We could not have asked for a better day to go ponding, that is exploring the flora and fauna that make up a pond ecosystem. On a sunny spring day we headed to the Audubon and were outfitted with nets and field guides to see what we could scoop out of the pond to observe. We practiced walking quietly, immersing ourselves in the beauty of our surroundings. Once we arrived at the still waters of the pond, we carefully set up stations with buckets to put our findings in. We all took turns scooping up buckets of pond glop and then fishing through to see what treasures we could uncover. What first appeared to be just a pile of mud, revealed many squirming creatures like insects, worms, tadpoles, newts and snails. On almost every rotting leaf there were eggs, so we were careful to get them all safely back in the water. Next we took a hike through the lovely grounds and made our way to a vernal pool just teeming with tadpoles. When you were quiet and still, like a frog, you could see many frogs just peering out of the water. Opening our eyes and ears to these animals hidden in plain sight was a great mindfulness exercise!