Southeastern NC

Today we explored fire and wood skills in greater depth. We started out warming up around the fire working on creating bow-drill friction fire kits. We identified all the parts we needed to make and started working on spindles. After getting out spindles into shape, we found some cedar boughs that naturally had a good "bow" shape. Fire boards, or hearthboards, made from cedar shims and we were ready to put it all together! Ashlyn had a complete kit by the end of the day. Here

We opened our Tuesday gathering with the Deer Bounding Challenge!. This game allows us to leap like deer over our backpacks. The challenge is that the obstacle gets bigger with every additional backpack! This week we were responsible for creating the fire with guidance from Ms. Kathryn and Ms. Devin. Through asking "yes or no" questions to Ms. Devin and Ms. Kathryn, we successfully laid down a pine straw bed, built a foundation, and successfully lit a fire! Owen and West look

Wow! Does the time fly with the Fireflies! We had fun this week exploring the perimeter of the land and getting to know the place - especially where all the good climbing spots are! We also explored some interesting side trails -some connected and others just abruptly stopped. It was very curious. We played some fun games that got us using our senses. Ninja works on refining reflexes using our sense of sight. Otter Steals Fish requires us to use our sense of hearing while bli

Our second week was a bit of a chilly one! This week we worked as a community to build a fire in the fire pan and experimented with shelter building techniques. Before opening circle and gratitudes, we had free play and some of us worked on expanding a shelter that our friends in the Tuesday group had begun. Jack standing next to the shelter additions. After sharing our gratitudes and having snack, we played one of our favorite games- Ninja! We flexed our story telling muscle

We had a lovely day in the woods! It was cool, but drowsy warm in the sunshine, the perfect day for exploring the woods. We started out our day sharing our opening circle with the Tadpoles. We sang a song together with them and shared something we were grateful for. After opening circle the Bobcats left on a mission while the Tadpoles had snack. Our mission was to find a fun spot for the Tadpoles to set up camp and leave signs along the trail to lead them to it. After we foun

Malena and Ember enjoyed spending time with each other again, there was a lot of giggling, role playing and tag. Ember helped Malena and I search for our fairy house that we created last week. We didn't find it, but we built a new one. Malena and Ember pretended to be rabbits and named Ms. Sierra the fox to chase them! We had so much fun switching roles. We also role played as birds and deer. Ember and Malena enjoyed discovering the Discovery Scope at the pond where Malena le

The woods come alive the day after a warm rain and we had plenty to explore! After a long wander through some new territory, a few rounds of Wildlife is Watching, a new story telling game and lunch, we had a lovely afternoon improving upon our Squirrel Village from last week. We saw lots of new life in the form of mushrooms and fungus and plenty of animal sign - in the form of scat! There was an impending (imaginary) hurricane descending upon Squirrel Village, so we worked t

Half of the group started the program hiking down the trails with Sierra leaving arrows for the rest of the group with Kathryn and Brinkley to follow. Not only did the arrows, help the second group was able to find the first group by following their ears! We caught up quickly following a shortcut Sadie knew! Mason, Jackson, Jack, and Sierra found a decent spot on the trail to spread out for "Fire in the Forest." Mason and Sadie helped explain the game to their new friends an

Welcome Back Herons! We had a chilly first day back at program, but got to explore something we don't often get to - ice! Because of the cold rain that fell the night before, most of the fuel around the woods was wet. Working together to break some bigger logs, we were able to get the fire going. After opening circle and sharing gratitudes we taught Ms. Brinkley how to play one of our favorite games - Oh! Deer! This activity explores the predator/prey/natural resources relati

Our teens had a fun day exploring both the woods around camp, identifying animal tracks and sign, whittling, and making tinder bundles for friction fire! Our teens and preschool meet on the same day and share opening and closing circles together. It was chilly this morning, so before opening circle, the teens helped get the fire going by making tinder bundles. We shared gratitudes and went on a wander. We were on the hunt to find animal track and sign and we sure did! In addi