Timberwolf Trail - Week 19 - 2016-17 Edition

We kicked off February with a wonderful winter. We headed right for our natural play area, where we crowned a new Stick Champion.

On the way, we saw many tracks and one of the woolly bears on the land.

Then, it was off to the fallen tree forest to set our newly-created pretzel garlands and other assorted snacks out for our furry and feathered friends.

For natural play, almost everyone set out to capture the coyote. Earlier in the morning, we looked through our trail camera captures from the previous month and saw our coyote friend. Now. it was time to catch him :)  While he is still loose, everyone swore they found his tracks.

The class also engaged in various other activities. From playing their own versions of stick champions, construction snow and ice castles, and finding each others "secret hideout," it was a busy natural play time.

Before heading in, we enjoyed some impromptu Snow Yoga. While the idea came to me while the class was gathering, I think it might be a regular activity from here on out. We enjoyed many poses, including. . .

the snowman,

the figure skater,

the speed skater,

the toboggan or bobsled,

and the class favorite, the blizzard.

Timberwolf Trail - Trail Camera Captures- January 2017 Edition

Another exciting month on the trail. While the vast majority of the shots were of our cottontail and white-tailed deer friends, we did have a few new captures, including one I have been waiting for . . .

Hello dear deer

Triple deer

Spronking deer

Raccoon

Peter Rabbit

Foggy squirrel

Female Cardinal

Wile E. Coyote :)

Tyke Hike #35 - Loew Lake

Winter returned after a few weeks of unusually (but appreciated) warm temperatures. Eleven bundled up adventurers set out on the beautiful Loew Lake Segment for natural exploration.

While we waited for more friends to arrive, a few tykes enjoyed sledding down the hill at the edge of the parking lot. But the real action took place on the trail.

Walking sticks in hand, the children led us through the pine forest and down to the frosty Oconomowoc River, bopping blazes along the way.

We stopped for some natural play at one of our favorite spots, affectionately named "the canoe tree." Though a bit too frigid today, we normally see people in kayaks and canoes on the river. However, even when we don't, we use a fallen down and hollowed put tree trunk on the edge of the river to enjoy the feel of a canoe while snapping a few cute pictures.

Of course, freshly fallen snow requires snow angels.

Our second natural play stop is a collection of fallen trees adjacent to the trail. Children always a get an adventure out of testing their limits on this wonderful area. The snow-capped limbs also added a new element of discovery.

Under adult guidance, a few children even used their walking sticks as fishing poles

One of my favorite spots of this segment is a patch of younger pines in the shadows of their towering relatives. Covered in snow, it made an even more picturesque scene, though my camera did not do it justice.

On the way back, we made sure to stop multiple times for "stump jumps."

Another wonderful morning of nature. Come join us at Pike Lake on February 25th.

Timberwolf Trail - Week 18 - 2016-17 Edition

Before Mother Nature could wet us down with sleet slowly transforming into snow, my nature kindergartners created some treats for animals. Whether making peanut butter feeders, pretzel necklaces or gathering up some old snacks donated to our space, we enjoyed preparing a feast for our animal friends.

Once outside, it was a puzzle of trying to figure out where we could put our new food creations. Some tried to place them in a cozy and warm spot. Some wanted their food to be up high. Some were fine with putting their treats at ground level. Either way, by the time we check out this spot tomorrow, I'm sure much of the food will have been already enjoyed.

When we left this area to explore, the weather turned from "rain snow" to mini snowballs." We enjoyed catching the snowballs with our tongues and winter gear as we headed to our hidden forest.

When exploring the hidden forest, we stopped to search for evidence of animal activity. I also showed them the spot where I spotted an owl earlier this week. The class went searching for all sort of nature before natural play took over (though the two are essentially the same thing most of the time).

While investigating the kids and their play, I noticed lots of climbing, digging, and creative game play. One student was making "stick art" by drawing in the snow. Another student found
"slime" oozing from a tree.

I even saw that the tarp we laid down a few months back was still doing well and ready for future restoration.

But what happened at the end of our time outside was the most exciting. The kids shown below noticed me walking up to the are we call the grass class. They knew that this is where we were meeting to end our nature day. However, not wanting me to get there, they formed a student barrier.

When I asked them why, they said that if I couldn't get to the grass class, I couldn't blow the whistle and "we could stay outside forever."