Our destination....Providence Canyon, also know as Georgia's "Little Grand Canyon," one of our amazing state parks here in Georgia. Typically a 2.5 hour drive without traffic, we joined 130 Cub Scouts and their families at a group campsite for a weekend of fellowship, service projects, hiking, astronomy lessons, fabulous food, and, of course, campfires and s'mores.
Friday is the day for everyone to travel to the site, get their tent set up, enjoy dinner together and just hang out. It was a lovely night for a campfire and the sky was perfectly clear to gaze into and study the stars and our galaxy. We spotted satellites and planets and even a shooting star or two. How mesmerizing to turn off all the (flash)lights, with just a fading campfire glowing, and get lost in the mystery and wonder of the universe.
After a slightly noisy and warm night, we got up Saturday to enjoy a hot breakfast and get ready for our hike. This hike was what I most looked forward to, and judging by the buzz around the campsite, I wasn't alone. We broke into groups based on our Cub Scout's rank, and were led down the canyon by park rangers for a 3-mile-hike. But along the way, each group was also assigned a service project.
This past weekend was National Kids to Parks Day where children are encouraged to visit parks and experience nature, adventure, science and history. As scouts, we're always encouraging our kids to make a difference in their community, so what better time to help this state park cross a few projects off their list. Our group blazed one of the trails which means that we painted markers along the trail to help hikers know which route to follow. Other groups dug post holes and helped build a split rail fence, and others cleared brush along the trails.
Our hike wasn't all work. Our park ranger taught us about how the canyon was formed, we were able to explore the sandy canyon floor, and even climb into some small caves within the formation. The views were gorgeous, and being in the base of the canyon was a nice break from the heat.
Yes, it was hot. Really hot. But we made the most of our screen-free time and took some time to just relax in the shade and visit with the other families. Our evening was filled with another amazing dinner (for some reason, food tastes even better sitting around a campfire), watching our scouts put on skits, singing silly songs and making more s'mores. And, ah yes, that night sky. Breathtaking.
We woke up Sunday morning dirty, sticky, probably a little stinky, but oh, so fulfilled. What a wonderful time to spend with so many other families in our community and enjoy the wonders of nature. Providence Canyon is a beautiful park. It has a couple of hiking paths that lead you through the canyon, camping sites for tents and RVs, picnic shelters, and plenty of beauty. Make it a day trip, or pitch a tent and stay a while, but plan to go and see this stunning wonder.
Have a great week,
Erin
erins@macaronikid.com
