Blog

Waking to mornings in the 50’s this week found us grabbing jackets, hoodies and leggings. With mugs of coffee or hot tea in hand, we headed towards the dock. The Fall Jocassee Wild Child program is in full swing, and these kids don’t seem to mind getting a little chilly as long as they get a chance to jump from a rock or stick their heads under a waterfall. As the temps rise by midday, we find ourselves shedding layers and swimming despite overcast skies and cooler air. September is a bittersweet month for most of us who work on Jocassee. We savor every moment before it slips away. The Harvest full moon welcomes October and the feel of Autumn is in the air. If you haven’t been out on the lake lately, we’re currently about 13’ below full pond. With minimal rainfall in sight, chances are we’ll remain low for a while. Still, laughter echoes across the water and even the wildlife pauses for a minute, curious to see what the commotion is all about. Wild Child energy is contagious…Eagle sightings are common lately as well as glimpses of bears and bobcats exploring the caves, crevices and slopes that are normally submerged. Sulphur butterflies are moving south to Florida and we’re seeing a few Monarch butterflies beginning their trek through the Jocassee Gorges on their way to winter in Mexico. Songbirds are migrating overhead while we sleep and the instinctual patterns of Nature endure.

~Sheryl White, JLT naturalist guide and JWC educator.