Tyke Hike #68 - Eagle & Old World Wisconsin

Nine hikers and one four-legged friend trekked a beautiful section of the Ice Age Trail's Eagle Segment this morning.

Be .sides many gorgeous views, we found plenty of critters. From caterpillars to frogs, something exciting was around very corner.

We enjoyed "nature popcorn," also known as grasshoppers bouncing and bounding alongside many of our steps.

The switching back from prairie to forest offered great views of native wildflowers and amazing oak trees.

Eventually, we got to Brady's Rocks, a natural outcropping of the Niagara Escarpment. The girls trekked around the loop while the boys napped and relaxed.

On the route back to the start, Oakley made sure to every blaze while Embry was on the lookout for trash. It makes me proud to see her being such a steward for the trail and nature.

The spur route to the natural spring was a bit overgrown and muddy, but seeing some frogs made the scratches and muddy hiking boots worthwhile.

Finishing the hike with some manual labor to get water is becoming a tradition every time we visit this spot.

We even saw some of our favorite feathered friends.

Of course, when in Eagle, it is imperative to stop at another one of our favorite places: Old World Wisconsin. Turns out it was historic brewing weekend, so it was a win for everyone.

We enjoyed threshing to separate seeds,

learning about how flavors are extracted from the barley and oats,

drying the hops,

milling,

and seeing the process of brewing up close and personal.

The girls even enjoyed their first beer. . .root beer that is.

Timberwolf Trail - Week 2 - 2019-20 Edition

In our first full week of school, nature kindergarten celebrated a number of firsts.

Our first trip to the fallen tree forest.

Our first outdoor math lesson, a review of measuring and comparing length.

Our first student choice hike. The class chose a return trip to the natural play area.

Our first trip to the inside tree.

Our first tree climbing lesson.

We also had our first "caught in the rain" experience and first bee stings, but all in all, it was a wonderful week together.

It has only been seven days, but I can't wait to see these "firsts" turn into so much more.

Timberwolf Trail - Week 1 - 2019-20 Edition

Another year of nature kindergarten is well underway. While we only had two days together this week, the newest class of nature-lovers definitely enjoyed our time outside.

On our first day, we kicked off our time on the Timberwolf Trail with a hike around the portion of it. We walked past the butterfly garden,

and through the hidden forest. We then stopped to grab some sticks and learn some stick safety expectations.

On the second and final day of our week, a pleasant surprise visit allowed our first impromptu trip to the trail. In the middle of writing time, we noticed a pair of sandhill cranes just outside our room. Of course, this was a perfect time to head out and get a closer look.

It is always fun to indulge in these unexpected opportunities. We discussed some crane facts, sat and observed these beautiful birds, and then waved goodbye to our feather friends.

Since we were already outside, we might as well stay there. We traveled to the natural play area, an area we had not visited yet.

Based on how well the class did and how much creativity and problem-solving they displayed, we will definitely head there again very soon.

After some wonderful natural play, we ended our time outside with our first official tick check of the year.

One week is over and many are left to go. It will be a phenomenal year of nature kindergarten!

Devil's Lake

When you're battling Father Time in an attempt to squeeze out every last opportunity to explore before school begins, you head to one of the best places to explore: Devil's Lake State Park.

After some nature play warm ups in the parking area, we decided to tackle the more treacherous East Bluffs Trail.

Whenever the girls seemed a bit tired, an opportunity to do some rock climbing rejuvenated them.

My two elephants loved showing off their trunks at Elephant Rock. It still looks more like a buffalo to me.

Whether it was a snail or a decomposing tree, we took regular stops along the trail to get a closer look and feel at the wonderful world of nature around us.

We took a break from the bluffs and took the East Bluff Woods trail back to wrap up another lovely day with Mother Nature.