Field Trip!

I did not think it was possible but we are finally adventured out.  Today we celebrated the end of our summer vacation (we chose a June and July vacation from school).  We are hoping to review and refresh some the material the boys mastered over the past year before they return to the classroom in September.  We decided to start our back to the books month of August with a field trip - there have to be some perks to homeschooling, right? 

Bright and early this morning, we headed back to the Silver Queen Mine at Murphy's Point Provincial Park for a guided tour inside the mine.  When we visited in the spring we enjoyed a completely empty park but we were only able to see the outside of the mine.  Since then, Liam has been absolutely itching to get a peek inside.  Done and done.

Before our tour, the park rangers brought out a wild grey rat snake for the kids to inspect.  They got to pet the snake, see it weighed in a pillow case, sexed using a bobby pin and micro-chipped for research purposes.  The boys were enthralled.  Alistair jumped up and down chanting delightedly "Snakey!  Snakey!" (much to the likely disconcertion of the snake who I would guess was not having her best day).

The mine tour was a huge hit.  The boys are clearly ready to head back to the classroom - their hands shot up to answer every single one of the park ranger's questions.  They loved exploring the mine shafts and looking for veins of mica and apatite.  

Ice chunks floating in the water at the base of the mine.

With biology and geology (with a touch of history) under our belts, we happily spent the afternoon playing at a nearby beach - gym class!  It was practically empty which was lovely and gave the boys lots of room to run, swim, dig holes and build sandcastles safely.

It was a fantastic albeit busy first-day-back-to-homeschooling field trip.  The boys are tired. I am tired.  Thank goodness we are staying home tomorrow to water the gardens in the morning and get back to book learning in the afternoon.  I wonder if Seamus even remembers the alphabet?!  We will soon see.