Eco-explorer patch

The Brownies had our first field trip of the year this last saturday - and it was a BIG HIT! The girls had voted to go to the Apple Harvest at the Plains Conservatory and earn their Eco-Explorer patch. There was a lot of behind the scenes work to be done to pull this off. Thanks so much for all the parents that could help to make this field trip a true success. I think the girls had a GREAT TIME!

The girls first baked apple pies on Friday night to enter in the pie baking contest on Saturday. We entered FIVE pies in the contest and with 16 total entries our girls WON 2ND PLACE for the "fried apple pie"! They were so pleased! I had reminded the girls that if one of our pies won - we ALL won.. and if we didnt win 1/2/3rd place we still all had a great time learning how to make an apple pie from scratch and baking with our troop!

The rest of the day was filled with fun activities. The girls could choose which activity they wanted to do. Cornhusk dolls, painting zuchini (and launching it in the ZukeShoot), Mystic Sticks, Animal print rubbings, Lassoing a (fake) bull, apple tasting, apple cider pressing and guess how much the pumpkin weighs.

Then we took a wagon ride down to the Wells Crossing Village where the girls got to see what life was like in 1887. There were 2 houses set up with wood burning stoves (making applesauce), there was a blacksmith shop, Chicken Coop - Cows - a garden and an old school house. There was a teacher in the school house teaching the kids about life in the 1880s and playing games. I think the girls could have stayed there all day. They loved it.

The Plaines Conservatory was a great find - and not far from Denver. I think the girls would love to go back and maybe do some camping in the Yurt that they have there. I bet they will all vote for that field trip.

Here are just a few great photos (thanks John for documenting the day)
I have a ton more to share if you want to see them.






The info for our archives.
Event Name: Harvest @ Homestead Festival, Plains Conservation Center
Theme: Nature & Outdoors
Description:
The 8th Annual Harvest at the Homestead Festival at the Plains Conservation Center will feature apples as a harvest crop. The smell of apples cooking, free tastes of fresh applesauce, an apple pie contest and fresh pressed apple cider will be among the attractions of the event on Saturday, Sept. 26th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Harvest at the Homestead Festival celebrates life on the prairie both then and now. Historical interpreters bring 1887 to life in our Wells Crossing historic farm, harvesting the heirloom vegetables, tending the flock of chickens working in the blacksmith shop, readying the one-room school house for the coming year and preserving the apple harvest from the nearby Cherry Creek valley.

The modern festivities include prairie wagon rides, displays, exhibits, live animal demonstrations for young ones, and the apple pie contest (see below for details). For more information, please visitwww.plainscenter.org.

Attention Apple Pie Bakers!
Enter your favorite apple pie in an old fashioned pie contest being held at the Harvest at the Homestead celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26th. All apple pie types are welcome from deep dish to old fashioned. Johnny Appleseed will decide who has the tastiest apple pie.