I have come to love these small groups of explorers. On this day we could have really used our “shed,” full of supplies, but since people (kids on weekends or evenings?) keep disassembling it and taking our stuff, I had to haul it home for the summer until I can locate a more sturdy and lockable vessel for the fall. Any donations toward something like that would be most welcome!
Toward the end of our session we passed through the yard belonging to the land-owner who allows us to learn on his property. We met him for the first time ever and everyone nicely thanked him for letting us explore there. Thank you, Mr. Larry!
What a lovely and perfect place to be a spider! Thank you, Spiders, for catching mosquitoes. We were not enjoying the ones you did not yet catch!Always so happy to be doing her own thing in the woods!Hmm. Deeper than expected!At first she worried that someone would be mad that she didn’t have her “exploring” clothes on, but she soon forgot about it and just had fun.Look out! When she’s on a mission, there’s no stopping her!Hello, frog!
3 different types of fernThere is plenty of space for everyone to have their own frog-hunting area, but they insist on crowding together to get one frog!
Everyone was so excited to have caught such a very large frog, a green frog, but I finally insisted they let the poor thing go on its way. The frogs were exhausted, I think.“What happens if…”“He likes it!” (Or maybe he’s giving up on freedom?)It was uncomfortably hot up on the playground, but down in the swamp it was shady and pleasant.A new plant for me to look up!
She is one of the most observant and detail-oriented learners! She spotted the look alike swamp blueberry bush by recognizing the tiny, unripe “blueberries.”
I think there’s a kid in this photo… somewhere…. the swamp was SO different now! O. wanted to go to her secret spots but quickly turned back when she realized how easy it would be to get lost now. It’s time for orange vests, whistles, and compasses!The fiddle-heads have become full sized ferns!How many kids can hide behind one fern?He’s always so happy out here!We love the Tilted Tree.K. enjoys the “slide” feature of the Tilted Tree.D. is demonstrating what he would have to do if one of the branches was missing.Mid-jump!Climbing is so good for the body and soul!
I am an and outdoor educator with a master's in early childhood development. I taught elementary school for 20 years and now own Woods and Wetlands LLC, offering programs for local children to engage in nature study through play and exploration-based learning. My programs are all outdoors in whatever "wild" spaces are available. I live in Rockford, Michigan with my husband, dog, and three cats. My unique, therapeutic, one and a half hour programs help children to connect with the natural world and with themselves.
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