Embrace, Respect, Enjoy!

Hawk sees and circles an animal track in the snow.

Welcome back Turtles!  How do you feel coming back from the holidays?  Have you changed?  Take a moment to think about the ways.  You might surprise yourself!  The magic and quiet power of winter is here!  A time to stay warm, revisit our favourite spots and activities, enjoy creating new friendships (welcome to Addie, also known as Bobcat!) and rekindling ones made before the holidays!  Pin Cherry described it well.  A good friend is kind and wants to be helpful!  Did you help a friend today? Thanks to all the Turtles for making Addie feel comfortable and for helping her learn our routines.

When winter gets tough, we get tougher!  If you can’t beat it, join it!  Coming to Coyote Nature School and being dressed for the colder weather is an important way to start the day.  Looking for and choosing warm clothes can be hard.  You might have to feel it, try it on or read the tag to find out what kind of material it is. Students were challenged to find a clothing item around the hall that would keep them warm. Snapping Turtle tried on a pair of socks and they felt warm (I am not sure if he ever took them off though).  Pin Cherry picked some socks too and she told us that thicker socks are warmer socks. Deer tried on some thin cotton gloves then decided they weren’t warm enough and chose a different pair of gloves.  Why did you pick the item you did? 

After putting on your layers to go outside did you wonder about how the animals get tough, stay warm and survive the cold winter?  What animal tracks did you notice and circle on our way to Mystery Forest?  Were any tracks near visible food sources?  Can you estimate or make a smart guess as to how many tracks you discovered?  How could you tell deer had been visiting Mystery Forest?  I wonder about the red on the snow?  What do you think it was and why was it there?

How did you keep your body warm while you were exploring?  There were some interesting dances shared by some of the group!  Some of you kept your body moving by creating snow sculptures or making a plate of food. A mini snowman, a bird and there was even a raccoon with a spruce needle tail!  Sometimes during outdoor adventures we can get too warm. Our bodies are working hard when we do activities like sledding, running, climbing, or lots of walking. What can you do if you get too warm in winter?  

Winter can be tough but can also be a time for peaceful moments.  What did you notice in Cedar Hideaway when you closed your eyes and listened to our winter poem?  What did you hear, feel or imagine?  How did you feel when you opened your eyes?  Read a winter poem at home outside with your family and take a quiet moment afterwards. What did you notice? Share with your family. 

Listening in the quiet of winter!

As the saying goes, “There is no such thing as bad weather”. Dress warmly for the colder weather and this prepares you for the winter fun!  In the library Grey Squirrel was ready for us with a scavenger hunt, a snowman craft and a story time. She read us the book “Flurry, Float and Fly” by Laura Purdie in which people were waiting excitedly for the magic of winter - a snow fall so they could go sledding.  We are also excited for more snow! The snow and mixed temperatures over the last week in Harrington left us with some snow ramps and some icy slippery tracks!  Did you find the snow faster or slower than the last time we went sledding?  Who did you choose to share a toboggan with? 

As you walked and explored with your friends through the Harrington winter wonderland what changes did you notice? Mystery Forest, Sunrise Hill, Butterfly Hill, Cedar Hideaway.  Another season changes our surroundings in so many ways.  We will "Embrace, Respect and Enjoy" more next week!

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