We enjoyed a couple of fun events before our mini vacation, so I’m going to take you back in time to two weeks ago.

First stop: The Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commission where my sister-in-law planned a fantastic field trip for our little school: complete with handouts, posters, and identification cards!

Oh, and did I mention special permission to enter the fish hatchery and cups full of fish food to feed the thousands of flipping fish (you really have to see it to believe it: the runways in these pictures are packed with fish, fish, and more fish)?

To top it all off, Heather put on her waders, walked into a teeny tiny creek, and showed us how to expertly pull out a fish, a crayfish, snails, water bugs, and other creepy-crawlies in two scoops of a net. I’m certain I couldn’t have found all of those goodies after hours of hunting! (Can you spot the camouflaged fish below?)

Special appearances by Slider – the office turtle – and a perfectly-timed locomotive made this field trip a wonderful learning experience for all of us! Thank you, Heather, and the Fish Commission folks!