Red River Zoo Camp

Jazzy spent the week at Red River Zoo Camp for 4-5th graders. I never did get all of the details of what they did all week, - just a few snippets here and there. They had a scavenger hunt for flowers, leaves and eggshells. Name tag every day:) Playing a game similar to rock/paper/scissors, but using animals. Mosquito gets eagle, eagle gets frog, frog gets mosquito. A clip board for writing down observations and a handmade observation chamber:) Riding the carousel every day!I think she had a good week.

Dr. Dolittle Day at Red River Zoo

Today we visited the zoo just for something to do (as if I have nothing else to do). They had special Dr. Dolittle things for kids to do...visits with the Zookeepers, booths to learn about how they train the animals, behavioral enrichment, etc. The first zookeeper we visited was the porcupine keeper. They train the porcupines to stand on a little stand with their paws on a bar so they can get a "vaccination"!!! or whatever. There were lots of peacocks running around with little baby peacocks. The Red River Zoo is a little miniature zoo. The biggest animal they have is a camel. No tigers, elephants, giraffes or larger animals at all- just bunnies, snakes goats, hissing cockroaches:) which they count as one of their animals. They only have one vet and one vet tech!!! At least the vet clinic is open to the public. People can watch surgeries and exams thru a glass viewing area. Zillions of baby and mom peacocks everywhere! Feeding the goats:) A Russian Red Squirrel with the hair standing up on his ears:) Jasmine will do anything for candy- answering questions about the diets of various animals in exchange for tootsie rolls:)

Electric Art Show today....

Kennedy Elementary Electric Light Art Show. The class studied Van Gogh, Laurel Birch, self portraits, landscaping and stippling. In addition, each of the art pieces were wired with batteries, copper wiring and LED lights for special effects:) They watched videos on each of the artists and subjects, then learned about electricity at the same time. Van Gogh's starry nights. The stars light up:) Laurel Birch- lights up also! Landscaping...of the ocean:) A robot that lights up!A self portrait:) As for the other class- "emotional expression"- I still do not know what they are doing in there. Here is a clue: "Things that make me happy"- candy, cookies, dogs, colors, and mom/me- probably in that order:))

Cherry Berry

We've been very bad today:)

Kennedy Elementary

First week of three-week summer school completed at Kennedy Elementary. Jazzy is taking two classes- "Electric Art" and "Expressing your Emotions". In "Electric Art", they study a different artist each week, then somehow make a drawing/art project using electric circuits. So, they have to learn how to make an electric circuit to do the art. This past week was Van Gogh's "Starry Night". I don't know what they are doing in the emotions class. When I ask, I just get "exercises".

Mt. Rushmore on Memorial Day

Today we drove from Valentine, Nebraska far out of our way to Mt. Rushmore. We will eventually have to come back to Mt. Rushmore for several days, since there was so much to do there. All kinds of little shops and fun activities to do. I'm sure I'll be charged for extra mileage on the truck for taking this little detour!! We got a few souvenirs which I will have to add later- a book of postcards, Mt. Rushmore "silver" coins, and another snow globe to add to Jasmine's collection. Then we drove all the way to Faith, SD- a place out in the middle of nowhere, but the only place for hundreds of miles with a hotel. No restaurant except for King's "drive in" next to the Faith, SD sign.

Day 2

Today Jasmine said that her two favorite childhood memories will always be the Disney Cruise and when I had to get out of the truck to pee in the bushes by the side of the road yesterday:) No restroom for hundreds of miles!!!