Snow, Rain and Field Trips

So the one bad thing about writing the blog for our trips is that you only get my perspective on what is going on during the Mission Trip. Last year we experimented with having the guys write blog posts and even though it was not a failure it was one more thing for them to worry about and they already have so much on their plate.

First and foremost they are doing really well and they are having a great time. The first day of actual mission work had us awake to a dusting of snow and the day was primarily rainy and snowy. The start of the week was pretty standard for the trip. Basketball in the gym. Getting to know the teachers and staff and finding the lay of the land. The seven boys who stayed back at De La Salle Blackfeet did the traditional working in the classroom. Some read to students and went over school work. Some graded papers to help one of the teachers get caught up. In talking with the boys today was feeling out process, which is normal. The DLSBS kids were trying to figure out the CBC boys and the CBC boys were trying to figure out the DLSBS kids. By all accounts right after lunch it was all figured out. It is really amazing how these boys and kids today can relate and connect when they really want to.

So snow was not the only exciting thing that happened, three of our boys and yours truly ventured with the 5th grade class to the Boone and Crockett Club at Triple Divide Ranch. The club bought and took over the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation ranch in the '80's and runs all kinds of wildlife conservation programs from their lodge. The trip was about 45 miles south of Browning near the town of Dupyer and on the edge of the Bob Marshall wilderness. The ride down was easy enough, but the rain and snow was an interesting obstacle on May 9th. The indoor classroom portion allowed the students from DLSBS (and our boys from CBC) to learn about the difference between a Conservation area and a Preservation area as well as getting to look at motion capture photos of all kinds of native wildlife. They saw photos of Bears, Elk, Deer, Bobcat, Lynx, Mountain Lion and a bunch more. These were all found on the Boone and Crockett property. They followed that up with a Lab of pelt identification of native animals. You can see a ton of these pictures in the Newly linked photo album. After enjoying a relaxing lunch we waited out the snow (they had a bout 3-4 inches) we did a fire building activity and talked about what you should have on any outdoor wilderness activity. Finally, we ventured outside for a short hike and to experiment with building wilderness survival shelters. Unfortunately my phone locked up and I could not get any pictures. We wrapped up the field trip with some cocoa and some time around the fireplace before the journey back to Browning, MT.

The boys had a ton of stories to share and I am sure they will have other stories that will crop up. The 4th grade goes to Boone and Crockett Wednesday and 7th grade returns on Wednesday from their class trip to Yellowstone. The week will offer many more exciting opportunities. Tuesday night we will have our first of 3 guest speakers. Good Night all, LIVE JESUS IN OUR HEARTS!!!