Kids are loud. I don’t always want to hush them up, especially when outside. On the other had, if they miss the sounds of the outdoors altogether then I don’t think I’m doing my job as a teacher. Yes, kids are loud, but teaching kids the value of being quiet is a gift. On Saturday, […]
Zero Voice: Making it quiet on the trail Read More »
Small successes with kids need to be celebrated. Yesterday, while picking up kids at Emerson Elementary School (home of the Emerson Eagles no less) for our after school program, the principal, Karen Kepler, pointed out the eagle button she was wearing. “Do you know who gave me this?” she asked. “John?” I asked. Yes, it
Eagle Watching Success Story Read More »
What do you get when you take kindergarten and first graders sledding on a very icy hill? Comic relief and crazy fun. The comic relief came from the kids trying to climb up the icy hill. They’d get so far and then fall down. We all laughed. I actually think the kids liked the
Crazy Fun Ice Sledding Read More »
It’s always inspiring to see bald eagles in their natural habitat. It’s especially inspiring to give kids that experience. Each winter, we have a great opportunity to see bald eagles just 40 minutes from Madison in Sauk City. The birds migrate from the north, where lakes are frozen, to feed in the open waters just
Eagle Watching in Sauk City: January 16, 2010 Read More »
It’s important to get outside even on cold days. Teaching kids how to dress for cold weather is a great skill to have. Too many people stay inside all winter. Meanwhile, there’s a world of ice and snow ready to explore. Today, Four hearty kids and three adults went on a walk in the frozen
Winter Tracks on a Cold Day Read More »
The spring house at Blue Mound State Park is a pre-park relic. All that remains is the 8 x 10 x 4 foot concrete foundation, built by John Minix, the former landowner at the park. The spring once provided water for native people, farmers, and for the swimming pool, located just downstream. This was a
Frogs in the Spring House & other Tales from Blue Mound State Park Read More »
What do you call a fishing pier that’s on land for the winter? The Polar Express, a ship, and a ferry. On a trip to Lake Farm Park, I thought that most of the Kindergarten and first graders would have rushed to the water. But, they didn’t. Instead, they immediately jumped on a massive pier, in three pieces, now setting on land for the winter.
The Polar Express: Creative Play at Lake Farm Park Read More »
Kids discover a snapping turtle and garter snake at Cherokee Marsh on warm, windy and wet October day. By Diane Schwartz, October 31, 2009.
Halloween Hike: Snapping Turtle & Garter Snake Read More »
I never know what kids will discover while outside. On a recent trip to Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area, the kids were fascinated by a hand water pump. The kids liked pumping the handle and then seeing the water come out. They were mystified by how the water could keep coming out even after they
The Wonder of a Water Pump Read More »
We’ve had a cold October in Wisconsin. Last weekend it was about 40 degrees at the start of our hike to Parfrey’s Glen Natural Area. I was dressed in a wind breaker, a neck warmer, hat, gloves and hiking boots. So, when the first kids showed up without none of the above I had to
Where is Your Coat? Read More »
