Fall Classes Learning Log
OCTOBER 2021; LEARNING LOG
October All Program Newsletter, Catch you learning news HERE!
Friday's Tweens and Teens at Henry Cowell have been magical!
We are currently working on quickie bows
Our tweens and teens have beautifully formed an immediate cohesive village and we have been exploring the park
We have participated in Tree Field ID to understand what woods make good fire, engaged in plant medicine ID, ancient living skills such as….
This month we have been watching an orb spider in her magical web, near our base site, so appropriate for the Fall!......
Lots of Playing and Swimming in the River, Hiking the vast trails in the Park, scat and track ID with use of field guides.
This group loves to play games; Including Capture the Flag and Tale Tag, which requires awareness skills, strategy and being sneaky!
Friday’s Tweens and Teens at Foothill Park, Los Altos; Ages 9-14
”First week of Fridays in foothills park we did exploring, hazards, to be Commitments. We found some rose hips, the fruit of the rose that is really high in Vitamin C.” -Lead Instructor
”Second week; we did knife certification and wondered on the land, finding ways to stay cool.” -Lead Instructor
We have also started to work on a NEW Certification called ‘Shadow Wolves’, practicing our stealth and sneaky capabilities, staying hidden and unseen to make our nature awareness games that much more fun and using them to help others and be a team!
We have been working on Ancient living Wild Crafting.
Thursdays at Wolf Mountain (Los Gatos)- Eco Earth Lessons and Clay Class; Ages 51/2-14yrs
We have decorated Nature Journals with plant and track stamps and paint and Learned ‘The To Be Commitments’ and played lots of games the First week!
Second week, we dove into the science behind what ‘Clay’ is, where it is found on the earth and the ecological ways it is made. As well as learned how to ‘Wedge’ a chunk of clay, in preparation for throwing clay on the wheel. Wedging is a way of kneading the clay, to get the air bubbles out, otherwise bubbles left inside the clay will explode when fired in the Kiln.
We have learned to ID what types of Trees are on the land and engaged in science with Leaf Identification: Looking closer at how the structure of the leaves grow.. Opposite, Basil, Alternative or Whirled.
We have learned how to make Pinch Pots and Coils/ mini Coil Bowls out of Clay, and a few kids got to do their First Clay Throwing Lesson on the Wheel, the rest will start soon!- Taught By Teacher Bree (a ceramist for over 10years).
We practiced on how to set up a Tarp Shelter in the RAIN!
Start a Fire in the Rain, and cook our lunch over food over the fire, including; apples with honey and cinnamon, potatoes, vegan marshmallows, and dates.
We wandered on a discovery hike in the wet forest, learned about some plants for Tea and then came back to start our Elderberry Syrup over the fire with dried Elderberries.
Each day we play epic game to teach Team Building and Leadership in our Tribe
Wednesday and Thursday; After-School Stevens Creek Adventure; 5 ½ -12 years
*We have done a lot of crawdad catching, some river herb tasting, and lots of looking/drawing of various bugs!
*Nature Bingo is a popular game as well as, a game called Tale Tag, which requires awareness skills, strategy and being sneaky!
*Sit Spot is an Activity that requires each student to find their own spot in nature to be fully in the present moment and observe what is going on the land around them!
Wednesday’s Stevens Creek Adventures; 5 ½ -8 ½ and Tween/Teens 9-14...
“First week of Wednesdays we did orientation; hazards, To Be Commitments, and explored the land.” -Lead Instructor
Second week we did knife cert; carving painting rocks and crawdad fishing.
“Third week we did tree cert/ first day of autumn; learned about trees, climbed some trees and took care of some trees.” -Lead Instructor
Last week we continued to work on our Tree and Knife Certifications.
*We split the coyotes (younger group) and I talked about a log cabin structure for a shelter building Technique, and practiced making one for a one match fire challenge. Creating excitement for more fire fun in the future.”- Lead Instructor
*’Today the Wolverines (older group) learned with the coyotes how to make fire by friction! They played an epic game of capture the flag! The older group made fire by friction with me and Michelle Nolan.” -Lead Instructor
The Coyotes (younger learned a pattern of knot tying to make “Survival Bracelets”, played some fun games (including: tail tag and camouflage), went on a hike, did sit spot, and roasted apples over a fire to end the day!
The Wolverines have been working hard on creating a space called a ‘Dogo’, which to us, is a ninja training area that includes a balancing and coordination game called “monkey fist". We played a game where you embody either being a predator or prey, and then ended with a 2 match Fire Challenge.
Tuesday’s Anderson Native Naturalists all ages 5 ½ - 14..
We learned about Hazards to be aware of in the Park, and our To Be Commitments to ensure physical and emotional safety as much as possible. We went wandering through the park to our favorite Oak Tree, and creek play spot.
We have taught Knife Safety Rules and have been working on our carving skills towards a “Knife Certification” Badge. Whats next to get their Knife Certification is coming!
Many Older Kids stepped into Leadership in many groups and helped carve roasting sticks for marshmallows, for all, over the Fire, after learning a lesson about Fire Safety and how to build a successful fire structure- log cabin or tee pee or a combo, which we love, of the 2!
We have done an intro to Tree Identification, walking around the park as a group identifying different trees and getting to know them; in terms of their uses for fire and medicinal benefits .
We have gone over Tree Climbing Rules and working on getting “Tree Certified” if they choose. This includes: Learning the ‘Safety Rules,’ climbing practice with the instructor, as well as three different Tree Identification Journals (on their individual learning level)
We have learned to make cordage from hemp string and waxed linen as well as raffia.
Each week they have been Read a chapter in a book called “Ingwe” or the Tracker by Tom Brown.
Both books are different tales of naturalist as children and how they were raised. The specific people in both books are connected to the lineage of how this program became to be what it is today.
We have engaged in a weekly Sit Spot is an Activity that we do every week; that requires each student to find their own spot in nature (ideally the same each week), to be fully in the present moment and observe what is going on the land around them! A good time to journal, draw, listen to the animal noises around, ponder the questions or prompt the teacher sometimes gives. (Ex- how many different bird calls can you hear? What are 5 things happening in the 360 degrees around you, noise and senses?)
We have learned a pattern of knot tying to make “Survival Bracelets”,
We continually play games to teach leadership and team building.
We have gone on a wander and witnessed a family of deer very close up,
Our Sit Spot by the Creek is epic and the kids really desire to go out to their spot and engage in nature.
We have Learned about more Trees that are good for making fire and Practiced lighting a fire with Flint and Steel, as well as working together a creating a coal with a hand drill kit (fire by friction).
The kids favorite is always cooking! We are enjoying the fall harvest and Roasting apples over the fire, and eating them with honey.
We always end with Story of the Day - so parents join us for the closing circle to hear all of what we are learning in our outdoor classroom!
Tuesdays at A-Team in San Jose; Grades K-6Th
We have been working on cleaning out our garden boxes, to plant ‘Fall Plants.’
Journaling and Learning about the seasons changing. (what do you notice this time of year?)
Studying Birds (what makes a bird a bird everyone?!)
As well as Studying Predators and Prey; by Playing Games and Looking at Guide Books!
Please have your kids watch this 3 minute video on Carbon and our Soil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npu6GBbB-Oc&t=36s
We are working on our garden beds readying them for the winter!
We are planting our winter crop and learning about our soil and why cover crops are so invaluable to the soil and the plants and THE CARBON IN OUR ATMOSPHERE! Watch the video
We had 2 creatures join us last week! One was that of an exoskeleton, a molt and the other was a live insect! Have your kiddos share with you!
Survival Saturdays; 1x and 3rd Sat; 5 ½ -12 years
Made ‘Elderberry Beads’, these are made out of small branches from an Elderberry Tree; which contain a soft, spongey tissue inside called ‘pith’, that can be hollowed out, the outside sanded and decorated with markers and made into Beads!
Pumpkin Scavenger Hunts, played a game called Tale Tag, which requires awareness skills, strategy and being sneaky!
Sit Spot is an Activity that we do; that requires each student to find their own spot in nature, to be fully in the present moment and observe what is going on the land around them! A good time to journal, draw, listen to the animals around, ponder the questions or prompt the teacher sometimes gives. (Ex- how many different bird calls can you hear?)
*note: These are highlights from each class, and some things we have learned might be left out.*
Read more...Program Updates! Family Campout coming in November 2nd weekend!