A trail leads to learning and especially this morning in Camas, Washington.
We drove to the Lacamas Creek trail head this morning and groaned audibly upon seeing the parking lot filled with a gang of teenagers milling around. “Uh Oh, no good can come of this” we both muttered. So we quickly leashed up the dog, locked up the car and took off running, vowing to return as soon as possible. 
On the loop back, we spotted the same group of the teens in a wooded meadow, about three quarters of a mile from the parking lot. Some were crouched down over plants, others stood with pads and pencils jotting down notes. Their teacher, bent down with one group, held a wildflower identification book in her hand. Boy did we feel lousy about our previous reaction to that group of kids. But that feeling rapidly changed to admiration for the teacher who organized the group and got them out in the sunshine and on this trail that leads to learning.
As we headed home, we shared a few childhood memories of our outdoor learning experiences. It’s possible, we thought, that because of this one morning, one or several of these students might feel the spark to become a botanist, or a naturalist, or even a good steward of our forests. Or maybe not, but we agreed that in the waning days of the school year, on one of this spring’s few dry days, it was smart to allow students to enjoy the warm morning sun, if even for a little while.
We’re proud of this teacher, happy for her students and pleased to live in Camas, Washington. A small town that can boast having one of best school systems in the state. Too bad we didn’t stop and ask her name, or which school she represented, it would have been great to recognize her efforts. One of the reasons that makes our town a good place to live is the highly ranked school system. We should never take that for granted.
A trail leads to learning, especially this morning in Camas, Washington
Debb Dodges Raindrops, Runs Trails and Sells Real Estate in Clark County Washington
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