Posted By Inger on July 9, 2010
Since the end of May we have been driving up to Big Lake, AZ almost every Thursday, Friday and Saturday to have Ben participate in a program called Kids in the Woods. Each week several different programs are offered to the kids who live in the area or are visiting. The programs covers areas such as survival skills, and learning about trees and wildlife. We really did look forward to participating, however it didnt take long before Ben was bored with the various programs. And both Rudy and I were slightly disappointed too. It seemed like the folks putting the programs together didnt really put a whole lot of thought into any of it. Of course it didnt help that there hasn’t been much advertising so hardly any people knew about the program. The first couple of weeks there were very few participants. Some days it was just us. Then in the beginning of June we drove up to see Native American dancers, who didnt even bother showing up.
There were of course some of the programs that were good. Ben liked 3rd Rock from the Sun where he learned about rocks. We all really enjoyed Trees on the Apache-Sitgreaves. We learned about how to tell the age of a tree without having to cut it down, and to meassure how tall a tree is without having to climb it, and about the health of trees. Very interesting and very well done by the people who arranged this one. Ben also liked Transformers of the Forest. It was all about frogs. I guess it was ok, but I do think that the person who did this one could have maybe taken some time to go through the material so she didnt have to read everything and maybe she would have had better luck answering more questions. I really liked the program about the Mexican Grey Wolf, but unfortunately we were the only ones showing up for that one.
Today we again drove all the way up to the lake for a program titled Fossils/Geology. We waited and waited and when it looked like we again were stood up, we decided to leave. We started driving, but a couple of miles down the road we saw the lady from Petrified Forest drive by. We turned around and went back to Big Lake Visitors Center. Helped the lady carry in her stuff and waitied for her to begin. She got started right away, but unfortunately by then most people had gotten tired of waiting and had left. Ben was very interested in what the lady had to tell, but after 15 minutes she was already done. I am not sure it was really worth it driving up there for that.
Unfortunately this is how most of these programs has happened. Take 45 minutes to drive to the lake and then participate in a program that usually lasted from 15 to 30 minutes, then go for a hike and eat lunch, then participate in another 15-30 minute program, and then drive another 45 minutes to get home. I am believing todays program was the last one for us.
I think that if they put a little more time into preparing the programs. Maybe some more “hands-on” activities for the kids. Make it last more than 15-30 minutes. 45-60 minutes would be great. And of course they need to advertise. Dont count on word of mouth.
I do want to point out that Jay and Alvin who works at the Big Lake Visitors Center have been great through these past few weeks. We have really enjoyed getting to know them and have had a lot of fun.
Category: Great Outdoors |
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Tags: animals, flowers, hike, mountain
