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Program Content and Rules

Connecting Children to Nature...

We aim to introduce our students to the many aspects of nature studies, from journaling wildflowers, tracking coyotes and dip netting insects, to working with clay, playing awareness games and eating wild foods. Below is a small sample of what we try to cover in a 6 week program.

Hazards/Navigation/Mapping- In this session, we will be learning a few rules of Coyote Club, as well as learning how to identify several local poisonous plants.  We’ll discuss hornets, ticks and mosquitoes as well.  It’s all about gaining knowledge to ensure safety.  Learning how to find your way around the woods is a key element to nature exploration, so we’ll discuss a few ways to find the 4 directions, and make a simple map of our area.

Birds- Spring migration is in full swing, and we’ll be learning about ecology, nests and bird language, and much more.  Bring along a pair of binoculars if you can, but don’t worry, there’s plenty to see without them.

Animal Sign- We’ll learn how to identify tracks, scat, hairs and feeding signs in this session.  A good tracker can retrace an animals trail, and tell a story just from a few prints he or she finds on the ground.  This is an extremely powerful tool for any ecologist.

Plants- We’ll be learning how to identify several local trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.  We’ll learn what these plants can provide us, and even dine on some wild edibles.

Shelter- The Shelter Challenge!  Build your own shelter from only the things you find in the woods.  We’ll be there to give you tips and guide you along.

Native Crafts- This lesson involves many different projects, from gathering clay and making pots, to creating birch bark baskets.  This is a great project for rainy days.

 

Respecting Nature, Ourselves and Each other...

That about sums it up. We ask our students to always be mindful of their own and others feelings. We ask that they think of nature as a friend, and that they treat the plants, animals and all things in the natural world with kindness and respect. For example, we never pick a plant from the ground unless we can learn more by doing so. Although many of our students get a little excited around certain insects, rather than harm them, we let them go on their merry way. It's all about emphasizing the balance of nature, and allowing our students to understand the role they play in the web of their environment. Along with the concept of respect, there are several simple rules we ask our students to follow, which tie into the above statements, and insure our kids have the safest and most enriching experience possible: