Observing Payette Lake

While we were in school, the Pines and Tamaracks hiked to the lake each month. On their visits to the lake, they sat quietly and observed their surroundings. Throughout the seasons, their observations helped them answer questions like:

• Is the lake frozen?
• What is happening in the sky?
• Can I see or hear any wildlife?
• What can I see on the beach?

Here is a slideshow of the changes they saw and a glimpse of what the lake looks like now:

We also wanted to share a neat time lapse video of the ice melting on the lake, taken by a MOSS student:

Although we haven't been to the lake in a while, we encourage you to find a spot in your backyard where you can sit quietly and observe your surroundings. 

• What plants or trees do you see? Do they have leaves, buds, or needles? Are they changing from day to day?
• What is the weather like today? Is it warm or cold outside? What do the clouds look like?
• Can you see or hear any wildlife?
• What sort of smells do you notice?

You can draw or write down your observations or take a picture to help you remember.