Timberwolf Trail - Week 24 & Retzer Experence #4 - 2019-20 Edition

It was a week for the birds. Our good friends from the Retzer Nature Center joined us as we learned about our feathered friends.

We heard a wonderful story about ways to identify different kinds of birds and then practiced using a poster of everyday birds.

We discussed owl features, learned about their adaptations, and investigated their pellets.

Looking to help our bird friends in a cold, bleak winter, we made bagel ornaments using lard and sunflower seeds.

We checked out different wing styles and feathers while learning how birds use them to get around.

Then it was time to head outside and place our bagel feeders out for the birds.

Speaking of bird friends, we have checked out our new eagle pair as they hopefully prepare their nest for eggs.

We then turned our attention to beaks and what birds eat.

But why read it and write about it when you can eat like a bird!

With nuts, seeds, fish, meat, insects, and fruit (sort of), we used different tools and practiced using different beaks to eat.

Time to play in the snow! We snowshoed around the entire trail and it was a workout.

We then decided to do some research using our "snow" tablets.

We played Stacking Snow and enjoyed a wonderful week of winter.

Timberwolf Trail - Week 23 - 2019-20 Edition

Day 100, Valentine's Day, and the coldest week of the year. What a combination!

We found a way to stay sane and enjoy the bright and blinding winter sun.

We looked for animal tracks while making many of our own. The kids loved trailblazing in the fresh blanket of snow.

This week, we also continued our collaboration with Children's Hospital of Wisconsin by hosting our Cookies for a Cause event. Families donated cookies and my kids sold them.

We enjoyed plenty of laughs, donated over $600 to a fantastic organization, and had plenty of sweet treats to enjoy.

When the wind chill was well below zero, we kept ourselves entertained inside. We used creative classroom materials to cross country ski around the classroom and added more to our growing igloo.

At the first chance to head back outside, we did.

Tyke Hike #72 - Hartland

It was an icy stroll, but 31 hiking enthusiasts made their way to Centennial Park in Hartland to trek the trail on a bright winter morning.

Starting off the hike with some natural play in an area that has been tremendously cleared by amazing volunteers over the past year or so, we enjoyed picturesque views of the Bark River, collected walking sticks, swung from some vines, and tossed snowballs into the water. We also had an important mini lesson on making sure to bop every blaze.

Unfortunately, the slippery and sloppy conditions didn't allow all our guests to make the entire trek but those that did make it to the end of our walk enjoyed the kid-titled duck party. Many, many mallards did their best to avoid us on our walk along the river, but we saw and heard them anyways.

The tykes did an awesome job in less than ideal hiking condiditons. I look forward to an even sloppier hike in March, though this time it will be on purpose. The first ever Mud Appreciation Hike will be on March 14th at 10AM on the Monches Segment, Hope to see you there!

Timberwolf Trail - Week 22 - 2019-20 Edition

If Punxsutawney Phil is correct and winter is in the way out, we will do everything we can to enjoy it. Forget the cold. Ignore the chill. Get outside, play and explore.

When we weren;t plahying and explorigninside, we were beginning a new picture book pen pal project with our new friend: Pat Zietlow Miller. This Wisconsin author has a number of amazing books that inspire and uplift.

In our indoor play time, we've spent time investigating the many artifacts in our nature center and starting to build an igloo with our collected recyclables.

We've also connected with a new bald eagle family closer to home. We are excited and hopeful for eggs soon.

In our play, we 've already starting talking about spring. If the kids are half as excited as I am, it is going to be spectacular. We basically live outside once Old Man Winter leaves.

Back inside, we continued our feathered friends unit by reading about and creating nests using various art supplies.

Feeling the need for more play, we headed back outside and noticed a number of saplings planted last year. This always gives us hope that spring is on the way.

With birds on our minds, I showed the class the snag that is at the back of our land. This is always been a great tree to observe if interested in woodpeckers. I also had a few students ask to take a look at some of our nest boxes to see if anyone had shacked up for the winter. They hadn't. . .yet.