A Week of Discovery

Geology, birds, butterflies, cartography, stream ecology, primitive pottery interspersed with arts, crafts and hands-on activities filled our week. Thirteen kids joined BRDC at Matthews State Forest Pavilion for Discovery Day Camp. 

On Monday, we learned about types of rocks and the rock cycle, minerals and crystals. Using play-dogh and sugar, the kids created examples of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks and crystals from sugar. Later in the day, they examined a local map and then created a treasure map and found the hidden treasure from their maps.

The interns from Matthews State Forest took the kids on a hike around the property on Tuesday finding leaves to create a "Book of Trees". They put their hands into the Mystery Box and tried to identify the objects found inside. We later found seeds, nuts and fruits of trees and played games.

Wednesday was primitive cultures and tracks and signs. They created pinch, coil and slab pots out of clay and later expressed their artistic talents painting these creations. We played a game focused around information gathered from tracks and then created tracks of animals of the Blue Ridge. In the afternoon, we hiked to find tracks of animals and made casts of these tracks.

Thursday continued our adventures with birds and butterflies. After basic binocular use, we explored the Forest for as many species of birds as we could find. They found fifteen species of birds! After collecting materials that would be used for nests, the kids built nests and played games such as Migration, Bird Beak and had paper airplane contests. These games emphasized adaptations, basic needs, and physics of bird flight. During the afternoon, we caught Silver-spotted skippers and Common buckeye butterflies.

Friday was a day of playing and exploring in a creek. After scouring the bottom and rocks for aquatic insects, crawfish and fishes, they spent the remainder of the day splashing around. What a great week of discovery and sharing. A special thank you goes out to Matthews State Forest for allowing us to utilize this great property to explore, discover and share the wonders of the Blue Ridge! 

Galax After School Field Trip

Students in Galax Middle School's After School Program are learning about Primitive Technology this month. At the beginning of the week, students discussed the meaning of primitive technology and experimented with different pottery techniques.

Later in the week, the students learned how to make square lashings, which are used for attaching two spars perpendicular to each other. This lashing is great for constructing bridges, ladders, etc.

At the end of the week, students had the opportunity to attend a session where they learned to make cordage from dried Dog Bane (Plectranthus ornatus).  They practiced their square lashings and learned how to tie numerous other types. Finally, they tested out their lashing skills by constructing and testing the strength of a trestle and a primitive chair.

Galax Enrichment Week - Primitive Technology

Galax Middle School Students spent the week at Matthews State Forest learning primitive technology as part of their intercession enrichment. A primary goal due to the on-slaught of rain, was shelter! Students spent two days cutting, lashing and erecting a longhouse that was used as shelter from the elements. Patrick Shell, Aaron Floyd, Scott Jackson-Ricketts and Lisa Benish assisted thirteen boys and girls build this structure strong enough to climb upon and keep them all out of the rain. They learned lashing techniques and structural principles.

Additionally, they learned about other essential things needed for survival using materials found in their surroundings. Clay, donated by Hoffman Pottery, was used to build vessels that could hold food and/or water. Students were given small slabs of clay and using different techniques, made small pots or bowls. They made pinch pots and coil pots. Pinch pots can be formed and shaped by hand using a methodical pinching process in which the clay walls are thinned by pinching them with thumb and forefinger. Using the coiling technique, it is possible to build a thicker and/or taller vessel. To do this you take the clay and roll it into a long roll. It is then built up by placing one coil on top of the other. Leaves, bark and acorns were collected and used to make impressions in the clay for decorative purposes.  There were lots of unique creations made by the students.

Another type of vessel made by the students were baskets. They gathered vines from the forest that were of an appropriate thickness and yet still flexible enough to bend without breaking. Oriental bittersweet and virginia creeper were excellent sources of material. Also collected was inner bark from green maple saplings used to make the longhouse. This became the lashing material for the base structure of the baskets due to its strength. Students connected the rib structure using the inner bark and then commenced weaving the virginia creeper vine and smaller oriental bittersweet around the ribs to form their baskets. Handles were attached using more of the inner bark lashings. The end results were quite impressive!

Tools were another necessity throughout the entire week. Aaron Floyd brought his collection of arrowheads and primitive artifacts to share with the students. A short geology lesson and types of local materials that would have been used were discussed and shared. The fun began as Aaron demonstrated flintknapping, a primitive method for making stone tools. All students donned safety glasses and leather gloves ready for making arrowheads. Leather across the thighs readied the students for the flakes that were removed by the billet, an antler that is used to strike the chert or flint to remove flakes for thinning the stone. The pointed end of the antler, the pressure flaker, is used to remove small flakes and shape the tool. Everyone attempted to leave with a tool.  It was discovered that tool making is not such an easy feat.

Students ended the week with a better understanding of the basic materials available for use in providing food and shelter. They learned how innovative, difficult and time consuming meeting our basic needs can be when restricted to collecting materials from nature. Great fun was had and new skills were learned by all. Thank you Matthews State Forest for hosting the mini-camp and Mr. Parnell for assistance! If you would like to see the long house structure you can visit Matthews State Forest on the north side of Hwy 58 and walk along the trail/road to the left of the cabin.