The Turkey Dinner Fundraiser Weekend, October 28-29, was a wonderful experience this year. Our treasury was bolstered by over $800 in proceeds as many folks attended and assisted in making it such a success. The related Halloween camp-out at Faraway Farm and Echo Hills Pond provided lots of outdoor experiences for 30 Roosevelt Middle School members of the Sierra Society club under the leadership of White Pine Group member and school Physical Education instructor, Barb Anderson. She was assisted by five additional parents and teachers and all attended the Turkey Dinner and program helping raise the number of dinners served to a total of 98.
The youth arrived at Faraway Farm on Saturday forenoon, set up their tents on the dam of the Echo Valley pond, and then went on a hike along the river bluff led by Group Outings Chair Barb Cooey (who taught them the acorn cap shrill whistle) and Faraway Farm owner Dick Worm. They climbed onto a rock column and had lunch at a bluff campsite overlooking the Mississippi River before descending to an outwash delta at the river's edge where they picked up trash deposited by high water and other sources. The remainder of the afternoon was spent carving and decorating pumpkins for display and prizes at the Turkey Dinner.
Following the Dinner, they returned to camp and went on a night hike up to a high ridge to witness "Zachariah Coleman and his burned out cabin". Continuing down the other side, they went to the Circle of Pines and listened to the rather subdues, due to weak recorder batteries, story of "Taily Bone". Returning to a campfire, S'mores were made.
On Sunday, a nature treasure hunt resulted in more prizes and the retrieval of heavier riverside trash.
The youth arrived at Faraway Farm on Saturday forenoon, set up their tents on the dam of the Echo Valley pond, and then went on a hike along the river bluff led by Group Outings Chair Barb Cooey (who taught them the acorn cap shrill whistle) and Faraway Farm owner Dick Worm. They climbed onto a rock column and had lunch at a bluff campsite overlooking the Mississippi River before descending to an outwash delta at the river's edge where they picked up trash deposited by high water and other sources. The remainder of the afternoon was spent carving and decorating pumpkins for display and prizes at the Turkey Dinner.
Following the Dinner, they returned to camp and went on a night hike up to a high ridge to witness "Zachariah Coleman and his burned out cabin". Continuing down the other side, they went to the Circle of Pines and listened to the rather subdues, due to weak recorder batteries, story of "Taily Bone". Returning to a campfire, S'mores were made.
On Sunday, a nature treasure hunt resulted in more prizes and the retrieval of heavier riverside trash.