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It's time for The Good Eggs! The Good Eggs say, Love, learn,
and play Join us today And together we'll do our part.
The Good Eggs say, Reach out each day So it can stay In every
bit of our heart. In every bit of our heart.
Hi Kids and welcome back! This month we'll be starting
our last chapter in Book Three. I can't believe we're almost
done. The Eggs are finishing up their
Ambassador Program at a nature center.
But first, guess who's back in town?
Peggy! Reggie and his mom are at the
airport now picking her up. Reggie and his mom arrived at
the airport and walked to the waiting area.
Mom, how long is Peggy staying this time?
Reggie asked. "I hope it's for the rest of
the summer." "As a matter of fact, it is for
the rest of the summer. She's staying for six weeks,"
his mom answered. "That's awesome," replied Reggie
as he smiled and looked at his mom.
"That gives her a lot of time to have what she likes best,
vanilla ice cream and ketchup!" Reggie's grin grew wide at the
thought of his cousin's favorite treat.
"That still makes me laugh," answered his mom.
Peggy arrived at her gate. They gave each other big hugs
and headed for the car. On the car ride home, Peggy
wanted to know everything that had happened since she left in
January. "How's the Ambassador Program
going? What have you done so far?"
"It's going great. We're learning a lot of
different things about Albumen that we never really knew
before," answered Reggie. "Really?
Like what?" "Well, we helped out at the
Albumen Animal Rescue. We took care of animals.
And oh, Peggy, wait until you see Snowball.
That's Megg's new kitten. And also, Daisy, that's Coach
Flo's new puppy. Reggie's thoughts were moving
quickly as he eagerly told Peggy about their activities.
Oh, and then we helped out at the Albumen Breakfast Stop.
We didn't even realize there were hungry people in our own
town. It was great.
We packed some food boxes and met some really cool people.
Reggie took a deep breath and then he continued his ramble.
Then we helped the Albumen Hospital with a health awareness
program. You know, like eating right and
exercise. We held the Albumen Games, like
the Olympic Games. And oh, Peggy, guess what?
We won the baseball championship!
Peggy held up her hand to stop Reggie from his excited
outburst. She was laughing so hard her
stomach hurt. She finally managed to get her
words out of her mouth. Reggie, stop.
You're making me laugh. Reggie began laughing as well.
Peggy continued. It sure sounds like a lot has
happened in the last few months. I'm anxious to hear more when I
see everyone. Reggie giggled as he answered.
Tomorrow we have a meeting at the school with Ms. Poach, who
by the way had a bad bike accident.
Coach Flo will also be at the meeting.
We'll discuss our last Ambassador Program project.
You'll see everyone there. A bad bike accident?
Is Ms. Poach okay? Peggy's laughter turned to a
serious tone. Yes, she had to get a new hip,
but she'll be just fine, Reggie answered.
Oh, that's good, Peggy said with relief.
Well, I'm sure looking forward to tomorrow.
I've missed everyone so much. We've missed you, too, Peggy,
said Reggie as he grinned at his cousin and patted her on the
back. And guess what?
I have some vanilla ice cream and ketchup waiting for you at
home. Peggy laughed at Reggie's
comment and the two of them continued their lively
conversation all the way home as Reggie's mom lovingly smiled at
them from her rearview mirror. The next day, the Eggs met at
school at 10:00 for their meeting with Coach Flo and Ms.
Poach. Everyone greeted Peggy with
enthusiasm. "It's great to see you, Peggy!"
exclaimed Seggourney. "It's great to be back," she
replied. Peggy, we're very happy you are
here with us for the last part of the Ambassador Program, said
Ms. Poach. And don't mind my cane.
I won't have it too much longer. Reggie told me about your
accident, Ms. Poach. I'm so glad you're going to be
okay, said Peggy. Ms. Poach smiled at her.
Ms. Poach then began to address the Eggs.
Children, we're coming to the end of our program.
Ms. Sullivan from the United Nations
will be visiting us at the end of next month to hear all about
your thoughts and experiences. As you know, I've been sending
her reports along the way to keep her updated.
It will be nice to see Ms. Sullivan again, said Megg.
I hope she likes Albumen. I'm sure she will.
Now, for the last part of our program, we'll be helping out
Camp Sunnyside Up with their Nature Center.
Camp Sunnyside Up. That's where our families go
camping every year," exclaimed Reggie.
He turned to Benedict and said, "Remember, Benedict?
You went with us two years ago." "Yes, I remember.
It didn't start out so well, but then it turned out great," he
replied as he blushed. The Eggs giggled as they
remembered Benedict's poor manners and terrible singing
that woke up the entire camp. Ms. Poach continued, "That's
exactly right, Reggie. Your parents have agreed to hold
their annual camping trip at Camp Sunnyside Up during the
time we are completing our Ambassador Program.
We'll all be there together. That will be so cool, said
Greggory. He then added, "Ms. Poach, what
kinds of things will we be doing there?"
Ms. Poach replied, "Well, Camp
Sunnyside Up needs help with their new Nature Center.
We'll be learning about their wildlife, like several types of
birds, including falcons and eagles, and some reptiles like
turtles, snakes, and iguanas. We'll even learn about
butterflies. Did you know they have a
butterfly house at the camp? A butterfly house?
That sounds awesome, said Megg. The iguanas sound awesome to
me, shouted Reggie. They're my favorite animal!
Greggory flashed his friend a glaring look.
First of all, an iguana is a reptile.
And second of all, you say every animal is your favorite.
Greggory, I just like animals. You know that, Reggie replied.
Ms. Poach continued. We'll also keep the walking
trails and ponds clean and check the trees for diseases.
We'll be very busy for the next six weeks.
She eagerly handed out brochures and other materials on the
nature center to the Eggs. Coach Flo added, "Take this
material home to your parents. They know we're leaving this
weekend for the camp. Make sure you pack enough gear
for a long trip. We can always go into town,
too, if we need more supplies. Megg raised her hand and asked
Coach Flo, "Can I bring Snowball?"
"Of course. I'm bringing Daisy."
Coach Flo answered. "And I'm bringing Scrambler!"
shouted Benedict. "Okay, Eggs.
It's all set then. We'll meet at Camp Sunnyside Up
on Saturday. See you there."
By noon on Saturday, most of the Eggs and their families had
arrived at Camp Sunnyside Up. They were staying in the large
cabins near the center of the camp.
Megg and Seggourney were busy helping each other unpack.
Snowball caught her eye as she was playing on Seggourney's bed.
Megg, you better get Snowball. She's going to get lost inside
my pillowcase. Megg smiled as she gently
pulled Snowball out of the pillowcase and snuggled her
close. You silly kitty.
You're always getting into mischief.
Megg and Seggourney giggled as they finished making up
Seggourney's bed. Greggory was helping Benedict
and his family inside of their cabin.
Greggory, please put those pots and pans in the cupboard over
the stove," instructed Benedict's mom as she pointed to
a large brown box on the floor. Just then came a knock at the
door. The pounding on the door was
loud and rapid. Benedict's father opened the
door to find a man in uniform. "Can I help you, sir?"
"Hello, and welcome to Camp Sunnyside Up.
I am Ranger Hatch, and I'll be your guide for the duration of
your stay. I'm informing everyone in your
group that we will meet at the campfire clearing in one hour
to go over some instructions. Have a great day.
Ranger Hatch turned on his heels and walked swiftly to the next
cabin. He seemed friendly, smart, and
well organized. His perfectly clean and pressed
uniform was impressive. "Wow, who was that guy?"
asked Benedict. "He's the camp ranger.
He said his name was Ranger Hatch.
I guess we'll learn more in an hour.
We have a meeting at the campfire clearing, replied
Benedict's dad. Come on, let's finish unpacking.
An hour passed and everyone had arrived safely and was nearly
done unpacking. The group met at the campfire
clearing for the meeting with Ranger Hatch.
He saluted the group, clicked his heels, and bellowed out,
"Welcome troops. Troops?
Are we in the army or something? This guy's a little uptight."
Benedict commented to Reggie. Benedict.
Shh. You're being rude.
Megg leaned over and whispered. Ranger Hatch continued in a firm
tone with specific instructions. We'll spend approximately four
days or so on each of these areas.
Birds, reptiles, ponds, forestry, butterflies, and
nature trails. I will teach you everything I
know about these areas. I think you'll find your stay
here pleasant and informative. Any questions?
Ranger Hatch squinted his eyes as he scanned the group.
Seggourney raised her hand. Ranger Hatch, I brought my
camera along. Can I take pictures of the
things we learn about? Of course, young lady.
That's a wonderful idea. Benedict quickly raised his
hand. Ranger Hatch, will we have any
time for swimming or kayaking? It sounds like we're going to
be really busy. Young man, there will be plenty
of time for recreation, the ranger quickly replied.
Any other questions? Ranger Hatch waited a moment and
then dismissed the group. Fallout troops.
We'll meet at the bird sanctuary at 0900 hours.
Dismissed. He saluted and then promptly
turned on his heels and walked away.
This guy really needs to loosen up, said Benedict.
What's 0900 hours anyway? It's military talk for 9:00 in
the morning, answered Benedict's dad.
Well, why didn't he just say so?
Benedict replied as he walked back to his cabin in
frustration. Later that evening, the group
enjoyed a cookout of hot dogs and beans, sat around a
crackling campfire to make s'mores, and then retired to
their cabins for the night. The next week was filled with
fun and learning at the bird sanctuary.
Despite his stern appearance, Ranger Hatch was very personable
and knowledgeable. At Camp Sunnyside Up, we have
over 100 species of birds. If you look at the podiums
around the sanctuary, you will learn about them.
For example, the eagle has a wingspan of about 6 feet when
it's full grown. It can get as tall as 2 and 1/2
to three feet. They love to eat fish, small
birds, or rodents like mice. That's really interesting, said
Greggory. What other kinds of birds are
here? Ranger Hatch continued, "Spotted
owls like to live here. They perch on branches at night
and look for food. Both the eagle and the spotted
owl are protected species because they can be in danger of
extinction. How do they become extinct,
Ranger Hatch? asked Seggourney.
Many reasons, but mainly because of their habitats being
destroyed and chemical pollutants, he replied.
It's very important to take care of the environment, isn't it?
All living things need a place to live, commented Seggourney.
That's right, young lady. That's why we're here.
You're going to learn a lot during your stay so you can be
ambassadors and go back to your community and teach others,
replied Ranger Hatch. Look, whispered Ranger Hatch as
he pointed upward to a tree, there's a woodpecker pecking
away. He's looking for something to
eat, like insects. Cool, said Reggie.
I've never seen a real woodpecker before.
Seggourney quickly took out her camera and began to snap
pictures of the tapping bird. The rest of the week was spent
exploring the bird sanctuary and doing some bird watching
throughout the camp. Seggourney made sure to take as
many pictures as possible of the different types of birds and
their habitats. One day, Ranger Hatch even put
a bird show on for the Eggs and their families.
He let out a shrill whistle and a large falcon came out of the
trees and flew toward him. It landed on his outstretched
arm. "Whoa," said Benedict in
amazement. He watched the rest of the bird
show with great interest. He leaned over to Reggie and
said, "Ranger Hatch is a little uptight, but he is kind of
cool." "That's for sure," answered
Reggie. The following week, the Eggs
were introduced to the reptile house.
It was full of snakes, turtles, and iguanas.
They were behind glass enclosures, and only Ranger
Hatch handled them. You see this long winding snake
with the gray and black diamond pattern on its skin?
It's called a diamondback rattlesnake.
It usually lives in very warm, dry climates.
This one's just a baby, but it can be very dangerous.
It has a small rattle on the end of its tail.
If it begins to shake, that means it's warning its predators
to move away before it bites and releases poisonous venom.
"Ew," said Megg as she flipped her ponytail.
"I hope I never run into one of those."
Ranger Hatch walked over to another case and took out an
iguana. Reggie's eyes lit up as he
eagerly asked, "Ranger Hatch, can I hold him, please?"
"Okay, but be very gentle. He's just a baby.
This is called a green iguana. It is also found mostly in warm
climates. It's an herbivore, which means
it only eats plant material." Ranger Hatch explained as he
allowed the iguana to crawl into Reggie's hands.
"It feels kind of rough," said Reggie as he let the iguana
explore his hands. "The iguana's skin gives it a
layer of protection. Ranger Hatch took the reptile
from Reggie and placed him back behind the glass habitat.
"Thanks, Ranger Hatch. That was really interesting,"
said Reggie as he adjusted his glasses.
"I'm learning a lot." "Me, too," said Seggourney as
she took pictures of the various reptiles.
"That's the idea," replied Ranger Hatch.
Over the next few weeks, Ranger Hatch taught the Eggs and their
families about the water and trees on the property.
"We have one large inland lake here at the camp.
That's where you went swimming last weekend.
However, did you know we also have 46 small ponds?
They provide a habitat for fish, birds, small animals, and
insects. It's important we keep them
clean. Pond plants help to do that,
along with some algae-eating fish.
But we have to do our part, too. During your stay here, I want
you to keep a lookout for any debris or garbage that might be
in the water and clean it up, okay?
We will, Ranger Hatch," replied Benedict, as he clicked his
heels and gave a salute. Ranger Hatch paused and glared
at Benedict. "Are you making fun of me, young
man?" he sternly asked.
Benedict felt embarrassed as he realized his words and actions
had offended Ranger Hatch. "Oh, no, sir.
I'm very sorry. I really admire you."
He hung his head and began to shuffle his foot back and forth
in the dirt. "I really need to think before I
speak." Yes, you do," replied Ranger
Hatch. After a long, piercing stare at
Benedict, he continued, "Come on, let's go look at some trees.
I want to show you something." The Eggs followed Ranger Hatch
down the trail to a large group of oak trees.
We have hundreds of species of trees at the camp.
They also provide habitats for birds and insects, as well as
oxygen for the air. However, these particular oak
trees are in a bit of trouble. You see how the leaves look
shredded or tattered? They almost look like lace, said
Peggy as she looked closely at one of the leaves.
That's right. This group of trees has a
disease. It's called oak tatters.
This puts a lot of stress on the trees, replied the ranger.
As Seggourney was snapping pictures, she asked, "How can we
help?" "Well, there's not much that can
be done to reverse the condition.
However, if you see any more of this during your stay, let me
know and we can make sure to fertilize the trees to help keep
them healthy as they grow new leaves."
The Eggs finished their time learning about the water and the
trees of the camp. They were growing in
understanding about the importance of the life that
surrounded them and realized how vital it is to take care of the
environment in all of its forms. The next week, Megg and
Seggourney waited outside of their cabins for Ranger Hatch.
"I'm so excited. We're going to the butterfly
house." "Me, too," said Seggourney.
"I bet I can get some awesome photographs there."
The rest of the group gathered and soon Ranger Hatch arrived.
"Let's go, troops. The butterfly house is just a
mile down this path." He directed as he pointed down a
narrow gravel road. "Children," said Ms.
Poach. "Coach Flo is going to drive me
back to town today. I have an appointment with my
doctor. He needs to check my hip to make
sure everything is okay. I'm also feeling quite
exhausted, so I'm going to stay home for a while.
And I have some coaching responsibilities to tend to, so
I'll be at home the rest of this week, too, added Coach Flo.
Ms. Poach and I will be back for the final weekend.
Okay, "We understand," said Greggory as everyone nodded in
agreement. "Have a safe drive back, and
we'll see you both soon," said Greggory as they all waved
goodbye to Ms. Poach and Coach Flo.
The eEgs continued down the gravel path to the butterfly
house. "It's going to be warm in here,
like a greenhouse," said Ranger Hatch.
"The butterflies like it that way."
He opened the door and gasps were heard from the group.
"Oh my, it's like a tropical jungle in here," exclaimed
Reggie's mom. "It's beautiful."
Flowers of every kind and color, plants, and greenery
filled the large open area where butterflies of all varieties
could be seen hovering around. Ranger Hatch handed everyone a
brochure explaining the different types of butterflies
they might see. Look, Megg, here's a monarch.
It says right here on the brochure.
Seggourney excitedly pointed to the picture of the monarch
butterfly with its orange, black, and white wings.
She quickly took an up-close photo of it.
"This one is bright blue. It's so beautiful," said
Reggie. "Peggy, help me find it on the
brochure." "Here it is, Reggie.
It's a blue morpho," she said. "This place is so awesome," said
Benedict as he looked around and marveled at the hundreds and
hundreds of butterflies. Ranger Hatch, how long do
butterflies live? Well, typically they only live
about two weeks. That's why we have to import
about 250 chrysalis each week to keep the butterfly house
stocked. They come from all around the
world. How interesting, added
Benedict's mom. A cocoon is spun from silk where
most moths hatch. A chrysalis is a hardened
protein from which butterflies hatch, instructed the ranger.
The Eggs thoroughly enjoyed their time at the butterfly
house. "I was able to get some
beautiful pictures," proudly said Seggourney as she showed
Megg some of the shots off her camera on the way back to their
cabins. On the days the Eggs weren't
exploring the camp with Ranger Hatch, they were able to do
other camp activities like hiking, swimming, canoeing,
kayaking, and crafts. Their favorite time together,
though, was evening around the campfire.
The singing, storytelling, and food around the fire brought
them all together every night. One evening, the group had just
finished a dinner of ribs and chicken when Greggory brought
out his guitar. He began to strum gently as he
sang some campfire songs. Peggy was sitting next to me,
who was cuddling Snowball in her arms.
Snowball was purring contently as Megg softly caressed her.
Megg, can I hold Snowball? I haven't had a chance to hold
her since we've been here. Sure, Peggy.
Be careful with her, though. She's still a little kitten,
replied Megg as she gently handed Snowball off to Peggy.
Peggy began to pet the top of Snowball's head.
She's so pretty with her white fur and blue eyes.
Just then, Scrambler saw a squirrel and let out a loud
bark. Snowball became so frightened,
she jumped out of Peggy's arms and ran into the nearby woods.
"Oh no, Snowball!" Megg jumped up and ran into the
woods after her kitten. Scrambler, quiet boy, you scared
Snowball. Benedict reprimanded his dog and
then quickly ran after Megg. Megg, where are you?
Benedict, I'm over here. Please help me find Snowball.
I don't see her anywhere. Megg was in a panic.
The rest of the group searched for hours, but could not find
Snowball. It was very dark and getting
late. It's time we give up, Megg
comforted her mom. We'll look again tomorrow.
Megg could not stop crying as they walked back to the cabin.
She's going to be scared without me.
What if an animal gets her? She's just a baby.
Her parents tried to console her, but Megg cried herself to
sleep that night. Oh my gosh, Camp Sunnyside Up
sounds beautiful, and the Eggs are learning so much about
nature. Hey, do you have a camp or a
park where you live? If you do, go check it out.
And look at it carefully. I bet you find a lot of
different trees, insects, and maybe even some beautiful
butterflies. But now I'm really worried about
Snowball. I sure hope they find her.
The camp can be a scary place for a baby kitten.
Well, we'll find out next month. Okay, thanks for listening and
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