A Day on the River

On our second to last day of STEMmersion, we went kayaking on the Little Miami. It was a 5.2 mile ride that began at The Narrows in Beavercreek and ended at Bellbrook Canoe Rental. The trip took us around two and half hours, including stops to swim. At one point we found a rope swing off a tree and played in the water for a while. We docked to swim a few times, but for the most part, my friends and I kept a pretty fast and consistent speed. By the time we finished, we were so hungry that lunch felt like the best part of the day. I had an amazing day on the river, and I can't wait to go more this summer.

In the morning, we watched a TED Talk video about conscious listening. Our everyday lives are so loud and so busy, we often forget to be quiet and listen to the world around us. Our challenge was to spend a few minutes on the river in quiet just listening to our surroundings. The first thing I heard was the sound of my paddles splashing the water. When I listened closer to the river, I heard waves crashing against rocks and branches. I drew my attention away from the water and heard the birds singing and the wind rustling through trees. Moments of silence never last long these days, so I really appreciated just listening to the sounds of nature. It inspired me to slow down and listen to what the world has to say.

Since we spent the day on the water, we wrote "recipes" on how to make a body of water. I chose to write my poem about a river. This was one of my favorite writing pieces because I could keep it short and sweet, and there weren't any guidelines to follow.

Overall today was pretty amazing. I'm starting to get upset about this STEMmersion ending because I've had such a fun time, but I'm excited for the adventures summer has in store. Being on the river today made me fall in love with kayaking, so I know I'll be doing a lot of it. It isn't quite as amazing as it is in Colorado (the Rocky Mountains are hard to beat), but I'm sure I can make it just as fun as it was today here in Ohio. Especially if rope-swinging into the river is involved.

To Make a River

To make a river, it takes a current, carried by the wind,

A million rays of sun that glisten on the bend.

And strong, still mountains, surrounding for the view.

A forest of tall, dark trees if mountains are few.