Wonder, Wander, Remember

Who will hear the cry of the osprey as it circles above the pond looking for its next meal? Not us. Who will see the silvery trails of the snails as they make their way up to the top of the bug hotels? Not us. Who will smell the garlic mustard as it creates a carpet of green across the forest floor? Not us. Summer is on our doorstep and it’s time to let the creatures and plants, the trees and the paths, the pond and the people rest and relax. Thank you Harrington, for the many wonderful memories you have given us this year!

Let’s start by taking a look at all the fun memories we made today on our last day at Nature school.

The Turtles' and Herons' Pollinator Garden Project

Making Nature Mementos

Out and About

Think back on the year we’ve spent together. Talk about some of your favourite experiences, new things you learned, and things you still want to find out about.

Who did you connect with? Where were your favourite places? What surprised you the most?

In the afternoon, we made more memories by acknowledging how important each of the Herons has been to our group. Frog was our ‘Kindness Giver’ this year! He has a big heart and demonstrated care and concern for others. He was always willing to help others when it came time to write in their notebooks or learn how to draw something. He made sure everyone felt included and part of our group. Thank you for showing others what it means to be a friend.

Beaver was our ‘Eager Beaver’ this year. He loved running, chasing or tagging others when we played games and was always ready to try a new game. He was inquisitive and curious and always had a question that needed to be answered!

Catfish became our ‘Nature Noticer’. He was usually the first person to spot anything new around the pond and could often identify it too. We also marveled at his vision because he was able to locate even the smallest crayfish even though it often blended in with the sediment at the button of the pond.

Chipmunk was our ‘Sunshine Maker’ of course. He was always able to look at the bright side of things and point out the good in what seemed like a bad situation. His smile brightened up even the coldest or rainiest day and we loved his sense of humour!

Daisy surprised us by becoming our ‘Courage Finder! This was her first year at nature school and she showed a lot of bravery by trying new things. Although she didn’t really enjoy  playing games, somehow or another, she found the courage to learn games at home and then teach us how to play them. We were so proud of her!

Rose was our ‘Laugh Maker’ this year! She loved to have fun and made us laugh with the faces she made or the funny things she said. Even her laugh made us laugh! She certainly has a great sense of humour and was a good friend to Daisy.

Water Bear was our ‘Knowledge Keeper’ again this year! We called him our Mr. Google and we used him a lot. When no one else (adults included) had the answer, Water Bear could always provide us with the information. It’s evident that he also has a great memory.

Strider was our ‘Initiative Taker’ this year! He was always the first person to help put things away or clean up after an activity. He often carried the heaviest load without even complaining. He led by example and showed us what it looks like to be both a leader and a team player.

Hooray for the Harrington Herons! You’ve made our year so unforgettable!

Special thanks must also be given to parents and adults who made all of this possible by dressing you, driving you, feeding you, and loving you! We appreciate the support you provided and wouldn’t have been able to do it without you! Thank you also goes out to our awesome Heron nature mentors - Coyote, Raccoon, and Antman! There wasn’t much we couldn’t do when we put our heads together! What an exciting team to be part of!

Sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye especially when it’s something or someone you’ve grown to love. But just like the land and the creatures, we too need to slow down and give ourselves time to lay in the grass and watch the pillowy, white clouds drift by. Let’s promise to wander and wonder and find joy in even the smallest things in nature knowing that Harrington will always have a place in our memories as well as in our hearts.

Have a wonder-ful summer, Heron families!