It’s been a running joke at home.  Lily trips over the title… ‘parent-a parta-tis-ti-pation’.’  I know she can actually say ‘participation’ at this point, but it always makes us giggle so much, she still chooses to say it her own way.  No matter how you say it --- it was a great day at Parent Participation!

Teacher Sally brought the 4-5 year old class out to the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History and then up the trail of nearby Black Hill (just above the golf course.)

The museum was amazing.  I am embarrassed to admit that after having lived here for four years it was my first time visiting.

The girls had a blast manipulating all the interactive displays and we learned plenty about this rich eco-system we live in.  We learned about how wind and the sun and all the surrounding elements effect our local environment.  The girls were really excited to pet the stuffed sea otter and see a great variety of birds that live in our state.  After watching a locally produced movie that followed a sea otter and her pup over the first year, Lily and Chloe were thrilled to be the first to spot a ‘real live’ otter in the bay from the museum window.

After the museum, we headed up one of our favorite easy hikes – the top of Black Hill.  We have been calling it ‘Lily Mountain’ for years now, so Lily was right at home heading up the hill.  The group had snack and then descended to be rewarded with a sticker at the end of our day.

I have so much gratitude for teacher Sally and this Parent Participation program that I’ve been fortunate enough to be around for the past three years.