Early Riser: Adventures at Dawn
3 June 2009
by Dani Hemmat
When you’re camping, sleeping in is nice. But getting up before the sun is even more fun! It’s easy to stay wrapped in your sleeping bag until you smell the pancakes cooking. But hey, you’re camping—be adventurous! While most humans are snoozing, the forest creatures are cruising through the woods, and you can have a front row seat to one amazing and rarely-seen show. Talk to the grownups in your camping party the night before, and ask one of them to get up early with you. Get your clothes, camera, and notebook ready before you hit the hay. It won’t be easy to get out of bed in the morning, but having your gear at hand will help you get started on your adventure right away.
Quietly and slowly walk through the woods. Notice the sounds, scents, and scenery. Inhale the warm, Earthy smell of dewy pine needles on the forest floor. Watch a squirrel scurrying for its breakfast, a chipmunk perched on its hind legs as it washes its face, the graceful antlers of a black-tailed deer moving through the forest. These critters will be nestled in their beds by the time every one else gets up, but you earned a secret peek into their world. Way to go!
Image by Sam Felder, 2006, Creative Commons license.
