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Scientists, S’mores, and a Celebrity Caterpillar: MCP Camping Trip a Fall Success

By Lynn McCain | October 30

Forget luxury cabins and Wi-Fi. A group of Molecular and Cellular Pathology (MCP) graduate students voluntarily spent a pleasant October weekend sleeping in tents, cooking over a campfire, and becoming unexpectedly obsessed with a caterpillar.

The annual MCP Camping Trip brought together approximately 10 students for a weekend of friendship, fresh air, and a brief but memorable encounter with local wildlife that quickly became the event's breakout star.

Held at the Waterloo Recreation Area during peak fall color season, the trip offered first-year students a chance to get to know their fellow researchers outside the lab. According to organizer Madison Uyemura, the event is one of the program's favorite traditions.

"It's a chance to get to know each other as people, not just scientists," she said.

Of course, scientists never really stop being scientists.

Tigger, the Pale Tiger Moth Caterpillar, who became the camp mascot.The weekend's most celebrated discovery arrived when students spotted a fuzzy caterpillar on a tent. What might have been a passing observation for most campers became a full-fledged scientific investigation.

"We spent probably an hour looking up facts about it," Uyemura admitted.

The group identified their new friend as a Pale Tiger Moth caterpillar (aka the Banded Tussock Moth), researched its life cycle, learned about its defensive spikes, and eventually built it a temporary habitat. The caterpillar, affectionately named Tigger, spent the weekend as an honorary member of the camping party before the group safely released it back into the wild.

"We may have been off the clock," said Uyemura, "but we're always curious."

The caterpillar wasn't the only unexpected attraction.

Students also discovered they had inadvertently scheduled their camping trip alongside what appeared to be a gathering of Bernese mountain dog enthusiasts. The beach became an impromptu viewing gallery as campers watched prize-winning dogs, some sporting ribbons and pulling carts, parade through the area.

"There were beautiful Bernese mountain dogs everywhere," recalled Paula Reichel. "We spent a long time just watching them."

The camping itself was decidedly old-school. Most participants slept on sleeping pads directly on the ground, although one luxury-minded camper reportedly arrived with an inflatable mattress.

Some of the favorite weekend activities included hiking, hanging out with friends, and spending time around the campfire.Despite cool nighttime temperatures that might discourage casual campers, students embraced the outdoor experience. The group spent their days on nature walks, relaxing by the lake, playing card games, exploring a playground clearly intended for a younger demographic, and inventing beachside games such as sand Pictionary.

Evenings centered around the campfire, where conversations lasted late into the night.

"We had dinner around seven or eight," Uyemura said. "Then from about eight until one in the morning, we just sat and talked."

One area where campers were definitely not roughing it was the food.

Reichel praised the campfire menu, which included campfire nachos, baked potatoes, hot dogs, monkey bread, and enough ingredients for a proper s'mores operation. The feast represented a dramatic upgrade from legendary stories of camping trips long ago.

"We were told that years ago it was basically cold spaghetti and sauce," Reichel said.

Cooking over a campfire, Pictionary in the sand, and Hiking through the woods were great bonding times for the students.Beyond the food and outdoor adventures, students emphasized that the trip serves an important purpose. Moving the event into the early fall semester lets newer students build friendships and get advice from more experienced classmates long before lab and coursework pressures reach full intensity.

Because graduate students often struggle to step away from research, the weekend also offered a rare chance to unplug and recharge.

"It forces us to take a break," Reichel said. "And it's a really good way to get everyone together."

Thanks to perfect weather, brilliant fall foliage, and a newly famous caterpillar named Tigger, this year's trip appears to have succeeded on all counts.

As for next year, Uyemura revealed she's been "voluntold" to organize the event again after rave reviews for this year's adventure.

Fortunately for future campers, that probably means one thing:

The era of cold spaghetti remains firmly in the past.

 
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