.jpg)
Although it may have looked a little cloudy today, if you ask me, it was perfect weather. A little breezy and not too sunny, it was just warm enough out today to be perfectly comfortable. We started out this morning by continuing to diligently work on our shelter, and introduced a new activity of making boats. Some kids used wood or plants that they found, while others devised a plan to string together plastic water bottles to make a flotation device. By the end of the morning there were several great boats afloat and some serious progress had been made on the shelter.
In the afternoon we played some Capture the Flag at the end of lunch, then moved into quiet time. Today most kids stayed inside due to the lack of sun, but we all still had tons of fun creating all sorts of cool arts and crafts on the porch (I even finished my bracelet). During the afternoon we offered shelter again, because some kids really love working on it, and we need to speed things up if we plan on finishing this week. We also made the porch available in a more open style: some kids made great bracelets, some kids started on wind socks, and others read or worked on sanding outside. We had a kind of mixed-weather day, but we all still had a really great time!
Remember tomorrow is Stone Soup day and Pond day, so bring towels, bathing suits, another change of clothes, goggles if you think that is something that would be fun, and food for stone soup.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Today at camp, we had a great time bringing our first week together to a close. Today we really started work on the shelter, but also had a great time with more arts and crafts on the porch. In the morning, there were all sorts of things that needed to be done, so after our morning meeting and Xavy's daily weather report, we set right off.
While many kids went to go help gather fallen trees and de-limb them into logs for our shelter, others helped rake the floor and dig down a few inches on the inside of the shelter to provide the option to make a floor later to keep the bugs away. While most kids worked at the shelter site, some stayed behind to do arts and crafts on the porch, some built a barometer to help with our daily weather report, some helped bake cookies in our solar oven, and others helped to build a couple of sun dials so we can learn to tell the time without watches or cell phones.
After lunch we played a lot of Capture the Flag. During quiet time we continued arts and crafts projects on the porch, and relaxed in the sun. In the afternoon we decided to continue our work on the shelter. While the shelter group started to notch and lay down some of the first layers of logs, some kids stayed behind at the Land Lab to do yoga or make bracelets on the porch. All in all the day was great fun and almost everyone made significant progress on one project or another.
Have a great weekend!
Alex
While many kids went to go help gather fallen trees and de-limb them into logs for our shelter, others helped rake the floor and dig down a few inches on the inside of the shelter to provide the option to make a floor later to keep the bugs away. While most kids worked at the shelter site, some stayed behind to do arts and crafts on the porch, some built a barometer to help with our daily weather report, some helped bake cookies in our solar oven, and others helped to build a couple of sun dials so we can learn to tell the time without watches or cell phones.
After lunch we played a lot of Capture the Flag. During quiet time we continued arts and crafts projects on the porch, and relaxed in the sun. In the afternoon we decided to continue our work on the shelter. While the shelter group started to notch and lay down some of the first layers of logs, some kids stayed behind at the Land Lab to do yoga or make bracelets on the porch. All in all the day was great fun and almost everyone made significant progress on one project or another.
Have a great weekend!
Alex
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Today was another beautiful day at Land Lab camp. At our morning meeting several students got to show the bird houses that they had made the day before. After our meeting, we started our morning choice period. Dylan and I took a couple groups to get started working on our shelter, cleaning out the area where it will be built, gathering lumber, and de-limbing trees. We are building this year's shelter in the dark woods. First, the smaller branches need to be removed from the trees and the ground needs to be leveled out and cleared. We are also collecting dead branches and trees which will be the main source of material for the shelter. While some of us worked in the woods, Allie, Julie, and Chantelle all worked with kids around the barn and porch area on a variety of activities.
After lunch, as usual, we played some Capture the Flag. During quiet time we all went to the porch, or the green space right outside the porch, to work on arts and crafts, sanding, or just reading our books. It was a really nice time for a sunny self reflection period away from all the hustle and bustle of the busy day. After quiet time we gathered in the barn, and while some kids went on exciting treasure hunts with Julie and Chantelle, or practiced more stalking with me, those who hadn't yet finished their bird houses finished them up in the Woodshop with Allie and Dylan. We ended the day a little early in order to play a quick game or two of capture the flag to get some of our energy out before the long car ride home.
After lunch, as usual, we played some Capture the Flag. During quiet time we all went to the porch, or the green space right outside the porch, to work on arts and crafts, sanding, or just reading our books. It was a really nice time for a sunny self reflection period away from all the hustle and bustle of the busy day. After quiet time we gathered in the barn, and while some kids went on exciting treasure hunts with Julie and Chantelle, or practiced more stalking with me, those who hadn't yet finished their bird houses finished them up in the Woodshop with Allie and Dylan. We ended the day a little early in order to play a quick game or two of capture the flag to get some of our energy out before the long car ride home.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Today was a special day at Land Lab camp because we had a special guest - Judy, our Woodshop expert. Today we transformed our morning choice period into two blocks, similar to the afternoon, and in each of those two blocks and our two afternoon blocks, we cycled all the kids through the Woodshop working with Judy and Dylan to make some really cool birdhouses. This way, a small group of 7 or 8 kids could really get the attention necessary to maximize the safety and productivity of the Woodshop.
While others were working in the Woodshop, the rest of us carried out a normal day. In the morning we went on several adventures, like gathering various pieces of nature to use in our art on the porch, collecting frogs, snails and crayfish from the pond to make an aquarium, and gathering wildlife from the "play woods" to make a terrarium. We found about 7 or 8 salamanders, at least 12 frogs, a crayfish, and many other little bugs alongside worms, and slugs.
During lunch, we ate a hearty meal and played Capture the Flag. Then the sun finally began to shine as we spent quiet time sanding, reading, and doing arts and crafts on and around the porch. In the afternoon the kids all either continued working in the Woodshop, did arts and crafts with the materials that they had gathered earlier this morning, or accompanied Allie and I into the woods for a lesson in stalking and moving quietly in order to better observe the nature around us.
Although I haven't had a chance to stop by, I have heard that the birdhouses are coming along quite nicely, most are ready to be sanded and painted, and the Woodshop has lived up to its reputation.
See you all tomorrow for what looks to be another sunny day at the Land lab!
Alex
While others were working in the Woodshop, the rest of us carried out a normal day. In the morning we went on several adventures, like gathering various pieces of nature to use in our art on the porch, collecting frogs, snails and crayfish from the pond to make an aquarium, and gathering wildlife from the "play woods" to make a terrarium. We found about 7 or 8 salamanders, at least 12 frogs, a crayfish, and many other little bugs alongside worms, and slugs.
During lunch, we ate a hearty meal and played Capture the Flag. Then the sun finally began to shine as we spent quiet time sanding, reading, and doing arts and crafts on and around the porch. In the afternoon the kids all either continued working in the Woodshop, did arts and crafts with the materials that they had gathered earlier this morning, or accompanied Allie and I into the woods for a lesson in stalking and moving quietly in order to better observe the nature around us.
Although I haven't had a chance to stop by, I have heard that the birdhouses are coming along quite nicely, most are ready to be sanded and painted, and the Woodshop has lived up to its reputation.
See you all tomorrow for what looks to be another sunny day at the Land lab!
Alex
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Today was a very rainy day, so a majority of the day was spent inside, but some of the kids embraced the weather as an opportunity for a higher level of fun, and spent as much time as was possible out in the rain. This morning, Allie also made an exciting addition to our on site materials by bringing in a load of scrap wood and some sand paper. Many of the kids were fascinated to learn about how sand paper worked, and even more happy to use it to make some of the smoothest wood that you will ever feel. This was especially appreciated as an activity on this cold and rainy day.
First thing in the morning we started our morning choice block. Dylan and I took several kids on a rain walk in search of edible plants, Julie and Chantelle helped kids look for more items for our terrariums, and Allie worked with a large group of kids on the porch, sanding wood or painting with water colors. After we got back from our rain walk, Dylan took another group out to the site of our shelter this year to continue clearing the area. I stayed behind with a group of kids interested in further smoothing their pieces of wood, while everyone else went to the porch for games and tons of arts and crafts.
After lunch, some of the kids continued their work on the porch, but as per usual, most kids played Capture the Flag. We had a nice quiet time with sanding, reading and relaxing in the barn and on the porch, but only relatively quiet due to the scratching of sand paper on wood. During the two afternoon blocks we offered five activities. Allie and Julie took more kids on a rain hike around the Land Lab, Dylan taught several lessons on different types of knots, their purposes and how to tie them, Chantelle played nature bingo with kids on the porch, and I sanded more wood with many of the kids who continued to be drawn to the sanding enterprise.
I would like to remind all parents that their children probably went through their change of cloths on this wet day, so if necessary be sure to send a new set of clothes tomorrow morning. Socks are especially important. Also, tomorrow morning we will be having Judy come in as a guest to give the kids a lesson in the wood shop, so closed toed shoes are advisable.
First thing in the morning we started our morning choice block. Dylan and I took several kids on a rain walk in search of edible plants, Julie and Chantelle helped kids look for more items for our terrariums, and Allie worked with a large group of kids on the porch, sanding wood or painting with water colors. After we got back from our rain walk, Dylan took another group out to the site of our shelter this year to continue clearing the area. I stayed behind with a group of kids interested in further smoothing their pieces of wood, while everyone else went to the porch for games and tons of arts and crafts.
After lunch, some of the kids continued their work on the porch, but as per usual, most kids played Capture the Flag. We had a nice quiet time with sanding, reading and relaxing in the barn and on the porch, but only relatively quiet due to the scratching of sand paper on wood. During the two afternoon blocks we offered five activities. Allie and Julie took more kids on a rain hike around the Land Lab, Dylan taught several lessons on different types of knots, their purposes and how to tie them, Chantelle played nature bingo with kids on the porch, and I sanded more wood with many of the kids who continued to be drawn to the sanding enterprise.
I would like to remind all parents that their children probably went through their change of cloths on this wet day, so if necessary be sure to send a new set of clothes tomorrow morning. Socks are especially important. Also, tomorrow morning we will be having Judy come in as a guest to give the kids a lesson in the wood shop, so closed toed shoes are advisable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
