Coastal Ecology, and Fernbank Summer Camps

Summer's upon us here in the Low Country, and as a single father I've struggled to find a genuine creative outlet for my son. This year, I think I’ve been lucky. I found a wonderful summer camp here in Savannah, Ga. The Coastal Ecology Camp at Country Day School, its like a hands on walk through the local environment. The kids go from the coastal marshes of Skidaway Island to local beaches of Tybee Island learning about both the local Fauna and Flora.

Later this July, my son can attend day camp at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. He loves Dinosaurs and this will let him explore Georgia's local Paleontology. At this age their minds can absorb so many unique subjects, I really want to expose him everything I possibly can afford both physically and financially.

Finally by the end of summer 2012, I think he will either look at attending Summer Marine Science Camps offered by the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service here on Skidaway Island. They call those kids "Sprites," this could get him calmed down for school will start in two weeks, or he could go to Oatland Island camp, which most of our local friends love! The choices are many , and this Low Country Father is starting to understand summer.

A Low Country Taoist

Last night as my home started to cool down in the evening, the whippoorwills started to call it's quick and audible tone. A coyote started to yap, and a Barn Owl hooted. I zoned myself into a state of Low Country Meditation, clearing my mind of all the useless actions and thoughts of the preceeding day. I attempted to forget and forgive all, an then feel the balance that can only be achieved by harmonizing with sights and sounds of the Low Country of South Carolina in the dusk of the evening fell upon me. Many locals like to refer South Carolina's Low Country as a state of mind, not just a location, or place on a map. To those who live here, South Carolina's low country is a place to love, cherish, and experience. It is a way of life that locals like to refer to it as a path that leads to an experience that can bring balance to one's whole life.

My son is now learning about the ecology of the Low Country of both South Carolina and Georgia. He is enjoying the fish, crabs, dolphins, surf, sand, and beach. For Cole, this is a wonderful time filled with excitement and wonder. I do believe the Low Country offers a wide array of experiences for all children that the suburbs of urban city can't offer.

School's Out! Be Prepared!

Do you remember the song, Alice Cooper's School's Out for the Summer? I just don't get it. My 5 year old son came home this past Friday, his last day of school, quoting Alice Cooper "Schools Out for the Summer". He just finished Kindergarten. Come on folks, the only way he could learn this song is from an adult in his school. Man, I'm just cynical. I'm sure it was one of those artistic kids from his class? If he starts coming home singing "Black Betty" by Ram Jam , then I'll know its time to change schools and get him some new friends. Hopefully by the end of summer, I'll have him singing tunes from "The Endless Summer" by the Beach Boys. May be a little Jan & Dean, and hopefully he will like the Ventures too. I'll even let him listen to Deep Purple, Maybe a Little Led Zepplin, and as he gets older we might develop some tunes that he and his old man find in common. Yea, maybe Alice Cooper had it right Schools Out, and the summer is a time of changing music.

Summer Vacation has arrived!

Get ready for summer vacation season, it’s going to start soon. It is really different from when I was a boy. Each week is scheduled out to a tee from a week of ecology camps to paleontologist camps in a Museum. These kids get to expand their minds early, and they get to travel to some of the most esoteric places on the coast of Georgia. Later this summer, there is even a marine camp through the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Skidaway Island. I can remember when my parents let me go fishing by myself out on the old Barm Coleman Estate at 6 years old that was my summer routine for about three weeks. If it could be so simple now!

Earth Day in Savannah, Ga.

It's a big weekend here in the Lowcountry. Earthday is tomorrow, and it looks to be fun for all. So tomorrow will be a day in Forsyth Park checking out the Earth Day events and maybe catching a Kid's story at noon. If your into hiking , hunting, fishing, camping, backpacking around the trails The Great Smokey Mts. , then it would be good deal for you to show your support for Earth day so get and visit the events.

The Garden Is Tilled!

I just remembered that I needed to add a new post about my incredible vegetable garden. The raised bed has been tilled and the soil has been enhanced with compost. The seeds have been selected. While this year, we will be attempting to follow "The Creek Indians" concepts of planting the three sisters, Corn, Squash, and Pole Beans in one bed. The Corn will provide stalks for the beans and squash. This experiment should take up about 1/4 of the bed. The remainder will be planted in Bell Peppers, Jalapenos, Tomatoes( three different varieties), Banana peppers, and a few melons. Hopefully, this garden will get us through this election year summer that Obama is going to terrorize us with his re-election campaign.

Cole's Ten Beach Challenge (year 2)

We're going for it again. Cole and I are going to hit ten beaches this summer. He is definitely getting bigger,and enjoying the warm beach outings everyday. We actually started back in March when the temperature shot up to 87+ degrees. It was warm enough for us to go to Hilton Head layout and wave ride. So get ready for a big year and few new images from our South Carolina,Georgia, and North Florida coastline. Here are the first five beaches of 2012:

1)Hilton Head (completed)
2)Hunting Island, Beaufort, SC.
3)Edisto Beach, Edisto Island, SC.
4)Tybee Island, Savannah, Ga.
5)Daufuskie Island, SC.