Bucket Brigade


Tell your students that there used to be a hotel here, right in the middle of the field where there are bushes and trees now, The pond, rock walls and old fountain were part of the hotel, and the big old maple trees lined the road where horses and carriages used to drive. The hotel was built here because of the spring, which people thought was healing water. (It does have lots of minerals in it).

There is even an old smoke house for smoking hams and bacon just up the hill on the right.

Now it is really neat to explore the area together. Notice the old trees with lots of wildlife holes. Neat wildflowers. Notice how low the water level is, and see if you can see any fish or other animals in the shallow pond. As you get close to the cave, place yourself just to the right of it so no one is tempted to climb up on the rim and go over toward the collapsed spring house. Now is a good time to do the "All the Water in the World" demonstration. If the kids are too antsy, do it quickly or move straight to the buckets. Give everyone a minute to look at the spring, and then bring out the buckets.

Tell the students that people used to haul water from springs for their needs. Say that these buckets can hold 1 gallon of water, and a little more. Ask the kids how many buckets would think are needed to flush a toilet? (Four is a good average) How many buckets would it take for a 5 minutes shower? (15 might do it, with a faucet aerator) And what about a load of laundry? (40!)

Tell the kids that they could practice hauling enough water for each of these things, in a bucket brigade. This was how people used to put out fires in the days of the old hotel. Everyone in the hotel would pass buckets to try and save the hotel. In fact, the camp up the hill is now a hi-tech school for forest fighters. They probably still do some things like bucket brigades for practice.

Line the kids up from the spring to the stream at passing distance- To start with, you dip up the water, not all the way full, and say "Flush", passing four buckets as fast as you can fill them, but not so fast that any gets spilled. If things didn't go too well, you can practice another Flush. Then do a shower, counting as you go. This time some buckets will have to get passed back to you to make it to 15.

If the kids are really into it, you can do a load of laundry.

Notice the sediment that got stirred up in the stream, and notice how the vegetation helps it settle.

Line the buckets neatly up, and lead the group to the trail entrance where the next guides should meet you.


All the Water in the World Demo
Water Facts

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Last modified 11/2/06 9:50 AM by menichol (history)
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