Zade, Koen, Brenden - Grand Edventure Date

Even though it was cold and windy, these boys enjoyed their date to the Bio-Blast at Cedar Breaks National Monument.  They did several things:  a nature bingo game, animal scat and skull identification, and then a nature hike to the Alpine Pond with biology and marine biology professors (a married couple) and a Ranger leading the way.  It was such a big snow year that the trails were not even open yet up there, so we had to have special permission and a ranger along to make sure everyone/the trail was OK.  The biology professor was a world leech expert and in this pond he had identified a species of leech that was just in this pond and no where else.  He taught about leeches, may flies, dragon and damsel flies, caddis flies, boatman bugs, etc.  These boys had MANY questions and the professor was very encouraging and answered all of their questions.  It seemed a little long to me and Paul, but the boys seemed pretty enthralled with the whole thing.  They had really great questions actually.  After the hike, we drove down to Brian Head hoping it would be less cold and windy to eat our lunches there, but the wind was still with us unfortunately.  We stopped off at Arctic Circle in Cedar for dessert.  It was a fun, educational outing!