Being organised and preparing for the trip (I know we will find our way

there - hopefully thanks to some of you lovely/kind people :) ) I've

written a guidebook for the kids to take along/use when we travel. I've

just been asked "Why?" Here's my answer.....

At the time of doing it I did so because I wanted them to learn

something and I know what they are like. They would have visited these

places but not really taken in what they were seeing/doing. By making a

guidebook for them and then putting questions at the end of every day I

know they will have to read the information at the places we visit, they

will have to take notice of things. Anyone can go to Old Faithful, sit

on the benches, watch it blow, take a photo or video and walk away. In a

year of 2's time they may remember back to their visit and what a good

experience. We can all do that. I want the kids to look back and smile

when they remember that part but I also want them to understand what

makes it blow. I believe knowing what's going on with the earth at that

point can only add to the whole experience. Last year when camping with

my nephew we wandered into a field to talk about the constellations in

the night sky because someone had mentioned something and he didn't

understand what we were talking about. This time around (just last

weekend at the same camp site) my niece also let on she doesn't know a

thing about our solar system or constellations (she's also never been

taught to read a map!!! WTF are schools teaching kids these days? Surely

all kids in a geography lesson should know how to read a map? - as for

orienteering she didn't have a clue what I was talking about; shocking).

Anyway, while sitting there on the Friday night we watched Jupiter

rise, saw the international space station fly overhead twice, saw a

small shooting star followed 4 or 5 minutes later by an amazing comet -

it was a huge white ball of light with a massive tail to it; almost the

best I've ever seen (nothing will ever top the bright green one I saw

during the Orionids meteor shower 6 years ago - that was mind blowing).

My niece didn't understand anything about these things. She'd heard of

them but knew nothing. I went to point something out and told her it was

"just north east of the plough". She had no idea what I was talking

about. Not knowing which was North East was is bad enough; to not know

what I meant by 'the plough' was more than shocking. Can you imagine

their faces when I show them a night sky in Yellowstone National Park? I

doubt they even know so many stars exist. Education doesn't have to be

boring. To them the things I'll teach them will just be a part of the

trip, yet they will come home with a knowledge of things they could only

ever dream about before. I have lists of things they need to be looking

out for also; it's not just about the thermals. I want them to learn

about the wildlife - their habitats, hibernation, foods. I want them to

look out for certain plants and trees. I want them to come away with so

much more than a few photo's. This trip will be about so much more than

that.

When I take them to Little Bighorn National Park I will pay for a guide

to take us (them) around. I know this is more expense but I want them to

hear from someone who know's the history; someone whose people were

involved. They need to experience a different culture not just by what

they've read in a text book at school, or seen in the movies. Little

Bighorn is on the Crow reservation. From there we will head into South

Dakota where they'll meet and speak to people from Rose Bud and Pine

Ridge - people from the Sioux nation. To the kids the crow and sioux are

'all the same'. Yes, to look at they probably do all fit the same

mould, but their stories and history could not be more different. Their

lives and culture are different to each other and most definintely

different to ours. Embarking on this trip is about so much more than a

middle-aged woman, her old man friend (and designated driver!!!) and 2 teenagers hitting the open road in a car.

Memories will be made, experiences will be shared.