Blog

We started Monday with rain and 5 boats of 7th graders from Gettys Middle School. As the bus arrived, the rain stopped right on cue. Sunshine returned for most of the week as 8th graders from Pickens and 4th graders from Hagood Elementary joined us on Wednesday and Thursday. Our goal in the ~4 hours we have these kids is to introduce them to the lake and the Jocassee Gorges, a place of wonder and mystery; and help them connect with some part of it through various activities and interactions. As they play, they learn their backyard is a place with ancient mountains & abundant rainfall, along an escarpment that rises quickly over 2000’ in places. This week they saw Faded trilliums, Fraser magnolias and Pinxterbloom azaleas blooming. Loons running across the lake and flying overhead, leaving for their summer breeding lakes up North; and they were introduced to a rare fern that is found here in the temperate, moist climate of the gorges and the cloud forests of Mexico. Kids aren’t the only ones we share this information with, though. If you want to learn some cool stuff about your backyard, too, come out with us and see what’s happening. Every experience is different. ~Sheryl White, JLT guide