Forest Camp Adventures at Woodside National Historic Site
Steely skies welcomed us on this quiet Summer morning. Rain clouds and sunny breaks alternated around us as we explored.
To our surprise a beautiful Toad took shelter under the pavilion next to us. We have been following the life cycle of the amphibians at the small pond for weeks, admiring the swift movements of Tadpoles, and observing each stage of the Amphibian lifecycle throughout late Spring and early Summer. Our Toad visitor was surrounded by Forest School enthusiasts ready to explore with curious hands. This moment provided us with the opportunity to review our previous knowledge of Amphibians. We reviewed why it is important to observe Amphibians with love and respect. Amphibians have sensitive skin protected by a thin mucus layer, and the chemicals on our hands are harmful for all species. Please, if you see a Frog, Toad, or a Newt admire them with you eyes, and not your hands.
The children expressed their creativity through a large variety of art, loose material, and Nature invitations. Colourful ephemeral art projects transformed into beauty in front of our eyes, demonstrating the aesthetic potential of mathematical processes; sorting, balancing, counting, measuring, comparing, estimating length and volume were part of each creative expression.
Dewe’igan engaged us in a poetic territorial acknowledgement, followed by music, creative movemen, and story telling under the shades of the towering Oak Trees.
The children noticed the subtle changes in the Forest, observing how the weather contributed to the sudden growth of plants. Discussions emerged regarding the power of rushing water and wind in altering the landscape.
The children initiated a project last week by requesting textiles and needles for creative expression. The children requested knitting supplies as an extension to the project. Divergent thinking emerged as the children devised creative applications for the child sized knitting needles. Dewe’igan introduced finger knitting to the group. The temporary conclusion to the knitting exploration was that we “need to practice…a lot”. The children discussed how practice and perseverance go “hand-in-hand”.
The children engaged their new friends in gathering materials for the safety area around the Fire and built the fire as a team. As the preparations progressed, the children shared and reviewed the Fire Safety protocols.
We are looking forward to following the children’s lead in exploring at Woodside National Historic Site throughout the Summer. The educational team of Parks Canada have graciously supported our learning for many seasons. The lawn games we explored were their Invitations. We have been engaged in a series of challenges from the Parks Canada team, where we have to guess the function of practical objects and technologies from the 19th. Century. We are looking forward to sharing our experiences with You.
É.M.
