Nature Sightings at Camp Ak-O-Mak

One of the best things about summer camp is living close to the wilderness and experiencing some of the wonderful gifts Mother Nature has to offer.

We have all come to know the regular critters with whom we share our campus:  the little red squirrels, the adorable chipmunk ("chippie") who so conveniently resides near the back kitchen door, the beautiful velveteen hare down by the Green Guest House, "Umpire" the groundhog with his burrow under the baseball shed, "Randal-the-Vandal-Racoon" who repeatedly digs up Catherine's flowers looking for tastey grubs, Doe-A-Deer with her gentlel eyes….These little creatures are familiar furry faces at camp.

Our list of nature sightings continues to grow as we venture along our woodland trails and shoreline during Early Bird:  loons, herons, the pair of hawks nesting behind Hop 1.  More deer. A yearling bear. The flickas, blue jays and wood peckers who have a flight path to and from the Main House.  And some yet-to-be-identified bird with the most musical, tubular song one can imagine!  What IS that bird that we hear echoing throughout the forest every morning and evening??

As Madison W. said excitedly this morning, "It was a once in a lifetime thing to see a bear!"…

Now THAT is the joy of a summer living close to nature!