Year ago, shooting a gun was a rite of passage for boys and BB guns were common. Today, BB guns and bow and arrow sets are pretty much things of the past, but not at Outdoor Skills Day at MacKenzie Environmental Education Center in Poynette. For one day each summer, kids learn how to shoot […]
When it’s okay to shoot a gun: Outdoor Skills Day Read More »
A bike is an independence machine. Give a kid a bike and they have the means to see and do things that they couldn’t do before. Of course, biking is also good exercise, it’s good for the environment and it’s just plain fun. I just launched a new biking program at Goodman Community Center called
Biking: Independence on Wheels Read More »
Six kids will get a new bike on Thursday. They’re excited and I’m excited. They’ve worked hard at doing service around the Goodman Community Center. They’ve washed windows, picked up trash and worked with preschoolers. They’ve written book reports too. We’ll walk to the Wheels for Winners garage on Thursday and the kids will pick
Kids get Bikes on Thursday! Read More »
What could be better than tasting maple sap right from the tree? Not much. What are the chances that John will forget where maple syrup comes from? Not likely. Doing, tasting, touching, seeing, anything that activates the senses, increases the odds that kids – and adults – will retain knowledge. It also doesn’t hurt that
Maple Syrup Magic at MacKenzie: A feast for the senses 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 »
Q: What kind of tree has no money? A: A Burr Oak. (say it out loud if you don’t get it.) I learned this joke yesterday from a fourth grader when I was giving a guided tour of a tall grass prairie at Schumacher Farm County Park. I shared it with his class and they
Prairie Humor: Joke reveals African-American history Read More »
Last Thursday, was the last of our eight week ski lessons at Blackhawk Ski Club. It was a beautiful sunny day in the 30s. Perfect. Molly, the instructor had the kids go through a series of games. They skied through hula hoops, played red light green light, and picked up candy on the trail while
Cross Country Skiing with Kids: Final Reflection Read More »
