Week of 11/18
Happy Friday Wonderforest families! Hope you are all staying cozy on dry on this wet and chilly end of the week. We're so glad that after nearly two months of no rain, the precipitation has finally arrived. The shift into the colder weather months has begun.
The Flying Squirrels enjoyed an exploratory park trip on Monday where we took a long group hike through the woods. Some friends wanted to find a waterfall, while others heard from their grownups about a fire in the park, and wondered if we could find the spot where it started. We spoke about what that may look like (“I see smoke!” and “look for ashes”), which developed into a conversation about fire safety. We also found many mushrooms of varying sizes along the way, and were able to feel their bumpy caps and talk about how fungi breathe and why they absorb water. With their curiosity and love for all things natural, the Squirrels led us on a hike that was both fun and educational.
Spiders enjoyed some time at one of their favorite spots on the Long Meadow, fixing logs that had turned into various machines and vehicles. The crew was not pleased with the sticks at the spot and requested a “stick hike" to find the right tools for their work and play. In half groups, we explored the Ravine finding two types of interesting mushrooms, many beautiful leaves, and so many sticks! Stick hike success! Our second group set out in a different direction towards Acorn Hill to see what seeds we could see. We were thrilled to find loads and loads of acorns, a special tree root "oven,” and a "motorcycle” that could fit our whole crew. On the way back, we turned our return stretch into a stop-and-go race, seeing who could get to each landmark first. Our prize at the end of the race was a yummy lunch before heading back to school.
Squeaky Mice had an eventful Wednesday park trip with Sara and Jules. We visited a new spot for the mice, Acorn Hill. Located near the Picnic House, we had a great view of the Long Meadow and into the surrounding Ravine. After playing for a bit, we took the whole crew and our wagons on a hike through the Ravine. We heard so many crows cawing and wondered what they were cawing about. As we followed the sounds of the crows, we also walked by a spot that one Mouse thought smelled "like barbeque" and noticed many signs on the fence. We learned that the signs were for the park to feel better "after the fire". One Mouse asked "What fire?" Two other Mice shared that they had heard that “there had been a fire in the park because it was so dry.” We noticed some of the ground behind the fence was darker and that some trees and logs had black marks on them from the fire. As we read through the signs, a few park rangers with binoculars walked by and we asked them some questions about the noisy crows nearby. The rangers shared that the crows were trying to scare off a red-tailed hawk and a great blue heron. We continued observing the crows and noticed they got quieter as we got toward the edge of the Ravine. Where did they fly off to?
Birds continued to be a point of interest for several classes, including the Marigolds. During a hike on Wednesday around Dog Beach we observed a family of ducks, some crows, and even a great blue heron flying over the water! If that wasn't enough, we found so many amazing leaves for collections. Friday the Marigolds braved our first cold weather day and had a blast at Mylli’s Stump, turning it into a “volcano,” which was perfect for this chilly day. Thank you, families, for taking the time to make sure every kid was well-dressed and prepared for the park trip!
The Laughing Ladybugs ventured to Prospect Park for two special occasions this week. The first park trip fell on a Ladybug’s birthday; our friends sang, played, and enjoyed cupcakes among the fallen leaves. On Friday, we had our first rainy park trip of the season. All bundled in cozy layers and rain gear, the Ladybugs climbed slippery logs at our play spot and dug in the mud to look for worms. Sure enough, we encountered three wiggly worms and giggled as we took turns holding them. “The little wiggle tickles!” shouted a friend as they practiced using a gentle, open hand to hold the worm. “I think he’s smiling at me!” said another. After observing the worms, some friends were inspired to draw different bugs and critters on nearby logs with chalk.