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Thanksgiving in the Forest

So grateful for yet another beautiful day for our outdoor programs and especially nice weather for our Thanksgiving Feast. It was a glorious day for a morning circle. All were comfortable and shedding layers even as the day was just beginning. Today was a day to acknowledge the land and the people that came before us, celebrate with a feast, and share some stories of our ancestors.

To start our circle off, we shared what we were grateful for, did a little movement to express that gratitude and sang a little song about gratitude. (Sensing a theme?) The riddle was a tough one today and eluded most of the kids until the end of the day.

Creativity everywhere!

Today we welcomed the day with gratitude and a silly song. Osprey led us in a game of fire in the forest before we split into guilds.

The coal burning guild continued work on their bowls. It’s hard work to finish a burn bowl but some of the older students helped out and everyone is on their way.

SATURDAY PUDDLES

We arrived at the Cobble this morning nervously looking at the sky and bracing ourselves for a day of wind and rain. Suited up in waterproof layers and wool socks, we tried to determine the depth of the huge puddle that now takes up most of the parking lot!

We came together for an opening circle, and decided to stay together for the day as a big group. We sang a rain song and figured out a silly riddle before heading up to camp.

Treetop Homeschoolers Make Fire!

We had some lovely time this morning in the teaching barn finishing our favorite plant projects and timing ourselves with the times tables. Isaac gave a riveting lesson about Hanibal defeating the Romans by sneaking up on them through the Alps on Elephants. The children finished off the morning with some games in the field and snack.

Then we headed out to our campsite where we carried stumps to complete our benches for the fire. Some kids helped drill the screws into the bench tops while others made leaf piles to jump in or tried out the vine swing by grandmother maple.

Crafting Guilds Begin

Today was the start of our crafting guilds. These 4-week focused morning sessions give everyone an opportunity to really get into a craft/skill and follow it through to a completed stage.

Today we had kids learning one of the oldest hunting methods, sling, accompanied with historical stories of their use around the world and fun games to learn how to use them. We also had folks wandering and gathering materials for both natural ink and paint and tinder materials.

It’s Apple Cider Season!

We started our Cobblers Apple Fest day in the field gathered together and sharing something we are feeling grateful for. We sang a song, learned how to greet aliens with a movement, and chased a delicious “moose” around like a pack of wolves! Then snack, and many more riddles before we got to pressing cider.

Along the Trail with Wild Ways

What a hike! We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day with a cool breeze and perfect hiking temperature. Reminiscing with those students who have been around a while, we came to the conclusion that it’s been at least two years since we had a Wild Ways hike with no rain! About time.

Before the day even began there were beautiful dandelion crowns woven and placed upon some heads. Then we kicked it off with our morning circle. We shared gratitude and made sure we all knew how to be safe and respectful around other hikers/a new place.

New Growth in the FOREST

As the rain turned on and off around us, we danced amongst the droplets as only beings with deep nature connection do! As the showers ebbed and flowed, we went into our guilds. The bow guild had to move under the pergola roof to protect the bow staves and because it’s really difficult to carve in the rain. Everyone made some great progress and the bows are moving closer and closer to completion.

Dan and Nathaniel took the Stealth guild up into the forest across the road to work on their skills of silent movement and deep listening. It helped the motivation that they were told they would need these skills in an upcoming game with the Treetop group next week.

LeeK FEST 2023!

Today the Cobblers program celebrated wild leeks, also known as ramps or allium tricoccum, during our spring Leek Fest!

We began our day with sharing gratitude, stretching, and warming up our voices by singing “Wood, Stone, Feather, and Bone.” Cobblers have been on the hunt for new signs of spring throughout this semester. This morning they were given the challenge to beat their previous record of 22 observed signs. Students were also given the challenge of figuring out a riddle …

I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?

Riddles and Sledding Hills

The morning scene of a sled obstacle course and tree/shrub buds on the nature table foretold our adventurous day at the Cobble. Once all had arrived we enjoyed the morning circle in the radiant sunshine. We got our blood pumping with a game of predator prey, learned about the day, and guessed the answer to a ridiculous riddle: “What have I got in my pocket?” Then we played a game of Towhee, Towhee Drink Your Tea, and the students discovered a new triumphant strategy.