November 7
After hiking “for hours” and coming across an injured hiker (Hudson 🤫), we jumped into action, working through what to do from the most life threatening situations to the least. From there, the wildlings dove into team challenges, where they were put through scenario after scenario.
They had to check the scene before entering, ask the right questions, figure out what was wrong with the injured person, and problem solve how best to help. We covered a lot, anaphylaxis and EpiPen use, choking, seizures, severe bleeding, broken bones, hypothermia, poisonous spider and snake bites, the ABCs, head lift chin tilt, recovery position, head to toe checks, and heat stroke. It was incredible to see them get better and better at asking the right questions and thinking critically about what to do.
Without any prompt, they ended the day with a lively game of Shark in the Water and a friendly competition on a balancing log stretched across a ditch, testing balance, strategy, and a little bit of bravery to crown a champion.
November 14
With the snow as our constant companion and slowing these guys down zero percent, many snowmen were erected and much time was spent afterwards protecting them. The forts were worked on fiercely, trying to get as much done as possible, and all while we were making stone soup, donuts, lip chap, and bath balms. Our day was filled and went way too fast.
We are going to miss this group, like a lot. We have absolutely loved this crew. It felt like taking all my favourite humans and putting them in the same room. I was genuinely so excited week after week to see them all. We hope to see you all again soon. In the meantime, drink hot cocoa and enjoy your winter ❤️
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
What a memorable way to jump into fall. Thanks to our lovely May, we were brought a dead rattlesnake, which gave us the chance to dissect it, stink up the area, and then stage it along the path to surprise anyone walking by later. The day was full of energy and teamwork as we played games where the winning team earned the chance to choose the next fire foods, sparking creativity and a touch of friendly competition. We then set out on a fall walk, learning to identify and collect edible wild plants that we’ll include in our nature journal and field guide books, a hands-on way to connect with the land and grow our knowledge of the world around us. To wrap up the day, we cooled off at one of our favourite water spots, grateful for the unexpected warmth and the chance to enjoy nature’s balance of play, challenge, and discovery.
Their challenge? To create a shelter they would feel comfortable in during a storm! Each team approached it with different tactics, fully convinced theirs was the best and happily awarding themselves all kinds of titles along the way. Some took the classic lean-to approach, others focused more on size than comfort, but every person worked just as hard as the next!
These kids never waste a minute when it comes to their own projects! One of them summed it up perfectly, saying, “I love it here because there are not as many kids as school so you can breathe and you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing.” That really captures the spirit of this group. After tackling a refresher on knife safety, these kids went at it! At the same time there was spoon carving, cactus hunting, a rock polishing and painting station, cave climbing, tree climbing, and hammock play all happening side by side. Then they rotated and took on many other tasks in between! It’s a beautiful sight to watch their independence and creativity in action :).
What a day! This crew was all in from start to finish. Between the smell of roasting hotdogs, the sticky perfection of s’mores, and a round of warm apple cider, you’d think that was plenty, not for this bunch!
They pulled out the drill and glue gun to create all sorts of wild and wonderful projects, headed off to the bush to fix up their tree and chokecherry bush forts. There was swinging, laughing, building, and of course one hammock that didn’t quite survive the excitement, haha!
It was the perfect mix of creativity, teamwork, and classic outdoor chaos!
This crew wanted the mini forest, and freedom was what they demanded! Surrounded by the naturally enticing world of chokecherry trees, the kids dove straight into fort building and exploration. At the same time, some were repairing old forts, others were building brand-new stick forts, and a few were experimenting with tools, cutting away dead branches, and seeing how much bark they could peel from fallen trees.
After spending so much time filling up our “freedom buckets” in the woods, we wandered down to the mines. There, the kids transformed into storytellers and sparring partners, their imaginations running wild as they brought imaginative adventures to life!
Weather, Mud, and Masterpieces
Today’s forecast: unexpected snow, rain, and a dash of wind, and a whole lot of resilience! The kids quickly learned that being prepared for Alberta weather is part of the adventure. When the skies opened up, we headed to the mines for shelter and turned the day into something creative.
Inside, we told stories about how people around the world once made primitive paints using ashes, rock, and even egg yolk. We then dove into smashing, filtering, and mixing with yolk to create beautiful paints.
It was a great reminder that resilience means adapting, and sometimes the best learning happens when plans (and clothes) get a little muddy. Next time, we’ll aim for better layers, but the laughter and art made it all worth it!
What a fun-filled day this was! We started off by finding a geocache that held a local hunting story, then settled in to learn about natural glue. Some of the kids headed to the riverside for a bit of “rock mining,” while others made their own natural glue using sap and charcoal. Of course, many couldn’t resist trying a piece of sap!
We put our creations to the test by crafting rugged spears complete with “sinew” bindings. Before long, a few of the kids had transformed into wild men and women ruling the forest with their spears, while others gathered cattail bundles to make beautiful cattail dolls.
We wrapped up the day by sharing stories and reminiscing about all the adventures we had.
First thing on the menu? Destroying a fleet of pumpkins in every way imaginable! Hammers, saws, smashing, and of course, throwing them. A few of them made it into a carved and saved pumpkin, but not many!
We made baked potatoes, apple crisps, and hot chocolate over the fire, then spent the rest of the day learning about the marbled orb-weaver spider, games, and plenty of storytelling!
