Activities/HIKES AND FIELD TRIPS

HIKES AND FIELD TRIPS

A hike is a brisk walk, with walking the main point. A field trip means going slowly enough to see everything of special interest. On any field trip keep a sharp eye open for craft, decoration or collection items to bring home: seeds and cones, cattails and reeds, interesting deadwood branches and bark, rocks and moss.
Take any equipment that might be needed: a shoulder bag
w~ife beans
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ticine (soft clay) the size of the mold wanted and about 3d-inch thick. Roll smooth and press or roll the specimens into the clay deeply enough to show veins, fern spore cases and the like. Remove the specimens and cut a piece of cardboard two inches wide and long enough to fit around the edge of the clay. Join ends with paper clips. Pour in the plaster of Paris (to make, see 10) about 3~ inch thick. When hard, remove cardboard frame, wash plaster (outdoors) and paint with poster paint or water colors if desired.
If individual molds are being made for a collection, make small circular or square molds of approximately the same size to give the collection a pleasing appearance. Press a rock or shell into each while still wet and do not handle until set. To label, see “Rocks,” 160.