Transformed by the Trail

Being the caretaker for an outdoor classroom comes with a lot of responsibility. For the last three years, I have spent countless hours planning and improving (hopefully) the outdoor classroom.  I remember going there with my lawnmower and mowing out the trail I had designed. I remember just walking the trail with my daughter, looking over the land for potential hazards and imaging all the things I could do with my students.

Every year, I aim to improve it. Whether it be by adding some spur trails off the main path, adding birdboxes, removing invasive species. and/or getting grant money to add a butterfly garden and more native planting, my goal is to make this space a space for all to enjoy and use.

Seeing the nature kindergarten classroom I piloted turn into a whole grade level collaboration with the Retzer Nature Center and then seeing that program be so successful, it is now expanding to the entire school.

It is all more than I could have imagined.

I spent this last Sunday mowing the trail. It gave me a lot of time to think. I usually think about how I can make the land better, unique lesson ideas, new service projects, etc. However, my mind was distressed this weekend.

I know change is good and for the last few years I have been working to try and get other teachers to try out the trail and trust that time outside will help. It is an extra time commitment in an already time-constrained profession, but I felt strongly that more time outside would improve the entire experiences for all our kids.

Let's just say there were mixed reviews. Many tried it and provided great and positive feedback. Some struggles to get it into their tight schedules. Some ignored it and maybe even threw some figurative daggers my way for trying to implement change.  

However, as my team took the risk and reaped the benefits of outdoor learning, the "positive pressure" to get more kids outside was evident. More and more teachers tried it. And, more and more community members took notice and wanted more. 

So I knew that with that "positive pressure" being felt by others, I knew I might get some grief.

And I did. Over the last few weeks, I've felt terrible about it. I've felt guilty for being "responsible" for this change. Some colleagues told me that I am taking my passion and essentially forcing it on them. It hurt. It really did.

But then, as I was mowing the trail and just thinking, I immersed myself in the land. I saw deer, heard birds, and felt a crisp breeze. Fresh blossoms sweetened the air. Toads hopped alongside me as I mowed. Nature calmed me.

Then it hit me. I was feeling guilty, down and out, and dejected because I was trying to please everyone. This was and is an impossible task.

This isn't about me. This isn't about the other teachers. This isn't about the administration. THIS IS ABOUT KIDS!

So I'm OK with feeling the daggers, getting heat from other adults, and being responsible for this change. Because it isn't about me.

Take the kids outside. See what happens, It might not be your cup of tea. But if you're doing this for yourself, does it really matter anyways?

Embry and I on the first ever hike on the Timberwolf Trail

Natural play area being born. . .those logs were heavy

The Timberwolf Trail from above

Tyke Hike #54 - Delafield

It was a great night for a Tyke Hike. 61 hikers agreed as it was one of our biggest tyke hikes to date.

After reading a picture book about animals we might encounter along the river, we headed out for a nice trek on the trail. Starting off at the memorial boardwalk, we went to a more natural path and found some fun play spots along the way.

Besides some tree climbing, guests enjoyed a nice foot bath in the river.

We also found some critters. A family released two frogs they had caught earlier in the day,

we found many dragonflies (and luckily, not too many mosquitoes),

and spotted birds, fish, and even this turtle.

Once we reached Liberty Park, a group of kids explored on their own while some others played an Ice Age Trail question came I called "Frogs and Flies."

We then discussed some specifics about the Ice Age Trail, how families can help the trail's progress, and how to officially "bop blazes."

Of course, once we reached the starting point and handed out certificates and schedules, we couldn't pass up a pretty unique playground,

Even chapter secretary and Ice Age Trail volunteer extraordinaire Kevin couldn't pass up the opportunity to play.

Timberwolf Trail - Trail Camera Captures - Spring 2018 Edition

Enjoy a number of shots from March though My on the Timberwolf Trail.

Sunset deer

Snow deer

Lassie. . .Timmy fell in a well.

Squirrels on the run

Owl

Sunset Deer

Northern Flicker

Eat those ticks Mr. Opossum

Raccoon on the run

Aren't you supposed to be in Canada?

Alvin, Simon, or Theodore

See you in summer. Are you listening?

Timberwolf Trail - Week 38- 2017-18 Edition - Final Week

Hard to believe, but we are nearing the end of another amazing year of nature kindergarten. It has been an awesome year of citizen science, service, and outdoor adventure. Of course, with just a few days left, we only had one small service project left. While we already have a pretty awesome rock pile, we also have another area the kids call the gravel pile. We had a family donate a number of rocks which we are adding to the gravel pile and turning into another fun nature construction area for next year.

We are leaving plenty of time open to natural play in our last week. While kids have free time on the trial, it is great to see them try out new things and return to some of their favorites.

We had our final birding session and low and behold, who did we run into but a small group of turkeys. We saw a tom doing his best to impress two hens. The kids were mesmerized and decided to some "tracking" turkey work into the woods.

Of course, we did a lot of bug hunting and tree climbing but we also did some natural decorating. With some of our donated birdboxes, the kids added their names and I will place them throughout the land this summer.

We also had a nature kindergarten-wide celebration where we decorated tree cookies,

Post tree cookie decorating sapling drawing

jump roped,

hula hooped,

tossed balls and frisbees,

and played catch.

And in better late than never news, our trail sign was finally officially installed.