November 7
Talk about weird weather! It felt like nighttime out there, with high gusts of wind and spitting rain for most of the day. But when put to a vote, these wildlings stuck to their guns, 100 percent chose to hike up to the lookout.
At the top, we felt the full force of Mother Nature’s wind, explored the area, discussed what actually causes wind, and looked across the coulee hillsides to spot the natural compass they create. We wrapped up the day with a visit to the mines and some cozy reading time huddled under a tarp den to stay warm and dry.
November 14
This last day was a rush! With stone soup and donuts on the menu, then lip balm and bath balms on the craft side, we were working hard. It was a winter wonderland, inviting these wildlings to build and build and build in all its wonderful snow, and then of course find creative ways to destroy such creations at the end 🫠 all while hosting tea parties and diving deep into Dino world.
Thank you so much for trusting us with your most precious cargo. I can easily say you have some of the funniest kids I have met and they had us laughing every single day. We hope to see you all again soon in the wild.
I am so sorry I forgot to send their nature books home with them. They were hiding from the snow in my cart and I forgot 😬. I will hold on to them, so if I see your wildlings in spring I will bring them.
Previous Weeks
We kicked off the season by starting our very own nature journals, a place where each of us can capture discoveries, reflections, and memories throughout the season. We balanced quiet moments of observation with lively games that encouraged teamwork, laughter, and stronger bonds within the group. To end the day, we wandered down to the creek, where the water is slowly chilling with the shift of the seasons. It reminded us that learning and growth come in many forms, sometimes still and thoughtful, sometimes playful and full of energy, and sometimes simply by noticing the world changing around us.
Traveling to the mini forest to explore the world, the forest was filled with chokecherries, new findings, and adventure! A few teams broke off with the challenge of building their own hibernation den, and they did not disappoint!
We quickly dove into a world of hammers and hand drills, painting, river play, mud cupcakes and soups, and even the start of a new stick fort! The highlight came at the end of the day with the discovery of an owl pellet. We carefully examined the tiny bones inside, and since we found it later in the afternoon I’ll be sure to bring it back next week so everyone can take a closer look! It was a sensory-rich, hands-on day of learning and play!
Today was one of those classic camp days where the kids played hard and tasted the simplicity of campfire fun. After winning an earlier challenge, they decided their reward should be a good old-fashioned hotdog and s’more roast!
So out came the propane firepit, and soon everyone was roasting hotdogs, making gooey s’mores, and swapping stories between games, imaginative play and hanging with the chickadees.
We wrapped up tired, happy, and smelling just a little like campfire 🙃.
Wonder Walk & The Ghost Train Adventure
How do most amazing inventions begin? Because someone wondered something! So today, we set off on our own all-day Wonder Walk to follow our curiosity wherever it led us.
Almost right away, we stumbled upon a hidden geocache tucked away nearby. Inside was a story about our very own train brigade and a haunting legend of a ghost train that rides the high bridge at night, guided by long-lost conductors who may have crossed paths. Naturally, our curious crew was thrilled and set off in full detective mode to find clues about the ghost train!
We hiked far (really far!), chasing the exciting mystery. The trip back felt a little longer for some tired legs, but we made the best of it, resting by the bridge, reading stories, and refueling with play before finishing our journey back.
It was a day of wonder, adventure, and resilience, proving that curiosity truly is the engine that keeps us moving forward! 🚂✨
Today, our explorers strolled out to the Secret Hideaway… a tucked-away spot where time seems to slow down and imagination takes the lead. There, we told ancient stories of ancestors all over the world, smashed, filtered, and mixed our own primitive paints from earth, stone, and egg yolk, then created rock art inspired by “pre-paper” cave painters.
It was a day of imagination, muddy hands, and remembering that creativity can shine even in the quietest corners of the forest!
Soaking up nature, tracks, and scat was the name of the day today!
After discussing the three things all living things need to survive, we set out to find places where we thought we might discover tracks and tried to follow them to see where they would lead (which wasn’t far!). After making our casts, we settled into play at our sandy hideaway site.
Today’s Fire Day came with pumpkin, apple crisps, and hot chocolate on the menu, and to our surprise, most of the kids actually liked the pumpkin! They were visited by the Queen of Spiders (ask your wildlings if they can tell you a fact about the marbled orb weaver spider), who gave them royal tasks to complete.
We painted pumpkins, played games, shared stories around the campfire, and ended the day full, happy, and with new memories.
