June 12
What an awesome way to wrap up the season, running wild in the rain!
The sky fell, the puddles appeared, and not a single complaint was heard. Their resilience absolutely shone through, with soggy socks, water-filled boots, muddy pants, and big smiles all around!
It was one of those days that reminds us why outdoor learning is so powerful. These kids didn’t see bad weather, they saw adventure! They embraced the drizzle like it was part of the plan and proved once again just how adaptable and strong they are 💪!
It was such an amazing experience getting to spend time with your wildlings this spring.
If you ask them what their favorite part of forest school was, there’s a good chance they’ll say, “chasing each other around!”
Thank you for trusting us with your hilarious, curious, brave, and completely wild children. We hope to see you all again soon!
Wishing you a fun-filled summer, and may your laundry machine live a long, long life. 😉🙃
Previous Weeks
🦖🦕 I’m honestly obsessed with this day! 🦕🦖
We kicked things off in circle time by tasting the literal sweetness of a wild grass seed. Then, after a mystery story that slowly revealed clues, our ancient giants that once roamed the land came to play! 🦕🦖🦕🦖
The kids paired up, grabbed a buddy, and got straight to work building habitats. They imagined everything their dinosaurs might need: cozy beds with cattail fluff, flowers for scent, watering holes, food spots, even a full-on baseball diamond!
They were all in. You couldn’t have pried them away from their missions with a crowbar! It was awesome to see them communicating, solving problems, and just totally immersed in the ancient world.
We wrapped up by talking about what’s older than dinosaurs, dragonflies! Then we made our own using sticks and maple seeds.
Then they became the first-ever audience for a story in draft form about Pickles the Porcupine, our forest friend who’s been with us for four years in Lethbridge. I needed help choosing the ending, and of course, they were the perfect team to help!
Such a fun day for the wildlings to imagine dinosaurs living on the land we now call home, and naturally, to debate which dinos were carnivores or herbivores!
Today we went on a foraging walk and gathered some amazing local plants, including goldenrod, willow catkins, maple keys, horsetail, golden currant blossoms, yarrow, wild licorice, and spruce tips! We brought them back to homebase and added them to our lemonade for a little extra wild flavor!
After that, we beat the heat by spending the day down by the river, splashing, exploring, and getting creative in the mud kitchen. The hammock was a hit for relaxing in the shade, and we kept our eyes on the sky for birdwatching too! A full day of fun, learning, and nature! We then finished the day by going to check out the turtle in the front pond that was spotted today. First time we’ve ever seen a turtle at Magrath!
Today’s adventure took us deep into cattail territory! We started the day collecting cattails. Along the way, we stumbled upon an incredible surprise—a bird’s nest delicately propped upright among the cattails! It sparked a flurry of excitement and quiet observation.
Next, we launched into an epic game of our own version of Mantracker, full of stealth, laughter, and strategy.
We then settled in at the fire pits—starting the fire, roasting marshmallows, and sautéing our foraged cattails—my personal favourite wild food! (And the kids who were brave enough to try them all gave their approval!)
During a walk, we learned about yarrow: how to identify it, what it’s used for, what it tastes like (strong toothpaste!), and why it’s such a special plant to know in the wild. (It’s considered a “cure-all.”)
We ended the day with a surprise visit from our friendly neighborhood bear! The kids took it in stride, rising to the challenge of learning how to safely handle bear encounters.
Each one practiced what to do—from calm sightings to more serious scenarios. They stayed excited, brave, and ready. Wildlings in training! 🌲💪
Wand Making & Dandelion Tempura
Today, we went on a nature walk to collect special treasures for the children’s “Mom Wands.” Each wand was crafted with care to reflect the unique style and imagination of its creator.
Afterward, the kids dove into fort-building—complete with playful attempts to sneak into each other’s forts—making for a day full of communication and laughter. Extra hammock swinging and creek time added the perfect dose of relaxation and fun.
We wrapped up the day with one of our beloved springtime Forest School traditions: collecting dandelions and making dandelion tempura. Mixing the batter and cooking up this tasty seasonal treat is always a hit!
After gathering for storytime and a nature circle, we set off up the creek for a day filled with water play, mud fights, mudslides, muddy soups, and cakes—joyfully diving back into the magic of the season.
Back at camp, a group of wildlings took on a massive project, using around 200 feet of rope to weave an enormous spider web through the bushes—a creative and cooperative masterpiece!
To close out the day, we picked buffalo peas (prairie peas) and learned that, while toxic, they hold great significance in Indigenous history—serving as a seasonal sign that the buffalo had returned and it was time for the first hunt of the year.
A day full of movement, mud, meaning, and connection.
We had a fantastic day at Forest School! The kids started things off by making their own tick and mosquito repellent spray—there was lots of shaking, mixing, and proud spritzing before we set off to explore.
We ventured along the trails, discovering hidden spots and learning about squirrels’ nests. To wrap up the day, we made our way to the spill gate for a relaxing shell hunt and some nature scavenger time.
It was a day full of learning, laughter, and fun-filled adventures!
Today was full of magic and adventure!
We kicked off the day by starting a cozy fire in the pit, setting the stage for outdoor fun. The children played freely—balancing on the slackline, swinging in hammocks, cooking up creations in the mud kitchen, and inventing their own imaginative games.
The Easter Bunny then declared them all “Bunnies in Training!” Their mission? To care for a delicate egg all day. If they succeeded, it would transform into a golden egg by day’s end!
We boiled eggs over the fire and roasted apples for a delicious forest treat. The day ended with a heartwarming group storytelling session and a scavenger hunt filled with riddles and excitement!
Becoming “Anywhere Artists” today!
We headed to the creek to dive deep into a world of mud, water, and paint—and these kids couldn’t be held back! The water called to them like moths to a flame, and they answered with excited faces and muddy feet.
The chilly water was the least of their concerns. They were all in—making mud pies, constructing rope obstacles, painting masterpieces on giant canvases, and soaking up the sunshine. Creativity flowed as freely as the creek today!
Possibly the last perfect snow day of the year —and we made the most of it! We kicked off the day with circle time, talking about how to listen to our inner “Spidey senses” to help us notice and avoid potential risks. Then we set off on an exploratory walk, identifying different hazards in our surroundings.
Along the way, we began collecting natural treasures—goldenrod galls to make necklaces and spruce tips to flavor our hot chocolate! We settled in and started up a fire to warm our hot chocolate and roast marshmallows.
The rest of the day was full of full-body play—from tobogganing and mud kitchen adventures to melting snow over the fire. We wrapped up the day gathered around, talking about hibernation and imagining which animals might be snuggled up for the winter. Then we cozied into our own hibernation den under a tarp, amazed at how quickly it warmed up!
