I dare anyone to say that kids don’t need recess to learn. There is no better way to prove this than an old-fashioned rainy day. Today was such a day. By 3:00 pm (when we pick up kids from school for afterschool), they were jumping out of their skin. The noise level on the bus […]
No recess equals wild and crazy kids Read More »
Once again, a major protest at the State Capitol coincided with one of my outings. I have to say that I was happy to be heading away from town. Protesting is noble, but it distracts me from what I love. For me, the best thing to do is to continue my work with kids and
Cave of the Mounds: A great escape from protesting or anything else Read More »
I hated walking as a kid and would beg my mom to drive me places. “You can walk,” she’d say and then explain how when SHE was a girl she had to WALK 100 miles just to get to the bus stop…” Okay, I exaggerate a little, but I truly hated walking. Other kids got
Why kids don’t walk and what we can do about it Read More »
Last week I canceled Ski club. Organizers also canceled most of Winterfest. Not for extreme cold or lack of snow, but because of the protest at the Capitol. It’s been a surreal week. On Wednesday, Superintendent Nerad closed Madison schools because so many teachers called in sick. On Thursday, many other principals closed schools due
Wisconsin Protest Meets Outdoor Adventure Read More »
Thursday was cold, very cold. Temps topped out at about 10 degrees with a nasty wind chill. As a result, kids at Lowell and Emerson Elementary schools had no recess – their second in a row. Now, it was my turn. Would I take 11 kids cross country skiing? We did the week before and
Is it ever too cold to Get Kids Outside? Read More »
Go Eagles! What are you crazy! Not those Eagles, but the REAL eagles of Wisconsin. Last Saturday, I took 40 kids and parents on a chartered bus to Eagle Days in Sauk City. It was a good day. When nature puts on a show, there is nothing better. We saw at least 30 eagles. Most
An Eagle Fan in Wisconsin: Not a joke Read More »
What is fun? Cross Country Skiing What kills fun? Driving a 15-passenger-van full of kids, three of which are fighting in the back. Last week Thursday was the first day of ski lessons and everything was going great: the trip to Blackhawk Ski Club went well; the kids loved skiing; and the weather was perfect.
Bad Van Behavior Kills Ski Fun Read More »
Sledding is fun, but it only takes one accident to ruin everything. A few simple tips can keep your event safe. 1) Teach kids how to roll out of their sled: Jumping off of a moving sled isn’t intuitive, nor is dragging your feet. These skills need to be taught. Things happen so fast on
How Not to Crash: Safe Sledding Technique for Kids Read More »
On Sunday, I went cross-country skiing at Indian Lake County Park . Without kids. Without anyone. It was blissful. This doesn’t mean that I’m out of the kid business. Ski lessons start in a few weeks, so that day is coming. What it does mean is that solo escapes are a necessary part of working
Blissful Solo Skiing: A Joyful Escape to Indian Lake Read More »
Looking for an easy Nature Hike? Just ask the kids to find two cool things. I did this with a small group of Kindergarten and First Graders and was amazed by the results. Joe immediately found a crack on the ground. “Maybe there’s magma down there,” he said enthusiastically. He then started to dig in
Two Cool Things: Nature Hike made Easy Read More »
