A Rocha Field Trip, May 1st

We had a beautiful day to get out and experience a wide variety of animals, plants and natural environments at A Rocha Environmental Centre in Surrey, BC.

Ruth met us and led our tour.

First we observed the sheep. We noticed that their eyes are rectangular.

We were pretty excited to get a chance to feed them too!

This Llama kept watching us to make sure we weren't dangerous :). He also guards the sheep from coyotes.

"What I liked about the field trip is when we got to taste some things."
- Mikaila

This was a kale plant that had lived over the winter. The flower buds tasted like the leaves.

Here we tasted chives and yummy lemon sorrel!

Then it was off to the chicken run, to hear about chickens and get a chance to pet a hen.

"We learned there are different kinds of roosters. They're fun!"
- Lincoln

The Rhode Island Red rooster on the right is quite colourful,
while the white rooster below is a special Canadian breed from Quebec called a Chantecler. It has a smaller comb and
wattle so it doesn't lose too much heat in the cold climate.

Then we had a very special treat! We met a newborn lamb.

"We got to see a lamb that was born the day before and it's mother didn't take care of it."
- Mikaila

We observed the Little Cambell River. Here (to the north) it is shaded by trees, so it stays cool for spawning salmon.

Here the trees are cleared, so the water gets hot and fewer animals can live in the habitat. The members are working to plant more trees.

We went in groups to explore the pond and the forest bugs.

"We learned the life-cycle of a tadpole"
-Lincoln

"On May 1 our class went on a field trip to a farm called A Rocha. We went for walks in the forest. We caught tadpoles. I caught a tadpole. We had so much fun! It was awesome." - Ethan