Timberwolf Trail - Week 30 - Retzer Experience #6 - 2018-19 Edition

It was a week of service and springtime on the trail. With the assistance of some fourth grade friends, nature kindergarteners planted spruce trees provided from a DNR program.

After planting the new saplings, we trekked to the other side of the trail to see saplings that have survived since our planting last year.

We also had the pleasure of getting another visit from our Retzer Nature Center. In spite of the drizzly 40 degree "spring" weather, we enjoyed a hike searching for the signs of spring. We found

fresh nests in some of our birdboxes, goldenrod galls,

worm hills and tracks,

scat and fungus.

After the spring search, we headed inside for some stations.

We kicked off on station #1 with some frog activities.

I especially enjoyed the frog concert.

In Station #2, we learned about seeds by acting out their role in nature and dissecting them.

The third and final station focused on pollinators. We learned who they are and why they are important.

We also enjoyed role-playing pollinators and flowers.

It was back to work on the trail and we continued our wood chipping.

Excitement filled the air once a few students discovered a new fallen tree. It is long and will be a perfect balancing board for years to come.

We also had our first few official sessions for our participation in the Natural Resources Foundation's  Great Wisconsin Birdathon.

We saw and heard many feathered friends, with nature kindergarteners correctly identifying seven  birds so far: robin, wren, chickadee, hawk, turkey vulture, killdeer, and woodpecker.

Of course, wonderful work led to passionate play. What better way to wrap up the week than to haven egg hunt on the trail.

Timberwolf Trail - Week 29 - 2018-19 Edition

Before Old Man Winter returned for his final stand (hopefully), we enjoyed some spring fun in the trail.

In preparation for our participation in the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin's Great Wisconsin Birdathon, we birded a practice round, identifying some turkey vultures and hearing a number of other species.

We played as well. These boys are constructing a Nature Research Center.

It's not all play. We did some service work as well, repairing damaged rail with a nice layer of woods chips.

Of .course, there was still time to play

We also kicked off planting season with a few pea plants that we will grow in the classroom and transplant into our school garden later in the spring.

Spring is coming! I swear, Besides, why would the groundhog lie? 😉

Timberwolf Trail - Week 28 - 2018-19 Edition

Spring appears to have sprung, which means we will be outside even more than we already do. Birding, pulling invasive species, maintaining the trail, learning, and having fun!

Our week started off with celebrating our participation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' trail camera program, Snapshot Wisconsin. Recently, we created  a music video to share our excitement about our trail camera and sent it to the staff. They were generous enough to send certificates and magnets to each child.

Then, it was time to head out. We continued work with our Sit Spots,

shared our findings,

and journaled our experience in our nature notebooks.

We also took advantage of the thawed ground to replace our butterfly garden signs, hoping to see some of these lovely plants sooner than later.

My engineering friends also wanted to stabilize one of our trees.😀

This week, we also received our next set of Forest Friend pen pal letters from our friends in Moretown, Vermont.

Brainstorming, searching for , and artistically creating a signs of spring foldable was also one of our activities.

The highlight of the week was the culmination of our mini-unit on cranes, a visit from the International Crane Foundation.

After discussing cranes as a whole group,

we broke into groups and

practiced crane communication,

drew a whooping crane,

ate like a crane,

and learned about things people are doing to keep cranes safe.

One of our friends brought in a chicken egg so we compared egg sizes as well.

I think a few more Craniacs have been hatched.