Field of Stars

Yes, this is exactly what it looks like! When cresting the hill and looking out on this field remolded by snow and sunlight, one of our kids exclaimed, "it's a field of stars". This is ALL we need to do, bring kids into wild spaces to witness life all around us and they ARE INSPIRED!

We followed the bunny trail (two front apart, two big hinds together) down the toboggan hill to the willow dome. What did we see inside? Acorn thought the scat smelled like horse manure. This makes sense because both these animals are ? (herbivores). What did we notice that those Cottontails were munching on? You can tell it was a smaller animal, if the horses were there the chew marks would have been MUCH higher. I guess Coyote will have to protect the Willow dome from more damage. Do you remember some of the ideas about how that could be done? There is so much information out in the winter woodlands. 

Talk at home about how we started our day in the barn. Pony recess was a bit wild and hayloft play was even wilder!

Monarch leading Libby outside

There is always something to bring along. Often it's Raccoon taking the load. Today we pulled the cut boughs all the way to the fort. Tough work Chickadees!

Blue jay loves spying tracks and Squirrel is a super hole finder. Animals are scurrying around searching for food and trying to stay alive. Along the trail we had a sit down in the sun together. Coyote had noticed some fur on the snow. What was at the end of the line of hair when Chickadee pulled it out. Surprise! Poor bunny must have been leaving or coming back to a burrow and was grabbed up by a ? Make your guess.

A team job for the afternoon was to get more work done on the winter shelter. Well done, Chickadees! What did Coyote notice in one of the boughs? (Think red and bird-related.)

A few more work sessions and the shelter may be ready to be named. What do you think the shelter should be called?

After working up an appetite, we were ready for lunch! Acorn dug out the firepit and Spotted Turtle helped lay the fire. You seemed to really enjoy sliding at Raspberry Hill or making snow caves in the huge snow drifts along the trail. We saw lots of tracks but we left even more! Can you name an animal that’s been active in that area recently? 

When we got back to the farm from our morning wander we went on a Temperature Discovery hunt in pairs to find out which area around the Homestead was the warmest and the coldest. Where would you go if you wanted to stay warm on a chilly winter day? Coyote also showed the Chickadees a special thermometer. See if you can describe how it works to someone at home. Even a chicken is pretty warm under it's wings in winter.

To end the day we put what we learned about reading trail blaze symbols in our notebooks. Share about your imaginary hiking trails Can you show your family what marks mean the trail ends, takes a right or left turn ahead or where another trail breaks off (spur). Is that something a cowboy wears?

Everyone was happy to meet Otter (Jacob) our new student teacher from the University of Western Ontario. He will be back to learn more about nature education for the month of April. I guess we are all teachers! Happy birthday wishes go out to Salmon and Acorn this week who will both be turning double digits!

Sunshine and blue sky + plenty of snow + lots of nature discoveries today = an extremely happy group of nature school children and Mentors! What a super STAR day Forest Friends:).

What's my Name?