Are those Canadian geese honking in the rain I'm hearing?

I just ate a delicious chili dinner with corn bread and learned a lot of interesting things about the other teachers I'll be working with for the week. There's a teacher from Hawaii, one from Oklahoma, another from New Orleans (Mr. Weaker's hometown!) and another who teaches in Brooklyn (which is next to New York City). We also had a chance to meet with some of the scientists today and ask them questions about what we'll be doing. They showed us where the first aid kit is and gave us a long list of safety rules. I also found out what days I'm on cooking duty and what days I'm on clean up duty!
I'm feeling very excited about trees, especially since I began a book on the plane last night called The Wild Trees, which is about some people who go looking for the largest trees in the world. Their search leads them to northern California, to the redwood forests. Just before the sun set tonight, I took a walk by myself into the forest. The trees are mostly bare now--the forest floor is covered in rotting leaves (a smell I love!)--and the branches look like amazing line drawings against the white sky!

I followed a path to a place called Muddy Creek and waited for a great blue heron standing in the water on the other side to fly away. When it did, I could hear its gigantic wings beating the air and as it disappeared in the mist I heard it squawk! On my walk back I noticed some strange scientific-looking objects in the forest, but I'm not sure what they do? I imagine that I'll learn about them tomorrow when we meet with the head scientist, Dr. Parker. The kinds of scientists who work here call themselves ecologists because they study living things and the places (environments) where they live. I found out today that SERC (the name of this research center) used to be a farm. Two stone chimneys from the old house are all that is left on a hilltop nearby. And long before that...25,000 years ago!...this forest was lived in by Native people (such as the Nanticoke and Powhatan tribes).
Please take your 'tree journal' homework seriously and get to know a special tree. I'm looking forward to seeing your work when I get back. I already miss you guys but I know you are in good hands with Ms. Lemon. Be peaceful and enjoy your week.
To be continued......