I loved school. I loved and still love learning. But my favourite and best place of learning will always be outside! I love science and I love nature!
The problem is, I’m not a winter person. If it’s not 25 degrees out, it’s not warm enough for me. But when I force myself (or someone else forces me) to suck it up and go outside from November to April, and I’m dressed properly, I do usually love it.
Today was one of those cold winter days I would have stayed in, but I was forced to go out because I volunteered with my son’s class. His class was on a school trip to the Camp Kawartha Environmental Education Centre. Honestly it was FREEEEZING out, but the sunshine was beautiful, and the company was pretty great too!
l-r: Daniel, MF, Carson (out front) and Tanner
It was really cool to see what kids are being taught. Kids are learning so much about accountability and stewardship. They’re learning about their role on the planet and why it’s so important to care. Why it’s important to reuse and reclaim “things” and not just throw everything in the garbage! I assure you, I DID NOT LEARN ABOUT THAT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!
The kids learned so much today!
We learned how to build an outdoor shelter
We didn’t learn to build THIS one. We learned about quinzhee huts
We learned to start a fire with steel and flint
Quenton is not sleeping, I just happened to take the pic when he blinked! It was too cold to sleep!
We learned how to identify trees (It’s way harder in the winter!)
We hand fed chickadees!!
Pardon the blurry shot, my hands were freezing trying to capture the shot!!
The only time the kids were silent were when they fed the birds!
How to Make Kids QuietHow do you get a group of Grade 4 students to be silent?! Let them hand feed birds at the Camp Kawartha Environmental Education Centre!
Posted by Michelle Ferreri on Monday, January 18, 2016
We listened to amazing traditional folk music with a mouth harp and banjo from the one and only Glen Caradus aka The Paddling Puppeteers
We learned how to snowshoe!!
Our snowshoeing guide and banjo player, Glen Caradus shows the milkweed plant. He explains its role in the livelihood of the monarch butterfly!
I’m so thrilled St Paul Lakefield is using such a great space to teach the kids! I highly recommend checking it out! And before I sign off I have to give a shout out to my co-parent volunteer, Allison Bullock! We didn’t lose one kid! Thank a teacher today, they’re probably really tired.
That’s Allison in the back, we were Maverick and Goose today for sure!
Get outside, you’ll be glad you did!
MF
Great story,Michelle! I could’ve learned a lot on that trip,but I’m stuck here in Florida with my favourite people in the world…my brother & sister-in-law,Ray & Rhonda.You probably don’t know them,but I think you might be liking their son,Joel! Not sure if he liked school as much as you did….LOL