September 2019 Barnacles and Bees Newsletter

This first month has flown by so fast, and we have already seen growth in your kiddos amongst the moss, trees, and leaves. There is an abundance of creativity, collaboration, and building of confidence. Each child is walking their own journey and conquering their own areas that need growth while also enjoying their strengths with new or familiar friends. A big thank you to our parents that have given their time and care: 

• Odin and Aspen’s Mom, Megan on Mondays
• Max’s Mom, Madi on Mondays
• Lando’s Dad, Jamaal on Wednesday and Friday
• Seamus’s Mom, Krysten on Friday
• Dax’s Mom, Josie thanks for all the bugs and slugs!

In Relationship with the Rangers
Head Ranger Kinnan and his Rangers John and Cindy met us at the start of our year. Besides introductions and making some good memories, they gave us excellent guidelines on how to help keep ourselves and our park healthy and safe:  

1. As you know we build a boundary around our learning area out of sticks, and the Rangers have been more than happy for us to keep that up during the week. We would be most grateful to any parents that would like to come and help pick up the sticks and put them off to the side at the end of the program. Contact Robin is you are interested! 
2. Chalk. No chalk. Apparently this is form of graffiti, and even though it washes off, it can have an impact on the trees. 
3. Trees, and decomposing logs, those are ours for the taking. We assume the risk and can help decomposing logs get to dirt sooner. 

 
All in all the Rangers are passionate about this little piece of paradise and are eager for the kids to grow their attachment to this space. Ranger John has been by the Friday class and brought along some crabs from the shore and shared his knowledge about the species. Ranger Cindy has given the kids on Friday a chance to ride in her cart and a new fern to plant and care for (we will ask if she can come by and see the kiddos on the other days too!) 
 We have a pledge we were taught by Ranger Kinnan that we have brought into our daily routine, feel free to use it when you visit a park!
                                             “ I pledge to be kind to others, to animals, and to plants” 

Community Member: Amy Lawrence from Olympic College
We had the enormous pleasure on Monday October 16th to have Biology professor Amy Lawrence join us in class and educate us on earthworms and their role in creating and nourishing dirt. We performed an experiment where the kids watched worms pop up after mustard powder was sprinkled on the dirt above. They loved it!

Getting in the Routine of Things
New to this year is a more structured and consistent plan of what we set out to do each day. While there is flexibility to allow for lack of attention span, distractions, and for unexpected long periods of time at the bathroom and cleaning up after mud, there are routines that we strives to include each day:

• Welcome and Gratitude Circle: after warming up upon arrival we gather with “Here comes the sun” and when we have sat we say hello to each person before they share what they are grateful for
• Lesson Time: During this time we break into two groups based on age and we get into the topic for that week using our journals as a way to record what we learn when appropriate
• Rest: This time if for taking care of ourselves. The kids have a bathroom break , wash up, eat snack, tea time, and then let their interests lead during free play time
• Sit Spot: Here we break up into two groups again, where we travel to different locations and indulge in some quiet observation of our surroundings. PLEASE feel free to find a spot at your house where your little can sit and visit all year round! 
• Goodbye Circle: Where we say good bye to each child and share what we learned and enjoyed that day! During this Circle, please, parents and caregivers JOIN US, sit right along with your kiddo if you like. You can also look in their journals right beside sign out. 

Coming Up:
Nature Journals Take Home
When: Week of October 7th. Please BRING BACK your kiddo’s next day
Why: I have been recording in your kids’ nature journals with them, and now it is YOUR turn to respond to their activity, and reflect with them. You also may include any questions that you have for me and the staff. 

* If you forgot to take these home with, have no fear, you can take them home next week!

October Community Members:
Elizabeth Wrenn
With experience in the outdoors and being a Ranger, Elizabeth has consented to come to our learning space Friday October 11th to lead us in a learning walk. She will also be at drop off where she can engage with the kids in an activity. 
Krystle Slone
Music anyone? Monday the 21st, Lucy’s Mom Krystle will be joining us in class to share her skills in music therapy and I cannot wait to see how the kids respond to her methods. Outside is such an amazing place for music to thrive, the birds are singing all day, so now it is our turn to add some tunes. 

Beach Day
The week of October 28th will be our next voyage down to the beach, and again drop off will be at the regular spot with pick up at the beach. Please inform whoever is picking up your little one. 

Announcements - Back to School!
New office space!
Barnacles and Bees office is now located in the Kitsap Business Center in DT Bremerton. We are over the moon to have a commune space to work from, to gather and to store our class supplies. New mailing address :
Barnacles and Bees, 6th St, Suite 370, Bremerton, WA, 98337

New Board Members:
We are welcoming, Laura Ryser as our board treasurer and Katie Swanson as our fundraiser/event coordinator. 

Grant Application Update
We submitted application to the Kitsap Foundation Competitive Grants on September 27th, ideally to support a new program focused on combining our love for community gardens and accessibility to outdoor after school program (K to 3)  in Bremerton.