Creek Walking

The spring section of the American Boy’s Handy Book features a gazillion kite patterns, freshwater pond science activities and a hand full of  kooky fishing projects.  I like the fact that Beard did not belabor the season with to much construction or productivity.  All his suggestions are experiential, each suggests going out and taking part in fresh air and life in motion.  Two weeks ago Seth and I took advantage of a minus tide at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (as some of you know Seth is a self-styled starfish scientist).  Our hours on the beach were lovely.  However, after lunch in the parking lot Seth informed me that there was a creek near by that he had been to with his dad and he was going to “investigate”.  Sure enough, all you have to do is scramble down the bank by the foot bridge and there is patch of creek perfect for little boys who are in the mood to “investigate”.

Seth is no stranger to creek walking.  He practices three times a week, because at his school the classroom is a creek.  The kids spend the first half of class exploring the creek with a motley collection of “fishing poles”, buckets for observing water skeeters and lots of enthusiasm.  Even the teachers take part in the creek walk.  However, creek walking with your peers is different than creek walking solo.  Creek walking on our own means we can focus on our surroundings not our friends, doing so we build independence and confidence.  The quietude and burble of the stream brings out our creative side.  There is nothing like flowing water to whet the imagination.

Creek walking is a good time for parents who like to “investigate” details.  there is so much interesting plant life along a stream bed.  If you relax into the moment you will see all sorts of nifty little bits of nature that you might otherwise miss when trying to keep up with an active boy.

After exploring a bit and getting acquainted with this stretch of creek Seth finally picked up a stick and got to work poking along the edges of the creek.  He spent and hour doing the same thing over and over again completely absorbed in his own  internal dialog.  His mission was to make “smoke” for his “engine”.  To do this he prodded at the edge of the stream just under the sand were the bank started.  The soil roiled up when disturbed and appeared to look like smoke in the flowing water.  The activity looked more or less like this to a by stander.

However, Seth probably saw something more dynamic.  He was probably experiencing the magic of dirt suspended in water for the first time.  He was probably so engrossed by repeating the action with his stick that time simply stood still.  The look on his face tells me that he is deep in the learning moment, getting the “smoke” right again and again eclipses everything (including wet feet).  I sometimes witness this deep engagement in other locations like the sand box or amidst wooden blocks, but here it was so pure, a child in action, learning the ways of water and the creek.