Day 3 at Bryce Canyon: Birds, Brushes, and Belly Laughs

This morning started in the best possible way—with the sun rising over the canyon and Ambassador Desiree guiding us through a sound mapping adventure. We found a quiet spot, tuned in to the world around us, and let nature do the talking. By the end, we’d identified 11 different birds just by listening. It was the kind of peaceful, grounding start we all needed.

Then we switched gears and focused our eyes on the stunning scenery around us. With acrylic paints in hand and the Bryce amphitheater as our inspiration, we created our own masterpieces. Huge thanks to our amazing camper-artists, Cathy and Amy, who taught us about color theory and how to find a horizon line—even when the view feels like it goes on forever. Everyone’s paintings were so good—full of heart, color, and personality. Manet and Monet would be proud.

After lunch, we took our curiosity to the ground—literally. During our biodiversity field study, we got down on our bellies to see what life was buzzing and crawling beneath our feet. It reminded us that the tiniest parts of nature are just as fascinating as the towering hoodoos.

This afternoon brought a big treat: we got to meet Ranger Anne, who shared her love for birds—especially raptors! She taught us how to spot one: curved beaks, talons, sharp eyesight, and serious hunting skills. She also swore us all in as official Junior Rangers, which felt like a pretty big deal.

The rest of the day was full of movement and joy—e-bike rides, hiking among the hoodoos, and some very wet and happy exploring at Mossy Cave Waterfall. Let’s just say…some folks may need to wring out their socks.

Dinner was a delicious taco bar (always a hit!), followed by our own Art Gallery Walk where everyone’s paintings were displayed. We ended the night with a camp classic—Scat Chat and S’mores. Yes, we talked poop. Yes, we laughed a lot. And yes, we sang our new favorite song:
“It starts with an S and ends with a T...”
You can guess the rest. (Don't worry- it's just scat) 

We’re heading into Day 4 with full hearts, a few paint smudges, and sore cheeks from smiling. This group of 37 is starting to feel less like strangers and more like family—and that’s the best part of all.