All in a day of Unschool: Going Back in Time

3 Day 2 Night Field Trip to Hillsborough River State Park

I love camping and love the great OUTDOORS, however, my son does not. As he puts it "I am an indoor kind of kid". I prepared my "Indoor kind of kid" with a 3 day, 2 night camping stay, with electric and water. The next camping trip planned he will not be as lucky as it is PRIMITIVE. Yep, no ELECTRIC, no WATER.

That should be interesting!
(Wish me LUCK!!!)

We arrived at 2:30 to

Hillsborough River State Park

Hillsborough River State Park is one of the eight original Florida State Parks created in 1938. It was built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). The park is cleaved into two halves by a swiftly flowing section of the Hillsborough River. This section of the river is noted for having several clusters of small rapids; it is one of the few rivers in Florida to have a system of rapids.
Also located on park land is a replica of Fort Foster, which was originally built in 1836 during the Second Seminole War, abandoned and reused again in the 1840's.
We did not get to visit Fort Foster due to it only being open on Sat. and Sun., so another trip is being planned to go back and visit the Fort, as well as the small museum holding at least 100 artifacts.
We stayed on Campsite #28, a 25 x 30 site with Palm, Oak, Cypress, and Magnolia trees. A few unbosomed hibiscus is also located on the site. Located right behind the site was small piece of the Florida Trail,which had a small bridge. Great photo opportunities!
We had lots of visitors, wildlife, and people! Our neighbors next door who were from Canada, stopped by to ask if my son was Autistic! I love it! That has only happened one other time that someone knew and asked if he had Autism. The first time was a teenage- she said she knew because my son acted just like her brother :) . You never know if you made someone's day, but these people made mine! It was a husband and wife, who just could not get enough of Spencer, and came back once more to chat before leaving. The husband was a Physicists and retired teacher. He asked Spencer if what classes he studied, in which Spencer replied "American History, Chemistry, any science, and Blogging (lol). The man asked what about chemistry he liked in which Spencer replied "Metal... Titanium is my favorite. Did you know each granular of sand contains one atom of Titanium? The Physicists replied "Really? I did not know that".
50 POINTS SPENCER!

My husband Dave asked him if he liked the TV show "The Big Bang Theory", and when he said he watched it all the time, Dave and I both pointed to Spencer.

Spencer IS Sheldon Cooper

BAZINGA!

The next day, we woke up, ate breakfast (tried egg beaters so I would not break eggs, and well, only Dave liked it) and off for a canoe trip we go!!!!
The Hillsborough River was clear, which meant the water was Crystal Springs fed, and not Green Swamp Fed (the rivers two sources of water). We did not make it that far, as in our path, (and no way to go around it) was a HUGE gator. Even after HOURS of watching the Gator Boys (Tv Show), and thinking I had them babies under control, I realized how much of a chicken I am! When you see a Gator as big as your 3 person canoe, instant reflex...
PADDLE BACKWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As we turned around, so did he or she, and was now headed our way, and under the water it went! You have never seen me paddle so hard- I mean our canoe had a wake! In and out in like 30 minutes.
So....
We take a hike.
We found the suspension Bridge built in the 1930's (a replica of the one burned down by the Seminole Indians). We were also on a search to find Resurrection ferns that grow on the cypress tree that crosses the path of the bridge as part of an Earth Cache for Geaocaching.
We found it!
We were also able to find the sign for the Prayer of the Woods. Love that!
Our last day, we cheated and hit the Poolside Cafe for Breakfast...and it was GOOD! We started and ended our last day with a few short hikes.
Great weather, and great family fun!!!!
Who knew he was learning the whole time??????????????
Pictures of our trip are posted below! Enjoy!