Preparing for winter

We hope you all had a safe and happy Thanksgiving and that you were able to get outside! We’re excited to share what’s been happening at the nature immersion program these past couple of weeks. 
As we’re moving forward into the winter seasons, the theme for the past week has been “Preparing for Winter.” During drop off time in the morning, the kids have been collecting sticks, leaves and other objects they can use to build “log cabins.” Then, as we hike to the learning area, we collect more wood and dried leaves to build our “fairy fires” once we get to the shelter. They have had a lot of fun with the creativity this project offers and it is a great segue to learning about how animals prepare for Winter.

These leaf baskets are a fun project the kids can utilize to collect “food” as they’re learning about animal hibernation. After we arrive at the learning areas, we have been asking the kids to act like animals preparing for winter; such as, finding spots to burrow, nest, hibernate etc. and think about the necessary objects and tools animals would need to stay warm for a long winter. It has been a really fun and educational activity that the kids enjoy. 

Fairy fires have been another huge hit during the program these past few weeks. Fairy fires are tiny fires that we build in oyster shells, using a cotton ball as the fire fuel. It has provided a creative way to demonstrate how to build a fire on a smaller-scale, while also making it a little more magical. The kids are still learning about fire safety, but they are highly engaged and entertained at the same time. 

​We have had lots of fun embracing the winter season and its endless learning opportunities! We look forward to continuing to spend more time learning about the changing seasons and what that means for animals and nature.