It has been a rough couple of weeks. I am not going to lie. The world is stressed, and I definitely know why.

Look, I am not here to point fingers. These are unchartered waters. My son and I are struggling. We are doing our best with this hybrid learning. He attends school two days a week and is home for the other three. Jensen and I are blessed to have my in-laws around. I often complain that they are right across the street, but they take care of him. My boss allows me to help. We rearranged my schedule so I can be a temporary stay at home Dad. Scary thought, I know, but I occasionally fill in as an online teacher.

Jensen and I use this opportunity to bond. If there is anything good about this less than ideal situation — it is the experiences we now share. There is never a dull moment with Spencer Academy.

We start our day by going out to breakfast. We talk about life and make plans over pancakes. Jensen’s course load is the usual. We have assignments and homework from the previous day. I am somewhat disappointed with WASD’s new protocols and platforms. Unfortunately, there has been no virtual or live stream learning while Jensen and I are home. Officials have said they are still working on the details. OK. Please keep us posted. Or perhaps you can tell us when you plan on going back to five days.

We finish up rather quickly. Jensen excels at mathematics, and his grammar is improving. I enjoy the lessons in Social Studies. We just finished an assignment on General Custer, and my son already knows all of the states and capitals. We have mandatory outside recesses with Spencer Academy. Sometimes we will go on a hike, but usually, I take him fishing. Jensen balks at first as he would rather play Fortnite with his friends. But once we are in our element- he always seems to have a great time.

I’ve mentioned before that I am one of North Central Pennsylvania’s biggest fans. Seriously folks. What’s not to love about the 570? This place is just splendid, and our beautiful area is the perfect backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts. Yes. I absolutely dig everything about her, and I take advantage of these opportunities to commune with my son. I promote our area daily, and I am still waiting for an invite from the Visitors Bureau.

Lycoming County provides hundreds of exceptional fishing opportunities. We are so very blessed with several different types of water to target all kinds of species. Fishing has always been my passion, and my lovely bride would say that I am somewhat obsessed. I would fish every single day if I could, and I came awfully close during the pandemic.

A few of our favorite spots are just a short drive or walk from the house. We do our very best to fish them year-round. Jensen and I headed out for a few casts this past Friday. We only had a few hours, so we decided to stay close. I will do 95% of my fishing on Lycoming Creek, and I took him to Metzger Park. We parked our car and fished upstream. Caught several healthy Smallmouth Bass. I had a blast, and Jensen smiled too. We are doing our very best to get through COVID. Fishing and the outdoors are MANDATORY with Spencer Academy. Hang in there, kids. Enjoy the pictures. Cheers.