Winter?!?

Well we knew it would come eventually but we weren't quite ready.  The past two weeks were spent running through the woods in spring-like weather.  This week winter came and everybody was trying to adjust.  The mentors got some great hands-on learning in the differences between a fall and a winter session.  Our biggest learning points were:
1.  It is easier to be present when you are wearing warm boots.
2.  Keep your mittens off the ground and in your pocket.
3.  Check in with kids about their temperature.
4.  Stay physically active.
5.  Butt pads have several interesting uses......

This was Ange's last day with us for awhile.  Opening circle included a special thanks for her and a song in recognition of the great gift it was to have her with us for so much of the fall session.  Owen and Sadie's mom also sent in a yummy treat for everyone to enjoy!  You can see that we are all figuring out how to stay warm and also blessed with light shining through the trees.

Well here's the butt pad story.  We ran through all kinds of ideas for butt pads (weaving them, sewing vinyl tablecloths together with newspaper in the middle, cutting up old sleeping mats).  And then....winter came and we needed something RIGHT AWAY!  So we tried out Duncan's idea of stuffing newspaper into ziploc bags.  Well they worked fine for sitting on.  Five minutes after the kids arrived we also discovered that they worked great for sliding down hills, too.  Here are Duncan and Abram using their butt pads to do some "piggy sliding" (so named by Abram) that includes oinking on the way down!  

Haley, Malaika and Jackson set up an awesome nature museum inside of our wigwam.  Thanks to Sterling College for the use of many cool hides and animal bones.  The kids did some investigating, checking out field guides, game playing and journaling.

Cameron and Malaika tended the fire and created some movements to go with one of our favorite songs, "Solid as a rock" by Heidi Wilson.  During the fall Coyote Kids session Cameron has developed a love for roasting things over the fire....acorns, granola bars, baked treats, and even cheese!

Kestrel, our special guest and local high school student, takes us on an orienteering adventure through the woods around our Coyote Kids village.

More opportunities to check out maps!

During our orienteering expedition, mentors had a great time romping through the woods with kids.  Look at Gina go!  Many groups played species name games on the trail.  Wonderful songs were sung by Haley, Malaika and Anna (including our new "skunkestra" - an ode to the many wonderful things about skunks!)

Hmmm....I wonder what Frankie's species name is?

Thanks everyone for another wonderful day at Coyote Kids!  

Special thanks to Haley and Ange for providing the pictures, Kestrel for the orienteering activity, Sterling College for the hides, Jen Skorsted for yummy treats and Duncan and Ange for being present, supportive, knowledgeable and FUN!