To Know Me is to LOVE Me

Human footsteps can cause a lot of harm to spring things just peeking up. This tiny spruce that we planted could one day be a towering tree if we protect it. Would you agree that you notice more now that you have learned a few plants by name? Imagine a tiny Hummingbird nest cup, hidden in a shrub or along a tree branch as we move past. Gentle footsteps are needed to protect the most delicate living things.

Hummingbird nest made with moss and spider webs

One way we can protect nature is to plan out our footsteps by making marked trails. You worked as part of a trail team to figure out the best route and mark it with stakes. Can you talk about where your trail starts, ends and cool sights along the way. Here are the names of our new trails. Why did you choose your trail name? 

1. Chickadee Trail

2. Big Rock Trail

3. Cattail Trail

We bid goodbye to our Mystery Cat, who adopted the old barn as a warm, dry place where food was always laid out. Tell the stories of other animals, past and present, who you care about at the farm. We added a BIG fish and Robin to the new critters that we discovered. The chickens sure enjoyed a sand bath when all our busy feet left for the day!

Mystery Cat

Tell someone about these other parts of our day story. New nest, egg, litter tag, puffball?

What’s your favourite go-to activity when we have wander time around the Outpost? The stream is always a popular spot for catching crayfish and minnows but today we came across an even bigger surprise.

Coyote created a tool bag loaded with different tools to use during wander time. Which ones did you use today? Antman gave us some tips on how to use tools safely. See if you can explain to someone why the ‘please and thank you’ rule is so important. Are there other rules for tools?

What about our construction project? What ways does this show we are a caretaker? The three new nesting boxes that we assembled with Antman will be put up next week. Where should they go? Thank you for coming out today Robert (Antman) and finding these donated kits for us!

Nest boards are a little like shopping at a department store. Birds can find all they need quickly and then are able to save energy to feed their offspring when they hatch. It’s called ‘one stop shopping’! Which material on your nest building material board do you think will be the best-seller?

Saying goodbye to special people who help out at nature school isn’t always easy. What was easy though was to let River Otter and Oriole know what we appreciated about each of them. Thank you for being our caretakers this past month. We can imagine the lucky students who get to be in your (outdoor) classrooms!