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The Gifts of the Honeybee

What a beautiful day to be out in Nature! After gathering for Opening Circle, we greeted each other and sent out our greetings to our relatives—the other living beings that inhabit this world with us. We acknowledged our ties to the world and our oneness with each other and with our “relatives.”

The younger group, the River Otters, kicked off the day with a field game and headed up to camp to build a lean-to. We hauled logs, raked up camp, used the forest needles and leaves to cover it (to keep out the rain) and even disassembled an old shelter, carrying large slabs of bark to cover our new home.

FirST SNOW

Today began with a beautiful snowfall that coated all the trees and somehow did not impede travel. We revelled in the beauty of the day and rallied to meet the demands of the weather. These days are such an opportunity for building strength and resilience, picking up some useful outdoor (and life) skills, and meeting the day fully- on days where we usually might be inside. What wonders await when we dive into a new experience?

Seasonal Spookiness

This week was spooky season–themed! We kicked the morning off with a mini-lesson about Samhain (pronounced Saa-win), the Celtic holiday that became our Halloween. Samhain was a new year celebration that represented the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter. Every Samhain, everyone put out their home hearths and lit a new community fire, from which they relit their own hearths. In honor of Samhain, we lit a ceremonial hand drill fire in the unrelenting morning drizzle and tossed cedar sprigs into the flames, along with a wish. Students wished for everything from candy and snow to warmth and health.

A VIbrant Village

The season is finally turning. We felt our first colder morning and saw glimpses of bare hillsides as the trees finally dropped their golden leaves. We were going for a village vibe today with lots of activities centered around each group’s fire and I think we nailed it! Students moved through hide tanning, preparing rock pigments and dart-making at their campsites.

Rainy Days are the Best Days

Today only supported my theory that rainy days are the best days. We started off the morning with some games in our separate groups, then came together for some gratitude, a hilarious improv game called “Freeze Frame!” and a song. Then we broke off into our separate groups and headed to camp.

Along the way, the Grey Foxes tried to spin as fast as they could with their arms out to get some blood flowing to cold fingers, then rushed up the trail, eager to get to camp and make a fire. On the trail we spotted a buck scrape site! We spent a few minutes learning about deer behavior, then discussed what he might’ve been doing and where he might’ve gone next. A few brave souls even stuck their noses in the dirt to smell for deer urine!

When the Wild CallS

Today at the Cobble blessed us with brisk morning weather and warm sunshine, a reminder that the season is waning and that we need to soak up the last glory of these warm months. We expressed our gratitude for the many good things that support us and learned about the natural history of the chestnut.

As we gathered together this morning, a Bald Eagle graced our morning circle, soaring in loops above. It’s head and rump were bright white—adult plumage—but it still retained some mottled juvenile coloration under its wings. We noticed these things and marveled.

Crafting and Apple Pressing in WilD Ways

What a beautiful day. The fall colors are really starting to pop and we have been blessed with a few nice warm days in a row (let’s enjoy them while they last!). The day started with some good old-fashioned wood splitting and the teens rebuilding the central fire pit to make it a little more functional. Phoebe led us in a beautiful thanksgiving address all together before we split for the day to run off and work on some crafts. After some fun games in the field (and the forest) both groups settled down for some focused crafting/skills.

WAMC HIGHLIGHTS fLYING DEER on ‘THE ROUNDTABLE’

Sarah LaDuke of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio took a tour with Executive Director Michelle Apland and Program Director Devin Franklin for a story that aired on August 28, 2020.

Wild Ways Teen Program Stays Wild At Home

Trout lily empanadas, close encounters with deer, epic backyard shelters, intricate nature mandalas—the digital format didn’t stop our Wild Ways Teen Program from getting wild! Teens became instructors, creating videos of how to make face paint with natural pigments, how to make cordage, and a series on fine-dining camp cooking!

Asking Permission to Enter

When we visit another person’s home, we usually ask permission to come in, right? Because we respect them and their home, and it is good manners. A teacher once told me that I should try doing the same when I enter the forest, or visit my Sit Spot. Here’s a story about what happened when I tried it.