Stony Brook Archives

HEADS DOWN

May 29, 2014/in Children and the outdoors /by natasha commander

Over the past two day I’ve spent with the Natural Patterns kids…. k-3 graders…. we talked of clouds, painted outside, looked at how the top of the trees roll up and down like a roller coaster against the sky, discovered spittle bugs hiding out in the fields. So delicious, every moment of discovery.

Some of my favorite moments:

Zachary in the moment, painting his tree and clouds with wax paper as Mae takes a moment to lay in the grass with here eyes closed.

Love the freedom. Could you imagine if an adult was doing something then decided to just lay down on the grass in the middle of it all? A funny thought.

Heads down in concentration….

Heads down working together to clean the paint covered plexiglass plates used to create their images.

Working together, standing in puddles, getting wet. Involved…. thoughts focused.

Heads down looking at these tiny red bugs that Thomas discovered…. focused on the red as they squish them with rocks.

So present in what they were doing….. busy busy busy in the sunshine.

Heads down hunting and discovering spittle bugs. Hiding amongst their butt spit! What do they look like those nymphs? How many can you find? Hundreds… the more they looked the more they found.

The downward gaze of these faces…. means they are inquisitive and engaged. I am so proud of these young naturalists and can only hope that they continue to enjoy all that nature offers as they go through life. Awesome!!!!

GET YOUR PIZZA!!

May 22, 2014/in Children and the outdoors /by natasha commander

Well not really, but today the kids planted their pizza garden. It is comprised of tomatoes, onion, pepper, oregano, parsley and basil.

They worked hard to create the homemade separations for their garden, comprised of wood found in the pile of branches out back behind the barn. But first we had to make the branches fit.

It was the perfect opportunity for all the kids to use a saw. It was interesting to see how each child had their own level of tolerance for the effort they were willing to put into making a cut in the branch.

To me sawing wood seems so primitive. One of the kids said, “get out the chain saw!” No way!!!

It is an invaluable lesson for each of these kids to know what it is to work hard at something. They are so desensitized to swords, guns and other weaponry from watching TV or playing video games. But to actually hold something sharp and use it in a real way helps to create a form of respect. Most of them have never sawed anything before. They did a great job and no fingers or toes were lost.

As a result they were able to divide their pizza garden into six sections with the branches they sawed. Pretty darn good effort! Then the planting and watering occurred. I am so excited to see how the garden will grow. Wish us luck!!!

Hey it’s not the most perfect looking garden, BUT it is theirs. So glad it is raining today!!!

Perhaps I’ll have to buy them a pizza for our last class….. their crops won’t be ready til the summer! But it will be worth the wait.

Bravo kids!!!

A MOMENT

May 21, 2014/in Children and the outdoors /by natasha commander

I am grateful for every moment I spend with these kids. They are excited by a fallen tree, collected branches from a broken down lean-to, the adventure of being high up above the ground. It is as magical as this photograph, this image that was a single moment, a collective group of breaths and laughs. Gone forever but always here.

You can have this feeling as a child or as an adult. Just stand back or participate. Leave the worries at the beginning of the path… for those moments you will feel joy, fear, excitement, curiosity. “What was it like when that tree fell?” the kids wondered. That tree which has given us a place to live for the moment.

And the moment when Lola sees this thing up in the tree? That moment when we can explore and wonder.

When we can touch and feel life crawling upon our hands.

Thank you dear children for making moments so important. Our bills, our headaches, our worries can be left as we enter the woods to experience these moments.

Take the time to make a moment or allow a child to show you how to live a moment.

Lovingly,

Sue

A PLACE TO CALL THEIR OWN

May 15, 2014/in Children and the outdoors /by natasha commander

This place, this magical place where kids open their minds ….. Avalon Park.

Laying on the stone wall, my view of the barn at Avalon

Where our children arrive ready for a new adventure. It is never the same. For today my 9, 10, and 11 year olds will be given the gift of creating their own garden. That means visiting the shed, getting the tools and weeding. This process will make this garden theirs. It is not readied by a landscaper or a parent. It is their sweat which will make this a success. And so it begins…. a place of their own.

Ah yes the pesky weeds are afoot!!! Go get em !!!!

I loved standing back, listening to them talking to one another, laughing, complaining, and some of them taking charge. It is a magical process which we as adults sometimes interrupt before it happens. Look at these amazing young kids!

Liam and Chris get started

Hazel contributing her weeds to the pile!

Garden Gold!

Something is going on here

I know these kids went home tired but they were still smiling when they completed their mission. I am always to happy to hear that some of them have gardens at home. And for those who don’t they have this place of their own.

The aftermath!

Bravo, Kathryn, Sophia, Shannon, Hazel, Liam and Chris!! Next week we plant!!!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

April 24, 2014/in Children and the outdoors /by natasha commander

The last time we got together our class ventured into the woods to create a fort. The idea was driven all by the kids and their desire to collect long branches. We ran out of time last visit and only had a little luck. I told them we could return on our next visit but to be aware that what they built might not be there when we return.

Here was their first effort two weeks ago:

Yesterday while we were hiking in Brandon informed us that someone had knocked down their first effort. That was predictable. But I was happy to see that Brandon and his family had been out hiking and he checked on it.

I was met with an overwhelming YES when I asked if they wanted to return. Motivation….. ahhh like a breath of fresh air!

Liam led the way and we were off, of course they gathered building materials as they went along. It is so cool to see these kids get to do what they really want to do. It is the true essence of play and creativity, something there is a shortage of these days.

When we arrived it took a little time for them to get organized. When the branches ran out they went into the woods and pulled more. I was impressed to see them all working hard to create their fort.

Brandon breaking branches.

Running round like crazys!!

The beginning…..

Kathryn and Hazel working hard.

After about a half an hour of work they created a wonderful little structure. Sophia said they needed some type of carpeting inside…. another suggested leaves for a soft floor. If we had more time, Hazel had been busy collecting bark to side the outside. But as usual our time ran out so she hid the bark under a nearby tree. They could have gone on for another hour.

Look at this baby!!!

Success!!

As we headed back to the barn Hazel and I were talking. We knew that the fort might not be there when we returned. I said to her it is like creating art, once you release it into the world it is no longer only yours. I hope that others will come upon this and climb inside and add to it or just wonder about it….

Great job Hazel, Christopher (chief wood collector), Brandon, Kathryn, Liam, Sophia and Shannon!

Keep on building.

Sue

THE GATHERERS

April 3, 2014/in Children and the outdoors /by natasha commander

I find it amusing to watch these children collect things. At times it’s been acorns but today it was stalks from the spent wildflowers. Celeste, Kathryn and Samantha were straggling behind collecting the stalks. When I asked them why they said, “because we want to build a fort.” Of course… how silly I am! I don’t know what exactly they had in mind but when we arrived at our destination they were ready to build.

Interestingly, when they arrived they seemed unsure about what to do. But this was a great opportunity for them to work together and figure it out. And they did. Time passed so quickly and we had to leave to go back to the waiting parents. They were just beginning to get into full building mode and I had to be the party pooper telling them we had to go. ” Nooooooooo, we’re not done” I actually felt bad and the playfulness in me wanted to stay til the sun went down, but I’m an adult and I had to deliver these kids back to their parents…. Sometimes I have to be the enforcer.

We finally got on the road back to the barn …. 10 minutes late (oops) And I consoled them by saying we can return next time to see what has happened to their creation. I wish they were coming back next week… I love the adventure, the spirit and the willingness to create with nothing but nature. Fun stuff!!!!!

Until next time…. get outside!

Sue

HIKING, DRUMMING AND ART…. A FULL LIFE!

March 19, 2014/in Children and the outdoors /by natasha commander

Today’s classes = A full heart.

3, 4 and 5 year olds are so amazing and sharing my time with them and their parents makes my sun shine.

We began our day with an “Eye Spy” book where the kids helped to identify animals by seeing their eyes and color. It was great to see all of them so engaged and full of answers. Each time they met with success they wanted more and more. Most of the time I become so rapt with them that nothing else going on in my life matters. A breath of fresh air!!

DRUMMING:

Drumming was something I decided to introduce to the kids this season. I’ve always felt drumming is such a great outlet for kids and adults alike. When I introduced the drum to them a few weeks ago you could see the kids were dying to get their hands on it! I’ve also incorporated these homemade bamboo rhythm sticks, so the kids can play along when they are not having their turn up at the drum. This week we worked on slow and fast drumming. I think almost every kid came up to drum and when it was time for the moms to do it we had three brave moms volunteer . Best part of that was seeing how proud the kids were of their moms. Lots of loving hugs for them. Ahhhh so wonderful! My hope is to get all the kids drumming by the end of our eight classes together!

It’s all part of my philosophy of, “its’ okay to be loud, get dirty and be less fearful.” (that goes for parents too!!)

ART:

Their seasonal trees were completed today. The first week they printed their trees with styrofoam and paint. This week they finished with cotton for the snow and oil pastels for leaves and blossoms. Just lovely!! Every piece is unique…. just like these kids 🙂

HIKING:

A yes we finally got outside! Still a bit chilly but the air was so fresh. We began by bird watching all the Robin Red Breasts eating the Staghorn Sumac. Don’t worry moms, it is not poison sumac …. they have white berries. We were able to to see the birds up close and also examine what it was they were eating. Yum yum…

Eye spy the Robins…..

Onward we hiked with the kids making sure we waited up for everyone! So funny. Always a blast on the trails.

Great to see them climb and explore.

Oh so many images to share but I’ll stop now…

Great kids, great parents and a fantastic day at Avalon!!

Get those kids outside

peace, Miss Aunt Sue (as Lola calls me!)

DON’T WORRY CAUSE EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT

November 15, 2013/in Children and the outdoors, Outdoor education for children /by natasha commander

Day two of darkness hiking at Avalon! We set out with our flashlights into the night… really it was only 5:00 when we started. Once again the moon lit the sky … the rainbow rings surrounding it.

Sophia told me that she heard a story that all the snakes will come alive when the moon has that circle around it…… no snakes on this walk!

As we set out, with flashlights at the ready, we crossed the road as usual and headed into the woods. It is amazing how dark it gets with just a few lights to lead the way.

Tonight I had two experiments in my pocket. Simple as can be but fun.

I talked about our vision and our pupils and how in the dark we are basically color blind. We turned out our lights and I took out two markers (pink and green).

I drew a line of each color on their hands and asked them to guess what color they were. Most were close with their guess…. I had blues, reds, greens….. The truth would be revealed when we went back to the barn.

The second experiment involved the good ole winter green lifesavers! We sat on the leaves in a circle and crunched on these rings watching sparks pop in our mouths! It certainly was a lot of laughs.

I think it was the first time any of them had done it!!! Chemistry come to life!

Best part of the evening for me is when they all starting singing Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”….. Don’t worry about a thing…. cause everything’s gonna be alright.

Those were the only words they knew and they sang it again and again….. I think it was soothing to them as we were on our 35th minute of the hike!

Love these kids!!!!

Here’s the music if you want to play it at home http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uPZbIezChI

TREE CLIMBING 101

October 29, 2013/in Children and the outdoors, Outdoor education for children /by natasha commander

I am lucky enough to have a friend who is an arborist and is enthusiastic about his job after doing it for 20 years. I told the kids that we would have a surpirse visitor this week and we did! I like the idea of exposing kids to different jobs that people do related to nature. As a kid growing up I never knew about the wonderful world of hiking and camping, It wasn’t til I was old enough to go out on my own and discover it!!! Lucky kids!

Erik pulled up in his amazing bucket truck with all his gear and his dog Buzz ready to talk to the kids about what he does and the tools he uses.

Erik shows them his chainsaw and explains that he attaches it to his belt and climbs the tree with it. He gave the kids an opportunity to feel the weight of the saw.

After he explained all his tools it was time to put on the belt and climb some trees!!! The kids were so excited to test it out! Everyone was successful and of course wanted to do it again! But we had to move on….. Bucket truck next…….. Thanks Erik!!!

A Flurry of Color

October 22, 2013/in Children and the outdoors /by natasha commander

Perfect Fall day!

We wandered around the trail on a color hunt! Looking for reds, yellows, oranges, greens, browns and blues. It was a fun way to get the kids and moms and grand moms to work together. Along the way we stopped and talked and I punch their color cards with my “smelly feet” hole punch. They were all working towards getting all the colors identified and receiving an acorn necklace and beads for their hard work!

Here are some fun pics. Love to see the moms smiling along with the kids!

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