Day 3: Assateague Island

"The weather was perfect. The water was calm. The fishing poles were out. The mosquitoes were nowhere to be found. It was almost suspicious."

Day 3 at Assateague Island National Seashore gave us one of the most beautiful days of the summer—and eventually one of the funniest stories of the week. Between surf fishing, kayaking, rewilding, a memorable mosquito encounter, a cookout, and an evening filled with national parks and big ideas, it was a day that reminded us why we love bringing educators to wild places.

We started the morning with surf fishing along the beach, learning the patience and persistence that fishing seems to require. Some of us became instant experts. Others mostly became experts at untangling lines. Either way, there was something peaceful about standing along the shoreline, listening to the waves and watching the Atlantic roll in while waiting to see what might be swimming beneath the surface.

Later in the morning, we gathered for our Rewilding Session. We spent time searching for native plants, observing what was growing around us, sketching in our journals, and talking about what it means to restore ecosystems that have been altered over time. As often happens during camp, the conversation slowly shifted from landscapes to people. We talked about curiosity, creativity, wonder, and the importance of making room for those things in our own lives and classrooms. Before leaving, each camper sealed a note to themselves inside a seed packet—a reminder of how they hope to help their students grow during the coming school year.

From there, we shifted our attention to Leave No Trace. Assateague is a place that reminds us that wild places don't stay wild by accident. They stay wild because people care for them. We talked about the choices we make when we visit parks, beaches, forests, and even our own communities. Stewardship isn't reserved for scientists and park rangers. It belongs to all of us.

Then came kayaking.

With blue skies overhead and calm waters beneath us, it was hard to imagine a better afternoon. Several locals told us this may have been the best weather Assateague has seen all summer. We certainly weren't going to argue with them.

Of course, every good camp story needs a plot twist.

For most of the week, we had heard stories about the famous Assateague mosquitoes but had seen very few. We began to wonder if the stories had been exaggerated.

They had not.

At one point during our adventures, we unknowingly wandered into a swarm that seemed to appear from thin air. One moment everything was peaceful. The next moment educators were moving with remarkable speed and determination. There may have been some running. There was definitely some flailing. There was also a lot of laughing. We escaped with our lives, our dignity mostly intact, and a story that will undoubtedly be retold around future campfires.

Back on campus, we gathered for a cookout and enjoyed one of those simple camp meals that somehow tastes better after a full day outside. Conversations bounced between classrooms, families, national parks, teaching ideas, and plans for future adventures.

After dinner, we rolled up our sleeves for Framework of Nature planning. Around tables filled with journals, sticky notes, and big ideas, educators began imagining ways to bring nature, wonder, and place-based learning into their classrooms. The ideas were thoughtful, creative, and inspiring. It is always exciting to watch learning in a national park begin to transform into something that will eventually impact students hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

We wrapped up the evening with our National Park Adventure film. The stories, landscapes, wildlife, and people featured in the film reminded us why these places matter and why helping students connect with them is such important work. It was the perfect way to end a day spent learning in and from nature.

The weather was incredible. The company was even better. And Day 3 gave us exactly the kind of memories that tend to stay with us long after the sand has been shaken from our shoes and the kayaks have been put away.