Gray Squirrels 2017-18: Week 3 - Bird Language & Fox Feet
Opening Circle We started our Opening Circle this morning with a new song that mimics the calls song birds use with one another to check in while they're foraging for food. This was a fun introduction to a bird language discussion that would continue throughout the day. Ms. Kathryn then led us through a sense meditation where we noticed the smallest things that we could possibly hear and smell. After sharing gratitudes, and while having snack, Ms. Britt told the "Firekeepers"
Herons 2017-18: Week 2 - Forts & Eagle Eye
Opening Circle Brrr! It's starting to feel like Fall in the woods! At Opening Circle today we welcomed some new friends to the Heron Tribe! We shared gratitudes, reviewed agreements and celebrated as our new friends picked Nature Names. Morning Games and Wander While some of us enjoyed a snack, we were entertained by our less-hungry friends to a rousing round of Animal Charades! Just like the game sounds, one of us would act out an animal and the rest of us would guess what i
Fireflies Fall 2017: Week 4 - Nature Names & Eagle Eye
Opening Circle & Nature Names Today we wandered straight to the Sand Pit to have our Opening Circle since it is becoming one of our favorite places in the park. After sharing gratitudes and stretching through a Sun Salutation, we had a special ceremony where we each picked a Nature Name (or did the Nature Name pick us?) To pick our names, we each reached into a satchel of animal names, and received names such as "Yellow Bellied Slider," "Belted Kingfisher" and "Ground Skink."
Tadpoles 2017-18: Week 2 - Pine Forest & Mud Banks
Opening Circle We had a special guest at opening circle this morning, the owner and caretaker of the land, Mr. Foy! He joined our preschool class while we shared gratitudes and picked a nature name for a new friend. We sang some songs, stretched through a Sun Salutation, and ate a snack to get us ready for the day. Wander/Mud Banks While on our wander to the Pine Thicket, we found an awesome place for practicing our climbing skills- steep mud banks with plenty of roots to cli
Gray Squirrels 2017-18: Week 2 - Scouting & Stretching Awareness
Opening Circle After sharing gratitudes this morning, and while eating snack, we heard a rustling in the trees. Who could it be? Maybe Squirrel? While stretching our awareness to see what else we could hear, Ava spotted movement from a different direction. "It's a turtle!" she exclaimed! We all gathered around turtle, and through careful observation, learned how to differentiate between male and female turtles. We determined this one was male based on the slight concave area
Fireflies Fall 2017: Week 3 - Animal Habitats & Exploration
Opening Circle We started today's opening circle with a new "Circle Song" and each shared something we are grateful. One friend's gratitude for cheetahs, which is considered a "vulnerable" species at high risk of becoming endangered, sparked a discussion about endangered species. We talked about the impacts humans can have on the lives of wild animals, and how being mindful and limiting our environmental impacts can help prevent animals from becoming vulnerable or endangered.
Herons 2017-18: Week 1 - Scouting & Hazards
Opening Circle We started our day with a song, and sharing our names and one thing we were grateful for this morning. So many gratitudes! Agreements Part of being in community with other people is having agreements about how we are going to treat each other, the land and the other living beings we share our space with. Some of the agreements we came up with for our program are: Respect for all Living Beings, packing out anything we bring with us, and keeping ourselves and our
Tadpoles 2017-18: Week 1 - Fairy Houses & Climbing Trees
Opening Circle We started our morning with some songs, and each friend shared something that they were grateful for. We had a snack and listened to one of our friends teach us her favorite new song. Secret Trail to pond We decided to be bold on our first wander and took the less traveled path up a steep hill where we discovered a beautiful spot along the Mill Pond. We had fun tossing rocks, leaves, and other found objects into the pond, and explored which objects sink, which
Gray Squirrels 2017-18: Week 1 - Games & Nature Names
We had so much fun on our first day! We agreed on how we are going to treat each other and all living beings. We played fun games that taught us about being in the woods with out even realizing we were learning! We picked our nature names (or did the nature name pick us?) and listened to some exciting stories. While we waited for our friends to arrive, we played a couple rounds of Raccoon Steals Donut. This Nature Connect classic encourages teamwork and awareness - and it's s
Fireflies Fall 2017: Week 2 - Sensory Awareness & Shelter Building
Today's forecast was looking pretty rainy, but that doesn't slow us down! We suited up in rain gear, packed a tarp for makeshift shelter, and headed into the woods for an adventure. Opening Circle At opening circle we shared gratitudes - lots of appreciation for trees today - and stories of the critters we saw over the last week. Mason shared that he went exploring on an island this week, and saw a green snake. How exciting! It still looked like it may rain at this point, so
