NUCFAC YLINC Summer 2014 Day Two: Watercolors and Kayaks!

Della Barbato with a puffer fish at the Galveston Island State Park Nature Center

Early in the morning, our campers took a trip to Galveston Bay, to kayak with watercolors and clipboards in hand.



Artist Boat, a Galveston non-profit, took the kids out to paddle to one of the islands in Galveston Bay. While they were paddling they were told to open up their senses and find something to paint. They transcribed the beauty of nature that they saw onto the canvas.

Campers coming in from their canoe trip! Photo by Tracy Sanchez

Then after a quick lunch our kids took a trip to Galveston Island State Park's (GISP) Nature Center, where Nick Barbee and Rae Cramer of Artist boat used models a dioramas to explain how watersheds work, as well as the difference between point source and non-point source pollution. Our campers now know that every drop of water that lands in the Galveston Bay Watershed, which surrounds Houston and Dallas, will eventually flow in Galveston bay. Then we took a short hike with Mr. Barbee on the Short Trail by the nature center.

Nick Barbee explains non-point and point source pollution with an interactive diorama.

Park Interpreter Lisa Reznicek then took us to the observation tower at GISP. With her characteristic stage presence and wit, she told us of how Cabeza de Vaca survived a hurricane that stranded him on an island covered in tall grass prairies that would grow to six feet in height! Galveston Islands marshes sever to filter water, clean the air, protect the mainland from storm surge, and create habitat for two thirds of the migratory bird species in America! Emerson Hernandez found a live male Fiddler Crab on our hike, and we saw dozens of Roseate Spoonbills roosting in a lonely oak tree.

Apage in amazement at a live Fiddler Crab at GISP!

After one last swim in the Gulf of Mexico, the students went back to camp for tostadas and nachos. Tomorrow, we will be at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, and beyond!

P.S: Remember, we have a lot more pictures on our Flickr page!

A beautiful sundown shot by camper Anabelle Lopez!