Trail Mommas wrapped up another exciting adventure with a day full of water, discovery, and a little time travel at Historic Yates Mill County Park.

We started the day learning about the pond ecosystem—a thriving habitat where plants, animals, and even the tiniest creatures all play important roles. Ponds may look quiet on the surface, but beneath the water is a whole world of activity.

Armed with nets and buckets, the kids went pond dipping to see what we could find. Our discoveries included:

• 🦂 Water scorpions – fierce little hunters that use their long tails like snorkels
• 🐟 Darter fish – quick swimmers that dart through the shallows
• 🪰 Dragonfly nymphs – the underwater stage of dragonflies before they take flight

Each catch gave us a closer look at how life thrives in freshwater ecosystems and how even the smallest creatures are key to keeping the pond balanced.

After exploring the present-day pond, it was time to take a step back in time and learn about fossils. We discovered the difference between:

• Body fossils – actual remains of organisms, like bones, teeth, or shells
• Trace fossils – evidence of activity, like footprints, burrows, or leaf imprints

The kids then became junior paleontologists as they examined real specimens and put their new knowledge to the test by identifying which type of fossil they were holding.

From observing living pond creatures to studying fossils from long ago, this programs reminded us how much there is to learn from both the past and present. Nature leaves us clues everywhere—whether it’s in a dragonfly nymph skimming under the water or a fossilized footprint pressed into stone.

✨ Another memorable Trail Mommas outing filled with curiosity, learning, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world—past and present!