Our First Adventures

The students seated with nature's treasures 
after their patterns in nature hunt

Wow, about that first day at HASC...whew!  It had to be one of the most exciting and monumental days of my life. All the parents and children filed in and sat down in our conference center that Thursday morning of September 2, 2010. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, not a cloud in the sky and quite warm.  We had youth from ages 4 - 11, complete with their two sacks: one holding their nature journal, water bottle and lunch; the other sack held their clothes and shoes in case any of them decided to pitch themselves in the stream.  There I sat with the new crew in front of me.

I introduced the new families to our facilities. We toured the learning center and bathrooms. I gave them the history of how I came to start the program, and explained our vision. I then led the group into the classroom area for students to be assigned a cubby space. Afterwards, the new parents went with our parent volunteer and community member, Mike, on a tour of the rest of the Mill and the grounds.
The next item on the agenda was the classroom treasure hunt of patterns in nature. I explained to the children that they could try and find as many of the five patterns in nature which were scatted about as either natural objects or pictures of a natural object. It was important to me to have as many things from nature as possible but I had to choose from the most durable of specimens lest they be broken in the flurry of excitement. The students went hither and thither looking under, over, through, and inside various hiding spots in the learning center.

The students on their treasure hunt of nature's patterns

After the hunt was over, the students sat down and discussed what they found.  This was facilitated by me offering leading questions. I asked questions like: what shapes, designs or patterns do you notice?  Can you describe them to your neighbor?

The next activity planned was a break on the playground.  My assistant Anne and I led the children outdoors to the new-to-Heathcote jungle gym brought in by community member and parent, Mike, whom you've already heard about.  He led the tour.  It was a much needed blowing off of steam as the children enjoyed the jungle gym hooping, hollering, running about excited at the thrill of life!

    

                   

Next we visited Bob's woodworking shop to see how different tools are used. Bob, who has over 50 years of carpentry experience, is a master carpenter and can make boats, bowls, chests, bureaus, and bookcases ... just about anything you can imagine from wood! Bob showed the children how to use different woodworking tools and machines and explained the mathematics behind the tools. The children all stepped up to each tool and were willingly guided by Bob's expertise. We got such great shots of these precious moments.

The children are mesmerized as Bob explains how the wood plane is used.

Such focus as he uses the plane!