatures!
Using only beaks and claws,
And whatever materials are available,
Including natural
And man-made throwaways,
They build nests
Of various shapes and sizes
At different heights,
According to needs.

Elizabeth Lake is full of surprises including a piranha tree


lichen like coral


and a cattail like a kiwi bird.

An Outdoor Club trip to Elizabeth Lake
On a cool, blue-sky day.
Nests to explore,
Cleverly built in branches of shrubs,
Among cattails,
And lying on the ground
On an island thick with wetland vegetation.


A surprise find,
Tiny shells,
Bleached white over time,
Once home to water snails?


A walk across the frozen lake,
With many stops to investigate.
Mystery tracks
Needing closer inspection.
Perhaps a raccoon?
Curious children
Asking many questions,
Making predictions
About their discoveries.

An afternoon walk to Elizabeth Lake
To search for animal homes.
Finding three wasps nests
With amazing hexagonal cells,
Several muskrat lodges,
And birds' nests
Cleverly hidden
Among trees, shrubs,
And on the ground.
Learning about wildlife trees
Riddled with holes,
Made by woodpeckers,
Looking for insects.
Ready-made homes
For feathered friends?


Large mound
Waiting to be explored.
Questions, suggestions.
Noticing sticks
Poking through the snow,
With gnawed ends.
Also finding
Hard packed mud,
Once fresh,
Now long dried out,
The glue
Holding the lodge together.



Exploring off the trail,
Leading to discovery
Of the perfect spot
For play and imagination.
A place to remember
For a future visit.

TRASH TO TREASURE??