Trees, Tools & Treasures

Overnight and LAST DAY :(

2011-06-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

After camp on Thursday, about a third of the campers went home, although they attended an alternate overnight later that evening. The kids that stayed at the Land Lab got straight to work setting up tents by the pond for their overnight adventure. They set up what the kids lovingly called "tent city" in the clearing by the pond, where they stayed the night. While they set up the tents they all divided up into groups and into different tents. Then it was dinner time, and the kids started a fire and cooked their own dinner over it using S'mores sticks that they collected themselves. They cooked potatoes, corn and hot dogs and enjoyed a hearty dinner. As the rain came and went, the group alternated taking shelter in the big tent by the pond and at the barn. Although the rain was a bit of a downer, we still managed to have a great time at the barn, even having a dance party on the porch.

Later that night, we got the fire going again and made more S'mores. As it got towards 10:00 or 11:00 the kids either went to bed if they were getting tired, or went on a night walk to the field with Judy and me, where there were thousands of fireflies doing a dance across the field. Once we had seen the fireflies, we again got the option to go back and get ready for bed, or go on through the forest on a dark night walk. Once we all got back, the kids either went to bed, or sang songs that they knew from the Peace Festival around the bonfire, then went to bed. By midnight, all the kids had gone to bed, and the rain was coming back, so we all tucked our boots under our tents to keep them dry, and called it a night.

Friday was a slightly shorter day than usual, but we had plenty of fun anyway. We started with a great breakfast of bacon, eggs and bagels, all cooked over the open fire, alongside bananas, clementines, and apples (oddly also roasted over the fire if the kids wanted). We mostly played capture the flag during the morning, but rather than in the field, we played on the paths all around the pond; a course that Colin had set up with some of the kids the day before. Tent city came down, the fire dwindled down, and around noon the parents showed up for a picnic with the kids and counselors. It was a great picnic, with hot dogs, cake, watermelon and the works. The kids got to show their parents around the Land Lab. Almost all of them took their parents to go see their shelter and the pond. All in all it was a great day.

Thank you everyone for a great two week camp experience! We had lots of fun, built some great things, did some fun art projects, and got to enjoy the great outdoors at the Land Lab. I hope you have a great summer. See you next year!

Alex

2011-06-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Packing up our tents

Sporting tie-dye t-shirts and bandanas

Capture the flag

Hanging out at the pond

Thanks to everyone, and have a wonderful summer!!

2011-06-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Gathering in the barn for a family picnic

Showing off the completed shelter

Eggs, bacon, fruit and bagels for breakfast

Enjoying breakfast around the campfire

A finished wood project

2011-06-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

Solar Oven

Playing Cat's Cradle on the porch

Making reed boats at the pond

Spider!!

Nature mandala

2011-06-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

Today was kind of a wrap up time at camp. This morning, Dylan wokred with a group putting the finishing touches on the shelter, while Judy worked with a group over at the pond, firing the pit kiln. Colin and a group of kids set up a large capture the flag game for us to play tonight, and Allie finished up arts & crafts projects on the porch.

After lunch, we had a rather exciting game of capture the flag, followed by quiet time. After almost two weeks, we have all gotten into a really comfortable routine of work, play and rest. In the afternoon, we stayed close to the barn, finishing up projects in the various work areas. In addition to cleaning up certain areas, we also began preparations for tonight's camp out. When a brief thunderstorm came through, we gathered together in the barn.

It will be great to see you all at the picnic tomorrow!
Alex

2011-06-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

The camp day gets started.

Working with the pit kiln.

The shelter is almost finished!

Peeking over the shelter walls.

Nice roof!!

2011-06-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

Arts & crafts on the porch.

Exciting moment in today's capture the flag game.

Reading in the barn.

Quiet time.

Finishing up our projects in the woodshop.

2011-06-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

It was a bit rainy for Pond Day, but we all had a great time anyway! We began the morning with an hour of work on projects in progress. While some kids worked on the shelter -- which has a roof now and is shaping up nicely -- other kids finished up their boats in the woodshop or worked on the porch with Allie doing tie dye.

At 10:00, we gathered in the barn to hear about safety rules for Pond Day. Lifeguard Julie Sherbeck joined us for the day, and we all headed to the pond with towels and boats. After plenty of time floating our boats, swimming in the pond, and taking canoe rides, we all gathered around the fire to make Stone Soup. The tent provided some nice shelter from the rain, but mostly, we were just happy to sit around the campfire and sing songs.

See you tomorrow.
Alex

2011-06-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

Adding the roof to the shelter.

The shelter walls continue to grow!

Allie gives us safety instructions for the pond.

Heading to the pond with our boats.

Will they float?

2011-06-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

Warming up around the campfire

Stone Soup!!

Wet on wet at the pond.

Enjoying Pond Day.

Great day for a swim!

2011-06-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

Today was another beautiful day at the Land Lab, and we accomplished quite a bit. The shelter is beginning to take form, with our walls about three feet high, and the roof starting to come together as well. Allie was on the porch doing arts and crafts projects with one group, while Judy helped other kids paint or stain their woodworking projects in the woodshop. I went to the pond and watched campers catching all sorts of wildlife, from frogs to crayfish to toads. Most of the work we did on the shelter this morning was gathering more logs, because we were running low. Later in the afternoon, more work was done on actual assembly.

During lunch, we ate, played capture the flag, and a few of us read books in the barn. After lunch was over, it was time for quiet time, when the kids all split up to read books, make art, or just lie in the field. Then we split into groups, some working in the woodshop to finish any unfinished work, some to continue work on the shelter, and some to start tie dying with Allie. The tie die projects are coming along great. Almost all of the kids had time today to make bandanas and T-shirts. By the end of the day, most of the projects in the woodshop were finished, save a few boats we will finish tomorrow morning for pond day, and the shelter is almost there.

Remember tomorrow is pond day, so bring your bathing suits, towels, and a change of clothes.

See you tomorrow!
Alex

2011-06-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Making more windsocks on the porch.

A finished project in the woodshop.

Painting a wood project.

The shelter walls continue to rise!

Sitting on the shelter wall.

2011-06-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Catching wildlife at the pond.

Looking for frogs.

Hanging out at the pond.

Examining our catch.

Two big frogs!

2011-06-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

Enjoying a beautiful afernoon at camp.

Carrying logs up to the shelter site.

Harvesting logs from the "play woods".

Fresh strawberries!!

Arts & crafts on the porch.

2011-06-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Tie-dying in the afternoon.

Making a boat in the woodshop.

Tie-dying - before the colors.

Our finished projects.

A finished wood project.

Day 6

2011-06-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

Today was another great day, with some wonderful weather. In our morning choice period, a lot of kids helped out with the shelter, while some stayed and did arts and crafts on the porch. Some gathered and identified plants with Judy, and others went to the pond to observe and catch some aquatic wildlife. The shelter is really coming together now, the walls are being constructed, and the roof mats are almost all completed.

We had a great lunch, with more games of capture the flag. Then we split up in the afternoon. Some kids went up to weave more grass mats and pick wild strawberries in the field. Some kids continued work in the woodshop, painting and finishing more projects, and others made windsocks with Allie on the porch. Everyone got to pick their own windsock color and personalize it with a variety of designs. There are some pretty good looking windsocks, and the projects are coming along quite nicely in the woodshop.

Remember that Wednesday is Pond Day!!

See you tomorrow,
Alex

2011-06-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

Working in the woodshop

Making windsocks on the porch

Windsocks

Everyone got to create their own designs

Woodworking projects moving foreward

2011-06-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

Playing games with Judy during lunch

Building the walls of the shelter

Lashing logs onto the posts

Working on the shelter

Painting woodshop projects

Day 5

2011-06-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

Today we were supposed to have some rain, but it held off until just around pick up time. First we had our morning choice period, where we had shelter building in the woods, arts and crafts on the porch, and pond time with judy. Colin and Dylan helped two shifts of kids start the shelter, and the four corners, and bases of the three walls of our structure are already looking great. Allie and I worked on arts and crafts with the kids. Some enjoyed drawingv or painting, some made mandalas, and others made bracelets with Allie and me. Judy went to the pond with a small group of kids, and they made ducks and other animals out of cattails. It was a fun morning, despite the rather chilly weather, and although most of the kids won't admit it, we had a pretty productive morning too. (I got a new bracelet!)

Then we had lunch, and played a couple more games of capture the flag. During quiet time, several campers did more arts and crafts on the porch, but there were a few the barn sanding their woodshop projects as well. We slowed down a little in the afternoon, offering three activities instead of four. We had woodshop, observing wildlife at the pond, and a scavenger hunt that one of the campers had set up earlier that morning. The scavenger hunt was really fun, with groups of kids following clues around the land lab woods. A couple more woodshop projects were finished, and we discovered huge frogs, tiny frogs, and all sorts of dragonflies at the pond. Today was a little bit more relaxing, but we all still had a great time!

Have a great weekend!
Alex

2011-06-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

Enjoying an afternoon at the pond

Working at the shelter site

Capture the flag after lunch

Hanging out during quiet time

Finished woodshop project

2011-06-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

Making cattail animals at the pond

Arts and crafts on the porch

Cattail ducks

Making mandalas on the porch

Arts and crafts on the porch

2011-06-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Making a bracelet

Making more bracelets

Putting up a post for our shelter

Arts and crafts on the porch

Making a mandala

Day 4

2011-06-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

We had another day of great weather today, and started off the morning with our circle on the straw bales in the barn. Then we all split up for our choice morning period, and again, many kids worked on the shelter with Colin, Dylan and me. Dylan helped harvest trees for our shelter in the "play woods". Then, the kids dragged or carried them back through the woods up to the shelter site, where Colin and I helped them outline the walls of the shelter. We also continued to weave grass mats.

Judy and Allie stayed at the Land Lab. They set up their sun dial, and we used the solar oven again, making some sugar cookies today. Allie was on the porch most of the morning working on art projects with the kids, and Judy took some of them over to the pond to catch some critters. We kept them for the day in our terrarium which we turned into an amphibian habitat for them by adding water. At the end of the day, we released our specimens back into the pond.

We had lunch, and the time after lunch that has become a sort of recess for the kids to hang out and play games. Then, quiet time came. Some worked on the porch, some sanded wood, while others read quietly. In the afternoon: Dylan offered another Stalking class, to teach some more advanced methods; Colin and Judy worked in the workshop; Allie taught the kids how to make mandalas; and I worked with a group to make Plant Tiles. The mandalas are really cool patterns of leaves and nature mixed with art supplies on pieces of paper. The woodshop projects are coming along quite nicely, and the plant tiles were quite awesome. Although I was a little far away, I had no idea that the stalking crew had returned until a long time after they actually had. They are getting quite good at being quiet.

Alex

2011-06-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

Releasing our wildlife back to its habitat

Releasing the Wildlife at the pond

Finished woodworking project

Found a hornets nest in the field

Morning circle on the straw bales

Day 3

2011-06-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Today was the nicest day Pompey has seen in a while, although it got a little warm in the afternoon. This was the perfect opportunity to try out last year's Solar Oven, and make some nice chocolate chip cookies. This morning was our first "choice morning," where the kids picked their own activities. Some went on a walk with Allie to collect flowers and wildlife for the porch activities, and some helped Judy put the cookies into the Solar Oven, but most came with Dylan, Colin and me and continued work on our shelter. Colin worked with a small group to make another grass mat, and gather loads of grass, while another small group went with me to clear out the area where we are going to build the shelter. Dylan took a big group to go and gather logs in the "play woods", and haul them back to the shelter site in pairs. As we finished the mat and the shelter site started looking really neat, we all gathered to help carry the logs. It took us all morning, and we might still need more logs!

After lunch, we continued our tradition of playing a few games of capture the flag, and having quiet time. Sanding in the woodshop got a bit more exciting today because Judy bought more sand paper this morning, and it was a popular activity during quiet time. We then offered our four afternoon activities, and the kids as usual split into groups depending on their own preferences. Colin and Judy worked in the woodshop, Dylan took a group on a Tree Identification Walk, Allie worked on the porch with another group, and I taught a group how to stalk by moving quietly through the woods and fields. During the second part of the afternoon, Dylan and I worked together with a bigger group to master stalking, and they got pretty good!

See you all tomorrow!
Alex

2011-06-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Wrapping up the day

Measuring wood for a project

Stalking Alex

Sawing a 2x4

Sanding Wood

2011-06-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

Working in the woodshop

Quiet time in the barn

Capture the Flag!

The site of our Shelter

Clearing the shelter site

Day 2

2011-06-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

Today was another cold day, with rain and fog most of the day. We started off the day in the barn as we will every morning of camp. Allie gave an introduction to the activities available on the porch while Judy taught a group about pressing leaves and flowers. Colin set up an orienteering scavenger hunt in the woods, and Dylan and I started clearing an area to build some looms at the top of the field. These are grass looms we can use to make mats that can serve as part of a shelter, or even a mat to sleep on! Later in the morning, the campers split up, and either did activities on the porch with Allie and Judy, or helped Colin, Dylan and me build the grass looms. Allie read a story to a group on the porch about a witch who went into the forest and turned all the monsters into trees and parts of the forest. After the story, we went on a walk to try to find some of these "monsters." Then we all returned to the barn for lunch.

We started off the afternoon with a quick game of capture the flag after lunch, followed by quiet time on the porch, and in the barn. Then we gave the kids the option to choose two of four workshops again in the afternoon. Dylan taught the kids some really helpful knots for when we start building our shelter; Allie taught watercolor on the porch; Colin took a group on the scavenger hunt; and Judy and I worked with a group in the woodshop on some great projects. I saw some beautiful paintings, and the kids showed me some knots that I had never seen before! The scavenger hunt went really well, and in the woodshop we are seeing the first few finished projects -- they are looking great!

Alex

2011-06-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Watercolor on the porch.

Today's watercolors

Learning how to tie knots with Dylan.

Using the saw in the woodshop.

Drawing on the porch during quiet time.

2011-06-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Allie helping campers make leaf presses

Quiet time in the barn

"Monster" Walk with Allie

Making a loom with Dylan at the top of the field

Hammering in stakes for a loom

Day 1 :D

2011-06-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

We started off the camp with a bit of wonderfully chilly weather, and heavy cloud cover over the Land Lab. We met in the barn at first, and the other counselors introduced themselves to the students who didn't know us yet. Then we kicked off the day's activities with a blindfold walk through the woods. In this exercise, the kids split into pairs of two and they trade off leading each other through the woods without touching one another, in order to strengthen and exercise their other senses. Then we split into two groups. The first went to talk to Dylan about where we are going to build our shelter, what kind of shelter to build, and the benefits of different sites based on such variables as elevation to sun exposure. The second group went with Judy to the Woodshop where she introduced them to all of the tools, the work space, and the procedure of making a project (i.e., planning, gathering supplies etc.). Then the groups switched. We broke for lunch and the kids played Capture the Flag once they were done.

After lunch, we had quiet time. The kids split off by themselves, and were given the option to draw things, read books, copy maps, or even sand blocks of wood. After quiet time, we split the afternoon into two blocks, and let the kids choose between four different workshops. Judy worked in the Woodshop, Leslie made herb books, Colin and Dylan led a Forest Foray and I helped build terrariums. Everything went well. The Forest Foray was a great adventure off the beaten path, our terrariums turned out great, and there are some great projects starting in the Woodshop!

See you tomorrow!

Alex

2011-06-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

Working on a project

Planning a project

Judy helps plan with wood

Weaving a mat

Examining our terrarium

2011-06-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Can you walk the circle without touching the grass?

Blind walk in the woods.

Blind walk

Heading out on the Blind walk.

First day of camp!!

2011-06-12T18:06:00.001-07:00

Happy Last Day of School Campers! We look forward to the start of our Land Lab Outdoor Adventure next week. Be sure to check the "Things to Bring" list so that you prepared on Monday! See you then.

2010-06-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

Setting up the tents

Overnighters

Cozy campers

Tent team

Fire pit

2010-06-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Tent town

Early risers

Morning pond

"I hate rabbits"

Breakfast table

2010-06-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Makin' bacon

Cooking breakfast

Boiling milkweed flowers

Tastes like broccoli

Packing up

2010-06-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

Packing up

Tie-dye projects

Bandanas drying

T-shirts drying

Land Lab Adventure: Week 2 Day 5

2010-06-25T19:30:00.002-07:00

We began the day with a campfire breakfast of bacon, eggs and boiled milkweed flowers picked fresh from the field. While we were waiting for food to cook on the fire, the kids had bagels and fruit. Today, some of the kids were tired from the overnight. Those that joined us at 9:00 were a great help in boosting spirits, and helping bring everything back from the pond. We started off the morning with a pickup of the tent area, and laying out the tents to dry. During our morning work block a lot of kids helped hang up all the tie-dyed shirts, bandanas, and various other colorful apparel on some large clotheslines, but I know even more sanded their wood blocks and started the staining process. In between these activities many kids finished up any arts projects they had on the porch. During lunch we had a great pizza party, and quiet time was yet again largely on the porch. Some kids continued sanding their wood projects as well.

In the first afternoon block, the entire group worked to clean up things that have accumulated during the past two weeks. During the second afternoon block, a few kids finished sanding and staining, and some kids finished cleaning up the tents. Most of the group, however, came on a final walk through the woods with Leslie and me. While playing a game of stealth in the woods, we stumbled upon an underground hornets’ nest. Seven of the kids and I got stung, some of us more than once. We gathered on the porch and applied baking soda and ice to our stings. This was a reminder for all of us that even though nature is a lot of fun, it can also sometimes be dangerous. All the kids took really good care of each other, and showed a lot of compassion for their friends.

We ended the camp by packing up the last of our belongings, taking the tie-dye projects down off the clothesline, and packing our treasures into our cubby boxes. Looking back over the past two weeks, we had a lot of great fun – nature walks, art projects, woodshop time, swimming, building our weather station, and learning about the natural word around us. I hope that everyone has a great summer.

Remember to keep playing outside!!

Alex

Land Lab Adventure – Overnight edition (pictures will be posted on Saturday)

2010-06-25T19:30:00.001-07:00

The overnight went quite well. Thursday afternoon, the kids helped set up all of the tents and played a lot of Capture the Flag. The tents looked great, and the kids had a HUGE dinner. They were probably hungry because between lunch at 11:30 and dinner around 6:00, they had a very active time. All the dinner food disappeared in moments as the children ate their fill. At about 8:15, they started a kickball game which was lots of fun, but as the light started to disappear we headed to our fire pit for s’mores.

After we all made s’mores, Judy took us out for a night walk in the field. The fireflies sparkled across the field like dew at sunrise; it was indescribable. We then split up and while most kids went back to the campfire, Allie and I took a few kids by a different route through the dark woods – it was challenging, but in a fun way. We all met back at the campfire and most kids changed and got ready for bed, although a few kids sat around the fire and talked about their summer plans. We all got to bed around 11:00 and didn’t wake up until 6:30.

2010-06-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

Land Lab camp 2010

Early birds

Pit kiln

Clay tile

2010-06-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

Suspended brick using knots

Sanding wood

Finished birdhouse

Land Lab-ville

Creators of Land Lab-ville

Land Lab Adventure: Week 2, Day 4

2010-06-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

As our time together draws to an end, we focused on finishing all the projects we had started. In the morning, we walked out to the pond to check on our plant tiles. They all made it quite well and they look magnificent. We then headed back to the Land Lab and the kids that still had projects left in the woodshop finished those up. Some kids went to the porch to finish water colors or other art projects, and those children who were done tie-dyed shirts with Allie. During lunch we played some more Capture the Flag, and during quiet time we opened up the woodshop so students could sand their wood projects if they wished – it went great! After quiet time we worked some more in the woodshop. Those kids who were busy in the morning tie-dyed their shirts with Allie and the remaining kids went on a hike with Judy. When we all go back together around 2:15, we finished the day up with a game or two of freeze-tag and our sharing circle.

Tonight will be a night to remember as we camp out at the pond!

Alex

2010-06-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

Wood projects

Sanding

Making a birdhouse

2010-06-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

Tie-Dying

Allie tie-dying

Our bandanas

Climbing trees

Stargazer

Land Lab Adventure: Week 2, Day 3

2010-06-23T20:45:00.001-07:00

Today was another great day, and we started it off with a group walk to the pond to set up and light our pit kiln which will be firing the children’s plant tiles. All went well, and so far it looks just like it should, but we need to give it another day to cook. We then came back to the Land Lab and did arts and crafts on the porch, or worked on our projects some more in the woodshop. It was a great morning, and I saw some great projects shaping up. Lunch was followed by a great few games of Capture the Flag. During quiet time most kids went to the porch and drew, read, practiced knots, or painted with watercolors (a new favorite pastime)
During quiet time we also planned out our afternoon activities. Leslie ran the woodshop again, and Judy helped the kids make stargazers on the porch. Allie and I helped the kids tie-dye bandanas. Almost everyone made one, and they all look great! For those who didn’t make any, we will have extras tomorrow, and we will also be doing T-shirts. If your child has anything white at home which they would like to tie-dye, they can bring in one or two objects. Tie-dying is not a clean business, so parents, remember not to dress your kids in fancy white dresses tomorrow.
Your child also should have brought home a list of what to bring to the overnight tomorrow; we will be having a pizza party for lunch on Friday, and various other surprises in between.

Can’t Wait!
Alex

2010-06-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

Excited for the pond

Lets go!

Testing a boat

Testing another boat (and the water)

First one in!

2010-06-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

Starting the fire

Float that boat

Rock that dock

Sitting on the pier

Allie gives a canoe ride

2010-06-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

Glen the Lifeguard

Drying off

Sitting by the fire

Judy loving the soup!

2010-06-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

Stone Soup

Under the tent

Serving stone soup

Freezing cold (and still wet)

Rain, rain, go away

2010-06-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

Students enjoy Stone Soup

Water color on the porch

Drawing

More drawing!

Even more drawing!!

Land Lab Adventure: Week 2, Day 2

2010-06-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

Today was Pond Day! We spent almost all day at the pond; whether boating or swimming, we were there. It was a great day. We started the day reading the story of Stone Soup to learn about our lunch activity. Then we went straight out to the pond and while some of the kids tested their boats, others jumped right in (literally).

The water was a little cold, but it was still very enjoyable. Several kids made it out to the floating dock while others enjoyed a canoe ride with Allie or me. Later, some of the kids who didn’t want to swim out to the dock were ferried out by our great life guard, Glen. During lunch, the kids ate the food they brought for lunch while Judy prepared “Stone Soup” over the campfire.

During quiet time many of the kids laid out in the sun on their towels and dried off. Near the end of quiet time, the soup was ready, and bowls were passed around. The soup was great and many of the kids wanted seconds; luckily there was enough for all to eat their fill. While we were eating, we heard some thunder, and Glen made us wait about an hour before we could go swimming again. With the thunder came some rain, but as the thunder left the rain persisted. We split up into two groups, and while some children dried off, changed clothes and went to the porch to do arts and crafts, others stayed and went swimming in the rain.

It was another great day!

Alex

2010-06-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

Sitting in a shelter

Building a shelter

Outside a shelter

Outside another shelter

2010-06-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Using the saw

Sanding wood

Making a bench

Baking more cookies!

Land Lab Adventure: Week 2, Day 1

2010-06-21T16:31:00.001-07:00

Today the weather was great again. We decided again to begin the day with a morning full of the outdoors, working on our boats and shelters. We first went out to look at the shelters that had been started last week, and let me tell you they are looking GREAT! Most involve walls of pine boughs, and many have a high quality carpet of moss that is quite comfortable. I sat in one and I swear I could sleep on that moss!

The boats are looking great too and I hear another few took their maiden voyages. After lunch we played our customary games of Capture the Flag, then moved on to quiet time. Quite time again was quite peaceful; some kids drew, while others practiced tying knots. In the afternoon, Judy took some students on a field investigation in which they took a closer look at the life forms living and growing there. Allie taught a group water coloring and Leslie ran the woodshop. Although we are running low on wood, we still have plenty of ideas. Some projects were finished today and others made great progress. I hear that the field investigation was quite interesting and the watercolors equally entrancing.

Remember everyone,

Tomorrow is Pond Day so pack a change of clothes, a towel, and a bathing suit
Also we will be making Stone Soup, so bring an ingredient to share (see the email from Rene)

Great day, can’t wait for tomorrow!

Alex

2010-06-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

Land Lab meadow

Capture the Flag

In the field

In the barn

At the pond

2010-06-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

At the pond

Boat building

At the pond

Botanical go-fish

Boat building

2010-06-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Boat building

Tying -- and untying -- knots

Woodworking in the barn

Chocolate chip cookies from the solar oven

Land Lab Adventure - Day 5

2010-06-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

There was perfect weather to end the week today. It was so sunny out, we were even able to bake some great chocolate chip cookies in our solar oven. In the morning we decided to do all of our outdoor activities and either worked on shelters or started our boat projects. Whether our project was big or small, we gathered sticks and started tying. Then after an eventful lunch of eating and Capture the Flag we moved into a relaxing quiet time and let the children enjoy the serenity of the Land Lab. In the afternoon, the kids split up and either worked in the woodshop with Judy and me, built a sun kiln with Leslie, or made mandalas with Allie. The kiln is looking great and the mandalas were a lot of fun to make. The projects in the woodshop are also coming along nicely.

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you all on Monday!

Alex

2010-06-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

Will it float?

Gathering in the barn

Working with the mallet and chisel

2010-06-17T13:29:00.002-07:00

Capture the flag!

Walk in the wet

Working in the woodshop with the saw...

...and the chisel.

Making name plates.

Land Lab Adventure Day 4

2010-06-17T13:29:00.001-07:00

It was a little moist again today; the fog didn’t let up until around 2:30. Today most of the kids were dressed for the weather, however some kids would do well to have a spare sweatshirt and pair of pants in their cubbies. In the morning we split up into two groups and did arts and crafts on the porch or finished construction on the sun oven. At 10:00, the woodworking shop opened up and the majority of the kids rushed in to start or continue their projects. After lunch, we played a few great games of Capture the Flag. During quiet time, the majority of kids went to the porch. Some of us worked on drawings related to the Land Lab while others learned some string games.

During the afternoon Allie took us on a “Walk in the Wet” while Judy let a seminar on all kinds of knots. The walk was especially peaceful because the hillside was covered in fog. During the second afternoon block, we reopened the ever-popular woodworking shop and continued our projects. It was a great day, and at our sharing circle at 2:30, the kids expressed their enjoyment of everything that happened today.

Tomorrow might even be warmer!

Alex

2010-06-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Rainy day

Lunch time

2010-06-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

Freeze tag!

Lunch time

Quiet time

Materials for our terrarium

Clay tiles

Land Lab Adventure – Day 3

2010-06-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

Today started off a little rainy but this didn’t deter us. We had our first morning work block this morning and it went really well. The kids split up and half went to the porch to do arts and crafts while the rest stayed in the barn and helped design and put together our new Museum Space. At 10:00 we started work with the tools, and almost all the kids thought up their own really cool projects, from planes to cars to carving their name in a piece of wood. After lunch we played a quick game of freeze-tag and during quiet time we went on a group walk to gather materials. In the afternoon blocks, we put some of these materials in a terrarium and others we pressed into clay tiles. Allie and her group started work on our sun oven which we can cook in during the upcoming days; it’s looking really hot!

Remember that it can go from cold and rainy to warm and sunny in one short day, so make sure that you send your child with all the clothes they might need and that you keep their extra clothing box stocked.

Can’t wait till tomorrow!

Alex

2010-06-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

Old Museum Space

Quiet time

Hangin' in the apple tree

Old fashioned hand pump

Cloud gazing

2010-06-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

Drawing clouds
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Cloud gazing with friends

Jared sketches clouds

Writing in journals

Malachi's cloud drawing

Land Lab Adventure, Day 2 -

2010-06-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

We had another great day today! We started the day with a Practical Life lesson on the proper use of sun block and bug repellent. In the morning, we built all sorts of instruments to measure the weather. We learned about anemometers, thermometers, barometers, how to make a cloud in a jar, weather vanes, and rain gauges. We then split up into two groups, one group made wind socks that will measure the direction and speed of the wind, while the others made more specific tools like anemometers and weather vanes. Judy showed us all how to make a cloud in a jar – it was amazing!

After lunch and quiet time we split up again into three groups, one that planned a new Museum space for our treasures, one that learned all about clouds and one that examined the habitat of a decomposing log. Under a decomposing log, campers found a salamander, and learned about several kinds of bugs. Gazing at the clouds, we read all about the formation of clouds and different kinds such as cirrus and cumulous and the weather conditions they indicate. It will be great to have a new and larger Museum Space, the one we have now is almost full!

2010-06-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

Morning gathering in the barn

Trust walk

2010-06-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

We found a frog!

Rope walk

Learning to use the chisel

A hand drill that's actually called the large brace

Nature scavenger hunt

What a great start to our 2 week adventure!!

2010-06-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

We have a great camp laid out ahead of us. For the first two days there will be full days of learning and introduction to our materials. After that, every morning we will have a two hour work block during which the kids can work on their favorite activity, while being supervised by members of our staff team. Each afternoon we will have daily seminars teaching the children about all sorts of things from edible foods to how to build an oven to cook them. At midday, we break for a classic Montessori lunchtime and quiet time during which the kids usually write about their day in their journals or lie in the field and stare into the clouds.

Today we had some wonderful activities. The opening activity was a trust walk. Students walked in the woods wearing blindfolds to show them how much we all rely on sight. I tried to walk for a few feet with a blindfold on and I was completely lost. We kept the kids with partners and they would trade off guiding. Each of the kids has a journal which they use for drawing and writing about their experiences. While some campers wrote in their journals, another group learned how to make shelters to stay in when bad weather happens, while others went on a scavenger hunt with Judy in the woods to find something crunchy, something soft, something decomposing, and a hole in which an animal has lived.

Special Reminder:

Be sure to send a water bottle each day, labeled with your child’s name.
Check clothing boxes or ask your child if they used their clothes so you can restock the box.
Camp hours are 9-3; the Van leaves MSS promptly at 8:30. If you miss the van, you will need to bring your child directly to the Land Lab.

Looking forward to a fun day on Tuesday!

Alex

Welcome!

2010-06-09T11:08:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the "Trees, Tools & Treasures Blog". Be sure to check back daily for updated photos and information about camp activities. The MSS Land Lab Outdoor Adventure Staff is looking forward to a fun-filled two weeks with all of the campers! See you Monday morning!