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!
We spent the morning burning into our giant camp-sized burn bowl and embarking on making our own burn spoons and bowls. The fire was warm at the center, and many kids went out into the hail and rain creating crafts of their own while making places feel like home by tidying up old fire pits or adding their own unique decorations. Everyone seemed comfortable, content, and just glad to be in the forest expressing themselves however they seemed fit.
To commemorate our rock boil challenge, we heard the story of Stone Soup before dropping our stones into the water. We heard sizzling and watched the water boil as the stones released their heat.
We ended our day as a big group all together, running in the rain and playing Capture the Flag until the very last minute. The air was filled with laughter and excitement today despite the weather!
In growing community,
River Otter, Chickadee, Hawkmoth, and Painted Trillium (Chris, Mary, Quinn, and Lauren), December 18, 2021