Now I've got Tom putting on the pressure of a deadline like an old cigar chompin' newspaper editor! Geez!<br><br>I'll be writing up a lengthy piece on my weekend for my website, as well as for the Owasippe Staff Association (OSA) newsletter. But I can mention a few highlights now from this weekend's BioBlitz at Owasippe Scout Reservation (OSR).<br><br>Early forays into the field by BioBlitz birders failed to locate any wild Lupine in the target habitats they wanted us to explore. So the daylong trek through the southeast corner of OSR. Instead we hiked north along the western side of the Cleveland Creek watershed. Birders found one field with Lupine so we were to investigate that field to determine the extent of its range as well as to try and find additional habitats.<br><br>Then there were scattered sites around the reservation they wanted us to checkout, mostly in additional Oak Savanna habitats, similar to the SE corner. So the expectations were low, but even verifying the absence is useful, as it will help restrict their conservation efforts in the future and save them man-hours of initial investigation. So our afternoon was spent two-trackin' along seldom used access and logging roads, with brief jaunts into potential habitat sites.<br><br>In short, we found an additional site along the Cleveland Creek watershed, confirmed the absence in the others, and found a huge population in an area they weren't even initially considering.<br><br>Ran my gas tank dangerously low (again, I wasn't planning on 4-wheeling).<br><br>Scrapped the rear panel of the other leader's brand new pickup truck with my side mirror as we were backing out of tight spot.<br><br>Managed to linger too long in one of the section camps (OSR has three full section camps, A high adventure base and a family camp), and get locked in while everyone else was starting diner at the Ad Center.<br><br>Found a way out by following an old service road I remembered from back in 1975 that was bearly more that a car-width path through the woods.<br><br>We did make it back in time before diner ended so we could eat. Then our boys stepped up a helped the kitchen volunteers clean up without being asked. (Of all our accomplishments this weekend, that made me the proudest).<br><br>Two of our boys were so inspired by the camp that they want to apply for staff next year.<br><br>All in all it was a very successful trip. I still need to fill out some reports for The Nature Conservancy. I also plan on sending the leaders from all three organizations my suggestions on how they can blend the BioBlitz and future conservation efforts into the scouting program at summer camp.<br><br>Oh, on a side note, at one point we were standing above the spillway on Gus Kopp Dam that forms Lake Wolverine. Right there, not ten feet below us was a small group of Bluegills and 4-5 huge Smallmouth Bass lurking around the edges of the weed beds. I think even I could have caught us diner on a hand line! I had my PSK with me, but not enough time left in the day to play around with it.<br>