DORAN BIRDWALK, SEPTEMBER 6
We kicked off this session on the coast as the inland temperatures had reached well into the 100 degree range for several days leading up to our 1st field day. What a great decision it was! We played a favorite game "tunnel of silence" on the bridge and were able to splash around on the shore to cool off and even experienced an extreme weather event, the first in WCNC history!! While we were enjoying a relaxing lunch on the sand in our shade structures there where 2 large sudden gusts of wind that swept over us and blew us all away! the gusts pushed inland from over the ocean with the intention of sending cooler air to the inland regions.
RIVERFRONT REGIONAL PARK,SEPTEMBER 13
We were super hands on this day with medicine making, herbal salves, games and hikes, we failed to take any photos this day! It happens!
CATCHING DREAMS AT BODEGAHEAD, SEPTEMBER 20
SALMON CREEK BEACH CLEAN UP DAY, SEPTEMBER 27
We picked up 4.5 LBS of trash on this day. And came up with the idea to Reduce the Rubbish, a trash challenge to encourage ways to make less trash at home and beyond.
ARMSTRONG REDWOODS, OCTOBER 4
The Children have discovered a redwood tree here that has quickly become a group favorite as it fits our entire group inside! It has an entrance and an exit and there are an endless amount of games that have sprung up around this tree and its hidden cavern.
LAGUNA DE SANTA ROSA, OCTOBER 11
On This day at this NEW to many spot at the Laguna the group quickly split into two .......one intent on catching a fish with some found fishing line and ingeniously made rods and hooks; and the other intrepid explorers so intent on forging a new society in this new land, that in no time at all had created a whole tiny world in the grass mounds, with organized villages and towns. They even made a map of they're world!
BODEGA DUNES, BODEGA BAY, OCTOBER 18
Another day we were to busy to take any pictures! One of the highlights on this day was a nature journal activity called my secret plant. Everybody spreads out and finds a secret plant to observe. Then with as much detail as possible you describe the plant and make a map to try to have others find it. We then go on adventures to find each other's secret plants. This took up a lot of our day!
RAGLE RANCH PARK, OCTOBER 25
The children arrived and found a mysterious note ...
And hunting they went until each one found these not so easy to find pumpkins scattered around the forest. Who did it ? The kids thought it was Brook, or Emma , or Perhaps Jenny! We proved them wrong...
THE MYSTERY LIVES ON.....
The fall colors were really nice this day. We did a fun nature journaling activity where we each had our own unique leaf all off of the same tree to observe and describe in our journals in hopes that another person could identify the leaf from the entire group of leaves using the journal page. We then sat together under the oaks and processed the abundant acorns that were all around us, this is a favorite fall activity that feels sacred, where we can sit around and directly connect with the humans that roamed these lands before we were here, sitting probably in the same spot, in the same kind of circle, having probably similar conversations, and processing the same acorns that have been feeding us and the animals around for a long, long, long, long time.
CEMETARY/DIA DE LOS MERTOS, LUTHER BURBANK EXPERIMENTAL FARM
NOVEMBER 1
Honoring our Ancestors and honoring those buried in our local cemetery. It is always so special to create our community altar with the children on day of the dead each year. The reverence with which they all listen and share stories is moving to witness and this year was no exception! We also got to visit our favorite wisteria vine growing at the Luther Burbank farm next door. Its always fun to explore here and see what wonderful and weird creations are growing.
THE SEELEY'S PROPERTY, LONE PINE ROAD, NOVEMBER 8
Making artist charcoal sticks
CRANE CREEK, NOVEMBER 15
GRATITUDE CELEBRATION AND POTLUCK WITH A BEAUTIFUL SONG CIRCLE
We are so grateful for the West County Nature Club and the beautiful community of humans that make it up. This years final gathering concluded with a magical song circle and pot luck. It warmed our hearts to sing and share food with all of you!
THE KIDS FAVORITE NATURE JOURNAL PAGES ....
A NOTE FROM EMMA.......
I am just filled to the brim with gratitude to have been a part of another session with your wonderful children! They never cease to amaze with their quick wit, thoughtfulness, and continued awe in our local flora and fauna. Their keen curiosity to all of the intricate dynamics that change and adapt with the seasons and discovering new ways in which we can utilize and protect our resources is inspiring and motivating. I continue to learn more from them every time we’re together and find myself joyfully spending more of my own time in nature learning and experiencing, knowing that I get to share it with them! It is such a gift. It was so fun to be able to bring music to our group this session and I’m so excited to continue to broaden that horizon. A couple highlights for me this session were weaving dream catchers up high on the Bodega bluffs, then down low under the great redwoods of Armstrong, making artist’s vine charcoal in the coziest fire on our rainy day at Jennys property, as well as nature journaling in our solo sit spots at the Laguna, Riverfront Park, Crane Creek, and more!
Much love to our community and so grateful to be a part of it,
Emma Bell