Tag Archives: my family

Keystone Ancient Forest ~Sand Springs, OK

We decided to head out to the Keystone Ancient Forest Saturday to hike the Wilson Trail again.

We did not realize until we got there that they were hosting an event called “A Walk in the Forest”.

Keystone Ancient Forest

help

They had people from the forestry dept. and volunteers out teaching people about forests.

signs

They also had signs with information about the trees and forests and a book about them.

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pers

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Our trail was not busy at all!

We only saw two people on it.

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family

In our natural environment…

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him

snail

My youngest wanted me to take a picture of some of the treasure he found since we could not take them with us.

Most parks and especially preserves do not want you to take anything with you.

They want it there for everyone to enjoy.

acorns

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I need to work with my boys on the proper way to ask questions at events like this.

They interrupt.

I also realize that they do not handle evolution well.

They simply told them they do not believe in millions of years so of course the person stopped talking.

My husband pointed out that they would learn so much more from listening and asking questions versus telling someone they are wrong.

rings

The people handled this graciously and with kindness but I am going to work with the boys on how we learn from others more.

Why am I writing this down?

I use this blog as kind of a journal.

I am hoping to come back some day, read this, and realize that I have accomplished my goal.

How do you work with your children on being good listeners?

I really do enjoy this place and hope you will go check it out!

There are nice easy paved paths, easy gravel and dirt paths, and a difficult trail for people like us.

Something for everyone.

Check out Sand Springs website for when they are open.

MN Trip ~Day 8 Wolves & Wilderness at Tamarac

On day 7 we hung out with family and crashed.

It is amazing how much your feet hurt when you lay around vs. when you are using them constantly for a hiking.

I was trying to not laugh at all the aches and pains that were showing up from our hike.

As soon as I  put shoes on and got moving they faded away.

Although I did take pictures that day I decided they did not need to be shared on here so I am skipping to our last day.

tamaracfall

On our last day in Minnesota we decided to go to Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge again so we could go to their Fall Festival called “Wolves & Wilderness”.

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They have educational stations set up about different aspects of the park and wolves.

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Wild Rice grows in the park so they had a demonstration of how they process it.

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The volunteers were very nice and full of information.

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It was held near these old cabins which were cool to look into.

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At the trapper tent they told my youngest he could touch the wolf trap they had.

He wanted to know if it was set to go off first.

Yes, they set it and are trying to trap the little children that come to the tent…

I guess that is a valid question if you have never really seen one before and therefore do not know if it is armed.

Of course his next question was if they would set it.

oldthreelegs

The event was centered around a wolf named “Old Three Legs” that terrorized the area in the early 1900’s.

Since Nick and I saw a wolf limping on our trip north, my youngest told everyone and said maybe it was three legs.

I don’t think you would have made it Maddie…

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Poor Maddie being compared to Old Three Legs.

wolves

You got a stamp in a book at each station and if you filled it you got a prize.

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What I like most at events like this is the spark it puts into my boys.

Even if they do not remember any of the information they hear, they are more likely to try to find out about that subject because they are interested now.

It would not surprise me at all if my youngest picked up a book on wolves at the library sometime.

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They had a storyteller tell the story of Old Three Legs.

He was a teacher and it showed.

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Nick’s mom and some of the boys cousins came as well.

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I really enjoyed listening to him.

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It was really cold and we had a long drive back to Oklahoma ahead of us so we tried to hurry through the last activities.

I am sorry if I seemed rushed to any of the volunteers, I felt like we had a ticking clock following us.

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cabin

Does it get any better than a cabin in the woods?

Dream house.

Maybe one a little less drafty though.

book

I am glad that we started our drive a little late so we could attend this event!

They did a great job and the boys had a lot of fun!

posters

The boys earned their prize!

They got a wolf poster and some apples.

Those apples were really good!

silo

We ended up with a beautiful sunset on the way home.

I always enjoy my time in Minnesota so much.

It is a beautiful place.

What is your favorite state to visit?

Any fall festivals going on in your area?

MN Trip ~Day 3 Tamarac

roadcolor

We took everyone but my youngest nephew to Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge on Monday.

It was beautiful!

We ended up going again on our last day to the festival there.

I will share those later.

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loon

Loon

look

They have a nice little nature center that the kids enjoy.

oldindian

I think we have done the Old Indian Trail every time we have gone there.

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This is the first time my niece has joined us though!

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this

She wanted to hold both our hands.

It was pretty adorable.

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Just a couple of us went on a second hike to the dam.

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A deer jumped up from some brush right next to the trail.

I was so shocked I just stared at it.

No pics…

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Grandpa trying to show my youngest how to skip rocks.

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Tiger Salamander!

birds

I think these guys were Grebe’s.

They startled whenever the swans would fly over and the sound of their beating wings on the water was incredible.

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boys

Of course the boys decided they should startle them instead of waiting for a swan…

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landscape

It was an absolutely beautiful day!

Definitely a great stop for the area!

They have easy short trails as well as long ones so be sure to stop by!

If you do not want to hike they also have a nature drive!