Beaver is back! Our team is now complete again, and its time for us to build like beavers! Honing our camp skills will get us ready for the ultimate challenge of constructing a winter shelter that will keep us all warm, dry and safe in all weather. Not a small feat!
Our morning started off around a "campfire" singing camp songs. Wolf and Hummingbird led us in "Princess Pat" and Wolf taught us another new song called "Taco Bell."
There were four fun choices that made this feel like a real camp experience. Tell your family about your favourite activity!
1. Build a campfire. What kind of campfire did you build? (a lean-to, log cabin, teepee, A style)
2. How to put up and take down a tent.
3. Cardinal Directions game. You gave each other directions on stepping or hopping (Owl) to a spot using how many steps north, east, south and west. Some of you ended up in funny places!!
4. Make a favourite camp treat...a yummy SMORE!
It takes time and care to choose the perfect site for a winter shelter. What were the most important things we needed to think about before heading out on our search.
Past the Mill, across the bridge and over to Butterfly Hill, we scouted out places that would suit all our needs. Two scouting teams found different possibilities. Talk about your site and why it would work for this project. What special features could be added to make it even better?
The first site won 5-3 on a group vote as it had soft ground to dig in sticks for walls to shelter us from rain (Water Bear), a bigger branch overhead to lean other branches against (Hummingbird), flat space for everyone to fit (Blue Racer), close to water (Daisy), away from other people's property, a deer trail in, building materials close by, plus soft grasses and leaves for a comfy floor.
Cedar Hideaway made for an amazing wander time by the water. What did you choose to do with friends here?
At library time Grey Squirrel had a special project with materials donated by the Neighbourhood Forest Organization. Share all about how you decorated your pot and planted a succulent. What did Grey Squirrel tell us about how succulents can benefit us. Can you name some of the benefits? (sleep better, be in a better mood and have fewer coughs and colds plus others). Thank you Grey Squirrel for organizing this amazing activity for us!
Hiking off to Mystery Forest for wander time we always feel excited. Firefly, Blue Racer and Rose had a grocery store with salads and celery where Water Bear worked security for 2 bunches of cedar a week (a deal!). Pin Cherry set up a kitchen complete with eating area, stove and cupboards. Wolf used a rope to make a door for her shelter. Daisy and Hummingbird were hiding behind trees trying to avoid security, Fox had a lot of fun as you can tell by her face! Looks like Raccoon isn't have quite so much fun in Alberta today though:).
Back at the hall it was time for spool knitting with Bluebird. Water Bear was trying to guess how long his would be by spring, Blue Racer is making a blanket for her dog, Pin Cherry is making a scrunchie or headband for her doll, while others imagine a garland for their tree.
How did our day feel to you? Your Nature Mentors felt that it was fantastic from start to finish. Hope you keep the love and kindness flowing at home next time Forest Friends:)
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