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Building the Foundation

We had a nice little bevy of activities going on while students were arriving for Wild Ways today—the beginnings of trap making alongside a nature table display of fire-making implements, and a game of Mumblypeg to one side! The traps we worked on today, which some students continued pursuing throughout the day, are called Figure-Four traps, and their construction involves relatively precise carving work, and the fitting of three sticks into a stable configuration that will stand under the tension of, say, a heavy rock, yet fall at the slightest touch on the lowest stick. Quite a skill! Mumblypeg, for those who’ve yet to hear of it from students, is a group game requiring precise throwing skill, balance and coordination, leg strength, and cunning!

Fall at the Cobble

It was a picturesque fall day at the Cobble, with breezes whipping through our camp and heating up our fires that kept us warm. The sun shone through the trees and the atmosphere was sweet and social as friends found themselves back in the forest with new and old friends.

We started our day with a circle of parents and children in the field that has held our circle so many times for many years. Our gratitude is immense for the opportunity to be at Bartholomew’s Cobble on the unique landscape and in community with so many bright and unique children.

Wild Ways Campout!

Our final days of Wild Ways were blessed with beautiful weather and a cool night. We spent our morning together in the field playing games and reminiscing on everything we had learned and accomplished over the spring semester. Up at camp we had some time to settle in, set up tents or bedrolls and spend quality time together chatting and playing. After a short sit spot we all circled together for some honoring. Each person in turn received a gift to acknowledge their year with us as well as kind words from their peers/teachers honoring the qualities and growth that we have seen in each other.

A Saturday SNOW EXTRAVAGANZA

Today was a beautifully crisp snow extravaganza! Upon arrival, our Saturday Explorers were invited to begin constructing their respective quinzees (big ol’ mounds of fresh powdery snow, left to compact for an hour or two, then carved out into a domed shelter—a more temporary cousin to the igloo), enjoy some sledding time, or experience some grounding snow meditation. Morning circle brought an icy riddle from Hawk Moth, an invigorating series of animal forms from Chickadee, and a more thorough introduction to quinzees from Red Oak.

A WILD WAYS DAY OF ICE & TRACks

The trees were crystallized in ice this morning. The air was still broken occasionally by flurries of bird alarms. We soon realized why as a pair of red-shouldered hawks visited our morning circle. They watched from the treetops as we shared gratitude.

Fire CIdeR & FOx WALKING

It was a warm, misty winter day and the FOREST kids rolled in with lots of energy despite the rain! We started our morning giving gratitude for the contrasting winter season we have been experiencing and had an awareness meditation to connect and orienteer us to our landscape. Then we went up to Basecamp for snack before breaking into our morning activities.

The Snow Is here!

We found ourselves gripped by the chill of the morning as we arrived for Cobblers and warmed up to being back with our friends and in a snowy home school environment. The morning was filled with excitement for snow and quickly we began working on snow shelters and seeing who could harvest the largest snow chip.

Stone-BoilED SNACKS

We were hoping for snow this week at Saturday Explorers, and what we got was ice and rain. We made the most of it by planning to have hot blazing fires under tarp shelters all day long. High-energy games got the blood flowing and kept us warm and then we all took our coats off as we settled, steaming and elated, into camp for snack. The plan was this: 1) Make a hot fire filled with hardwood coals for burn bowls. 2) Stick stones in the center to capture the heat of the hot coals to boil water for tea or ramen noodles!

Friction Fire Making

Our final day of the Wild Ways semester couldn’t have been blessed with more beautiful weather. We started the day sharing about some favorite moments from the fall, and played together in the field. Up at camp we had spruce cone fights and practiced friction fire. The energy around camp today was particularly comfortable, communal, and jovial. We had a wonderful honoring circle, appreciating every member of the group for their unique gifts. Lunch was lovely chatter as always, particularly sweet knowing we wouldn’t be all together again through the winter.

FALL FeaST DaY

It is in these later days in the semester when you can really start to feel the group come together as one big village. There was an overall sense of excitement, joy, laughter, and synergy today as the Cobblers kids wrestled, cooked, and created a place to feast all together.