Week two of Saunters brought around forty second and third graders out and about on the trails. We started the week at Woodside's Timberwolf Trail and connected to a theme right away: toads. This group was VERY motivated by these bumpy, hopping friends.
However besides the many toads, we found a Copeland's Tree Frog as well. A very cool and new fund for the trail.
Our adventures also brought us monarch caterpillars and visits to some of the bird boxes to finds eggs and fledglings of various bird species.
We toured the trail, engaged in natural play, and of course, found many toads.
Day two brought us to the nature trail at Hamilton High School.
Before the rains came, we searched for and discussed the life cycles of trees.
Of course, when we work hard, we play hard as well.
And guess, what. . .we found toads.
After a twenty-minute monsoon, we took our need to find shelter as a teachable moment for how animals need to find shelter as well. We decided to help them out by designing and creating shelters along the trail.
The designs were fun and creative and the kids had a blast. Later in the week, many had already shared their desire to go back and add to their structure.
On day three, we stepped on the Ice Age Trail in the Ice Age Tail Community of Hartland.
We bopped blazes,
traversed boardwalks,
crossed streets,
tested out some of Hartland's playgrounds,
searched for frogs and toads,
checked out interpretive displays at the library,
traveled Ice Age Trail alley,
played,
cooled off in the Bark River,
and found turtles and frogs.
On day four, we checked out Pike Lake State Forest and some of the wonderful glacial and natural features located there, like this marker tree.
Hard to believe, but we found some toads as well.
We also find lots of time to explore and play and scale the tower where we met. . .
the tower toad.
While on the tower, our hears skipped a beat or two as a helicopter flew right over us, close us enough to have the pilot wave
We recovered from that thrill and made our way back to the bus, stopping for a photo at one of my favorite and more memorable spots along the trail: diaper-changing rock.
We wrapped up the week with a visit to Lapham Peak. Inspired by the Art on the Trail movement we decided to try our hand in unique photography. Hopefully, you can read it.😀
We scaled the steps,
found slugs on blazes,
danced with dolomite,
explored off trail,
searched for toads and found bugs,
and then searched for bugs and found toads.
It was a TOADally amazing week of Saunters!
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