Learning Adventures (as opposed to Field Trips)

The last few weekends, we've been taking day-trips to various functions and events. It wasn't a plan or a concerted effort on our part, just things that crossed our paths and piqued our interest.

Last weekend we went to an open house at Friends Wilderness Center, which is just a few miles away from us, at the end of the main road that goes through our community. It's a Quaker-run retreat on a wooded piece of land near the Appalachian Trail.

Beautiful lillypad pond surrounded by purple irises

The land is cut through with deer paths and marked trails, and there are several cabins and meditation areas, as well, including a yurt and a treehouse.

Yurt

They had lots of things set up for the kids when we went. There was a beehive behind glass with lots of information set up and a beekeeper to field questions, as well.

Beehive

Outside, there was a woman, Trish, who helped the boys use natural materials, like seed pods, blossoms, bark, sticks, leaves, acorn tops, etc, to make art. They glued down a bark mouth, a pinecone nose, acorn eyes, etc and made little nature men. Trish was very sweet with the boys and they all enjoyed making their nature faces.


Jonathan and Benjamen went on a guided hike to a waterfall in the morning while Nicholas and I made our nature men, then we all had lunch together when they got back. Later in the day, there was a guided hike to the treehouse and yurt, and all of us did that hike together. We came across lots of mountain laurel along the way.

Mountain Laurel on the left

Once in the treehouse, there was a talk about leaves, trees, and photosynthesis.

Treehouse

From there, we took a hike through the woods to a meditation center, with a rock meditation circle, then on to an old cemetary in the forest, with one large stone and several smaller unmarked stones surrounding it.

Hand-carved headstone

We also came across some prayer flags strung from tree to tree.



We spent the day and had such a lovely time. They have a women's retreat this summer that I'm considering. It would be nice to be there in the quiet for an extended time.

Back at the cabin having a cookie after a long hike; riding on Papa's back is hard work

Priming the pump

Trying really hard to accidentally fall in

This weekend, we attended the local Wine & Arts Festival. There was lots of good music, good food, and good fun for the boys. We learned how to do a type of etching. You fold a paper in half, like a card. On the inside, on the right, you cover the paper in chalk. Then you color over it with crayon. Next, you close the "card" and make your print or design on the front. When you open it, you have two designs, a positive and negative print, the positive on the left, the negative on the right. Very, very cool.

Jonathan making his alien UFO design on the front

Nicholas' shape designs inside

There was also a puppeteer who was very good with the boys, one on one. He played with them for quite a while and then there were two puppet shows that we attended between listening to music and having lunch.


Papa got to pick up some wine from a local winery, too, so everyone had a happy day, me with the music, the boys with the activities and food, and Papa with his wine tasting.

This coming weekend, we're headed to a homeschooling day in a park in Berkeley Springs. Lots of fun planned, with a scavenger hunt, swimming, etc. I'm looking forward to it.