<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Friday, March 29, 2024
March 29, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Kids run wild at nature event in Camas

Group aims to foster their relationships with, stewardship of nature

By Jerzy Shedlock, Columbian Breaking News Reporter
Published: June 10, 2018, 8:02pm
4 Photos
Owen Becker-Nunley, 6, of North Bonneville, gets a snake painted on his face by artist June Halliday of JJ Entertainers of Portland. Face painting was one of a handful of activities at booths, most of which were educational, at the Run Wild Nature Adventures Family Fun Day on Sunday in Camas.
Owen Becker-Nunley, 6, of North Bonneville, gets a snake painted on his face by artist June Halliday of JJ Entertainers of Portland. Face painting was one of a handful of activities at booths, most of which were educational, at the Run Wild Nature Adventures Family Fun Day on Sunday in Camas. (James Rexroad for The Columbian) Photo Gallery

CAMAS — The first significant rainfall in some time for Clark County did not deter nearly two dozen kids and their parents from making it out to the Run Wild Nature Adventures Family Fun Day on Sunday in Camas.

Kiddos skipped among canopied stations where volunteers taught them about identifying fossils, recognizing animal tracks and wolf habitation. There were also tables set up for the kids to get their faces painted.

“I love rocks and fossils and learning about them,” said 11-year-old Bailey Melton. “I have a rock collection. We learned about fossils in my fourth-grade class.”

Bailey’s mom, Sara Melton, also brought along her sons, Carter and Noah, ages 4 and 7, respectively. She said she saw a flyer for the event at her day care at Clark College.

Run Wild was a good educational opportunity over the weekend for her children, Sara Melton said.

“And I thought it would be fun,” she said.

TreeSong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center, based just outside of Washougal, planned the event, which began in 2014. It was an annual event until last year, when organizers took a break, said TreeSong director and founder Michelle Fox.

Fox said she dreamed of starting the nonprofit for about 15 years before it came together.

As an elementary teacher of about 30 years, she wanted to continue teaching kids outside of her career. Her first idea was to open a bookstore, but during a workshop for career development, she was instructed to meditate on a new path. The idea for the nonprofit appeared clearly in her mind, she said.

The nonprofit was established when an unnamed supporter stepped up and offered funding, Fox said.

The overall mission of TreeSong is to foster stewardship of and a connection to nature and the local community through programs for children, adults and families. The programs include a nature-based preschool, summer camp and “Roots and Wings,” a weekly class for kids 4 to 6 years old that includes activities supporting knowledge of plants and animals. There are also learning opportunities for adults, such as a comprehensive animal-tracking class.

Fox said the Run Wild event has changed over the years. It’s grown in size — adding new educational booths here and there — and popularity, Fox said. She said more kids showed up this year than ever before, despite the rain.

At the fossil booth, 18-year-old Sage Smith showed kids fossils and taught them how to identify and date organisms cast into ancient rocks.

“Which one looks like a slug?” Smith asked the Melton trio before water that had been accumulating on a blue tarp overhead dumped onto the edge of the picnic table. “I need to fix that,” he said.

Placed before Smith were two sheets of paper. One described different kinds of fossils, like the Crinoid Stem, part of an ancient creature roughly 488 million years old. Crinoid fronds look vaguely reminiscent of jellyfish, the fact sheet said.

Smith, a family friend of Fox’s, volunteers at the event in part because of a personal fascination with rocks and fossils.

“It’s a major hobby of mine,” he said. “It’s fun, and I enjoy teaching and telling people about it.”

Other kids were simply stomping around on the soggy ground at Fallen Leaf Lake Park, or waiting to get their faces painted under a permanent chalet.

Charlie Everett, 7, stood at the face-painting booth, dressed as an owl.

“I don’t know which (booth) I like the most,” he said with a giggle. “I like them all. I like nature.”

Loading...
Columbian Breaking News Reporter