Zero Voice: Making it quiet on the trail
Kids are loud. I don’t always want to hush them up, especially when outside. On the other had, if they miss the sounds of the outdoors altogether then I don’t …
Trips
Eagle Watching Success Story
Small successes with kids need to be celebrated. Yesterday, while picking up kids at Emerson Elementary School (home of the Emerson Eagles no less) for our after school program, the …
Crazy Fun Ice Sledding
What do you get when you take kindergarten and first graders sledding on a very icy hill? Comic relief and crazy fun. The comic relief came from the kids …
Eagle Watching in Sauk City: January 16, 2010
It’s always inspiring to see bald eagles in their natural habitat. It’s especially inspiring to give kids that experience. Each winter, we have a great opportunity to see bald eagles …
Winter Tracks on a Cold Day
It’s important to get outside even on cold days. Teaching kids how to dress for cold weather is a great skill to have. Too many people stay inside all winter. …
Frogs in the Spring House & other Tales from Blue Mound State Park
The spring house at Blue Mound State Park is a pre-park relic. All that remains is the 8 x 10 x 4 foot concrete foundation, built by John Minix, the …
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The Polar Express: Creative Play at Lake Farm Park
What do you call a fishing pier that’s on land for the winter? The Polar Express, a ship, and a ferry. On a trip to Lake Farm Park, I thought that most of the Kindergarten and first graders would have rushed to the water. But, they didn’t. Instead, they immediately jumped on a massive pier, in three pieces, now setting on land for the winter.
Halloween Hike: Snapping Turtle & Garter Snake
Kids discover a snapping turtle and garter snake at Cherokee Marsh on warm, windy and wet October day. By Diane Schwartz, October 31, 2009.
The Wonder of a Water Pump
I never know what kids will discover while outside. On a recent trip to Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area, the kids were fascinated by a hand water pump. The kids …
Where is Your Coat?
We’ve had a cold October in Wisconsin. Last weekend it was about 40 degrees at the start of our hike to Parfrey’s Glen Natural Area. I was dressed in a …