sticks and ropes

Have you ever noticed the unique personalities of trees? We started the afternoon by reading PersonaliTrees by Joan Klostermann-Ketels, and imagining what names we would give to the trees around us. It was a beautiful afternoon, so we set out on a hike to see more of the woods beyond our base camp. 

Trees with names were all over the place in these woods! There was Family Tree, Curious Tree, Home Tree, Pirate Ship Tree, Stairs Tree, Perfect Tree, Happy Tree, Protective Tree, Dragon Tree, and many, many more. 

There was so much to see that we didn't make it very far on our hike - too many new things to explore along the way! Like this log:

And this camouflaged frog:

And even some wild turkeys!

Back at our site, we found quiet spots to sit for 5 minutes.

What can you do with a stick? We read Not A Stick by Antoinette Portis, and then imagined the many things that a stick could be: like a paddle, arm, horse, eye, hair clip, wand, nail, giant's toothpick, baby tree, walking stick, bunny's monkey bars, glasses, weight, fishing pole, eyeball, broom, hair, a unicorn's horn, baseball bat, icicle, dog's leash, caveman's bone, hockey stick, bunny's tightrope, surf board, and an ant train. 

How had we already used sticks in other sessions? 

• to make picture frames
• as walking sticks in the marsh
• measuring stick for the water in the marsh
• built a fence for the salamander habitat
• as a jumping stick
• to secure our nature journals
• as a talking stick

This is not a stick, it's a giant moustache!

Before we started our exploration time, we learned to tie a knot called the timber hitch. This can be used to drag heavy sticks and logs around. It was so much fun to see what we could do with ropes and sticks!

We made log dogs that followed us around by the leash. They had names too.

We made swings! 

Tried to make pulleys and lowered sticks down to the basement of the castle...

Fungi was all over these sticks and logs! Some was even a blue-green colour.

One group started a nature home construction process, complete with a bark roof that was scavenged from rotting logs on the forest floor.

Too soon, it was time to pack up and leave. Until next week!