Timberwolf Trail - Week 19 - 2015-16 Edition

After three days of being stuck inside due to subzero wind chills, getting out today was essential. The cold, crisp air did us wonders.

Before we ventured out, we read a fun twist on Old Man Winter entitled Is That You, Winter?, by Stephen Gammell. After practicing our questioning and predicting with this terrific text, we continued our bird feeder project as we started a brand new bird feeder construction. Though our toilet paper roll feeders are biodegradable, we were excited about more environmentally-friendly options. We did some research and found some popsicle stick options. The class decided on making colorful shape feeder. This week, we focused on squares. Now that they are dry, we will attach pipe cleaners that can be re-used. Our snack of choice will be cheerios. 

We also continued our freezing liquid investigations. Last week, we make "ice ornaments" with water and food coloring. This week, we made them with apple juice. However, with temperatures a balmy 35,  the ornaments were not ready to be hung at the end of the day. We will check again tomorrow morning on our daily hike and Friday trip to the garden for composting.

For easier observation, we deposited our not yet frozen ornaments in the snow outside our classroom windows. Then it was off to the trail to go on a track hunt. My cherubs did have to stop at our oak tree classroom and make snow angels.

After tracking animals near the oak tree classroom, we decided to cut the woods on the way to the snowshoes rack. We found plenty of tracks along the way. I knew snack time must have been close as the class turned to snacking on snow along the way. Some also had fun putting snow on or faces to make snowbeards.

The class found this nest near the treeline and is excited to check it out regularly to see if we can figure out who might have made it.

Then, it was snowshoe time. Five and six year olds and snowshoes provide an interesting dynamic. Testing our perseverance, problem-solving, and communication sills, all children were able to get their shoes on and traverse the freshly fallen snow from the previous day.  As with pretty much everything, practice makes progress so I am excited to keep snowshoeing until we are pros! Based on their happy smiles and excited voices, I don't think they'll mind practicing more.

UPDATE:

Our apple juice ornaments didn't freeze so we will recheck after the weekend. We did however finish and hang up our new bird feeders.

Timberwolf Trail - Week 18 - 2015-16 Edition

Imagine 22 people putting on snowshoes. What if it was their first ever time on snowshoes? What if they were only 5 and 6 years old? Scary???  Maybe. Awesome???  Definitely! When applying for a grant for snowshoes for our school, some may have thought I was crazy. After just this first time out and about with the snowshoes, I think you're crazy if you don't.

Finding the perfect spot to freeze our ice ornaments

Before hitting the trail, we started our first of many weeks of ice experiments. The first step was making ice ornaments with water and food coloring. We placed our concoctions in the snow right outside our classroom so we could inspect them as they froze. When frozen, we hung them in the woods. In future weeks, we will repeat the process using different liquids. From there, we will discuss our observations abut each different ornament and hopefully figure out factors that impact the longevity of the ornaments (temperatures, interest from animals, etc.)

Snowshoe cart

After placing our ornaments in the snow, we wheeled our fresh out of the box snowshoes and cart out to one end of our trail and proceeded to take a long hike around the playground and school in search of tracks. We found kid tracks, car/bus tracks, and adult tracks. Then, as we headed to the other end of the trail, we reviewed the different types of tracks discussed in our beginning of the day indoor lesson.

On the prowl for tracks

Found some!

Found more!

We found lots of tracks. Most were deer, squirrel, and the dogs that walk through the trail, though coyotes and others are sure to visit when we aren't there. I was impressed that with just a few simple guiding questions, students were able to recognize how different tracks can tell us the size of the animal and if it was walking or running.

Trailblazing the freshly fallen snow

It was a science experiment type of day, so after heading off the trail, a field of untrampled snow awaited us. We first trekked it with just our boots before putting on the snowshoes and trying it again to notice the differences. However, just walking in the snowshoes wasn't enough.

Snowshoe time!

We relaxed in some snow forts, played snowshoe baseball, and practiced making letters with our new amazing and fun tools. 

Snack time

After taking a snack break, we noticed a haw swoop down. He appeared to catch something from the meadow. As we quietly (as quiet as a group of kindergartners approached), he flew off, essentially made a huge circle around the entire property and surrounding area and then flew directly back to the tree once we were a safer distance away.

Hawk up near the top with its own snack

He's back!

Before natural play time, we went on a stick hunt. Over the next few weeks, besides continuing our liquid ornament experiments, we will be creating stick-shaped bird feeders and planning and constructing a mouse house for the little critters that reside around the school.

Snow baseball

During play time, I was summoned over to a very excited group of girls who found fungi. The next morning, it was back outside to check and hang our ornaments. With the temperatures hovering right around freezing, out ornaments were very popsicle-like and after being placed on a tree of the child;s choice, it didn't take long before some melting began. It was rather pretty. With temperatures predicted to dip into single digits next week, I don't think we will have that same issue next time around.

Melting ice ornament make quite a beautiful picture

Hung ice ornaments

Nature in Your Own Backyard

Being a fledgling forest kindergarten teacher, I have read and researched ample articles and books on the importance of the immersion of nature and unstructured play in the development of children. Being a parent to a toddler, I have also zoomed in on raising a wild child who appreciates nature and all it has to offer. This burst in research correlated with my ever-growing passion for outdoor education and environmental learning, my desire to provide wonderful natural experiences for my daughter, and my disdain for what I was required to do in my teaching career. Yet in all my research, I feel I have neglected a rich and remarkable option: the nature in my own backyard.

One of our favorite trees

Now, technically, the area I am about to describe in the official backyard of my neighbors across the street, but lucky for me, the entrance to this area is just down the block. I also never really neglected in the sense that I didn't use it, but now I use it for so much more.  Prior to the birth of my daughter, it was a shortcut to the movie theater or a more exciting walk for my dogs. Now it is a forest kindergarten teacher's and nature-loving daddy's dream come true. With prairie, forests, marshy areas, and water, it is ideal for outdoor education.

The pond

A forest stream

Tree Tunnel

The undeveloped land adjacent to my neighbor is apparently an important habitat for the Butler's garter snake, so it is not able to be subdivided up for commercial and recreational use. That is fine with me! I am not sure who does it, but someone takes care of the land for the neighborhood. I'd love to meet them and learn more about the history of the land.

From the entrance

One of the various intersecting trails

My family has already had many adventures there. As I aforementioned, taking it as a shortcut to the movie theater or trivia at Applebee's were the main source of our adventures prior to parenthood. With the dogs and eventually the daughter, it became a source of exploration and recreation. Many natural treasures were found. A deer leg was a bit concerning. The entire decomposing carcass next to the pond was oddly fascinating. Hummingbird sightings were great, but seeing the great horned owl was amazing. Occasionally running into other neighbors who use this hidden gem is always interesting, Seeing how many people have explored the land and built forts only makes me want to visit there more often. Walking through the prairie portion and weakly attempting to identify wildflowers. Ducking underneath the tree"tunnels" my daughter loves. Startling deer out of the brush and admiring their spronking away.There is always adventure to see and enjoy outside.

Embry points out the tower every time

Now however, looking at it and experiencing through the eyes of a forest kindergarten teacher and environmentally-enthusiastic father, I can only imagine what is there for us to explore in the future!

2016 First Day Hike - Tyke Hike #19

Winter can certainly change plans quickly. With below zero wind chills overnight and stiff breezes expected throughout the day, There was a moment of trepidation when I thought back on how all the work volunteers from the Waukesha/Milwaukee County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance could go for naught if Old Man Winter and Mother Nature got together and made it unbearable.  Luckily they did not and over 160 hikers and probably a dozen doggies ventured out on one of the three hiking options available for all guests.

I was responsible for leading one of the shorter hikes meant for more of the crowd's younger hikers. Approximately 40 people joined in on this hike. It was wonderful to have some special guests from Hike It Baby Milwaukee and Hike It Baby Waukesha come experience a Tyke Hike. Sadly, my official co-hike leader and nature-loving toddler took the morning off. She'll be back on the trail in no time.

Besides hearing some of my terrible jokes and putting up with teachers knack for taking advantage of multiple and unexpected teachable moments, my group seemed pleased with their experience.

Hiking from Lapham Peak's incredible nature center and heading on an adventurous trek near the butterfly garden, through a marvelous meadow, and off trail through a pine grove, we all managed to survive and have some fun on our way to the Ice Age Trail and to the park's famed tower.

Then it was back to the nature center's downstairs for treats and hot chocolate before heading upstairs to explore the wonderful collection of natural and educational materials and visit the friendly and furry mascot of the Ice Age Trail, Monty the Mammoth.

It was a great to kick off 2016! With the Tyke Hike program expanding, my daughter getting older and wiser, and my forest kindergarten concept just starting to bloom, there will be plenty of more tales from the trails ahead.