Inspire Nature Forest Camp

We had an amazing week in the forest at Etienne Brule Park near the Humber River.  The environment was such a contrast from the wide open space of the previous week on the shore of Lake Ontario.  We thought that we might continue with land art inspired by Andy Goldsworthy, but we were taken on a new adventure once we discovered the teaming life beneath the logs of the forest.  Although the learning took a different tack, it still progressed naturally from the initial engagement of discovering the forest, to exploring the environment, through investigating forest homes and sharing our discoveries with our families!

Please post a comment to tell us what you notice and what you wonder about our Forest Camp.

Inspire Nature at Humber Bay: Investigation

The learning at our Inspire Nature day camp flowed naturally.  We began with an engaging environment which we gave everyone ample time to explore.  After they explored the materials and the environment they naturally began to investigate by asking questions and experimenting with possible solutions. Being in nature allowed them to experience what worked and what didn't.  Giving them enough time allowed them the space to continue to innovate new solutions.  Who says girls are not natural engineers?!

Inspire Nature at Humber Bay: Exploration

The next phase in learning is exploration.  This is where the learner has time to explore the materials and the environment.  By introducing the children to Andy Goldsworthy's art we invite them to explore the possibilities of creating art with the natural materials we find along the shore of the lake.

If given enough time, human beings will naturally start to do something with the materials around them. Towards the end of this film, when big questions start to emerge, we see the beginning of the next phase of learning which is called investigation which will be the subject of our next movie.

Inspire Nature at Humber Bay

Inspire Nature at Humber Bay

This week Sara and I and a small group of campers launched Inspire Nature's Day Camp at Humber Bay Park.  The intent was to give everyone the opportunity to learn naturally.  This happens best when children (and adults) are first met with an experience that engages their interest.  Next, the learner needs time to explore the context and the environment.  If given the right opportunity and enough time, human beings naturally begin to investigate and apply what they have found engaging and have had time to explore.  In order for the learning to be complete, we as social animals need the opportunity to communicate, so please watch our movies with your children and feel free to post your comments to share what you notice and what you wonder about their learning!

Please follow the link below to the iMovie that we made that documents this learning process during our first day at Humber Bay.  Keep watching this space to see how the children's experience grows naturally through the week following the same process (engagement, exploration, investigation and communication):

Mirror, Mirror...

Adding dimension by playing with mirrors: I used found mirrors (curb side, parent's basement, yard sale) to enhance outdoor play.  I simply added mirrors to a "small world" invitation to play, the outdoor block centre and a planting invitation to play.  Kids were playing within seconds.

The scent of Cinnamon

The first week we just explored with smelling different herbs and spices that were in my spice drawer.  I found some great little jars at The Dollar Store that worked well to safely store the spices.  Most of the kids in the first week were able to identify cinnamon.  The other spices were turmeric, nutmeg, oregano, basil and dill seed.
The second week I made labels of the names of the spices and the children took turns, many times during the week, to try their hand at matching the spices with the correct name.

Simple and engaging.

Colourful Play Doh

This is clearly a sensory activity, but as usual, it turns into so much more.  The table was wrapped in painting paper.  Fresh, homemade play doh was placed on the table with washable markers stuck in the play doh like a porcupine.  (Thanks to Leslie at the Parenting and Family Literacy Centre at IRC for this idea).

Early on, the markers were so strong that their colour came through the paper.  "Look, look what I made!" 

Another child was intrigued and said, "That looks like a peacock!" and proceeded to create a head with play doh. Brilliant!

By the end of the week, the markers were no more, kaput, done, gone to rest.  If these markers are dipped in water, the children can make some beautiful "water colour" paintings.  The play doh ended up being a deep purple.  It can be reused for another activity.

Patterning with Natural Objects

This was a simple activity that I did with my Pre-K group at the table during snack time.

I laid out the rock then the stick and finally the shell and explained that simple patterns repeat.  Rock, stick, shell, rock stick… What would come next?  We completed the pattern together.

With support, the children started making patterns of their own and had great fun trying to say the pattern as quickly as they could.  Quite a tongue twister.

This final pattern was all their own.  And after they tired of saying the pattern over and over and over again, they created a picture, using natural objects.

"This is the sky, these are the shells and rocks on the beach."

Exploring with Magnets

I witnessed the children making connections while playing with magnets.  My youngest realized that all of the trains we have, connect to each other with magnets.  She added a few trains to the magnet tray.

My eldest began playing with the trains and magnets.  Although she didn't understand why it happened, she thought it "really cool" that she could move a train with a magnet without touching it.

The Last Signs of Winter

As the last signs of winter began to fade, we took our creativity outdoors, to a near-by park, for a last chance at creating with ice.  The inquiry went full circle with exploring materials, investigating what could be made with ice, and sharing the results.

Exploring the space and materials

Creating a snowflake

"It's like Elza." (from Frozen)

"When I touch the ground...

"… a snowflake appears!"

Communicating the purpose of the art with friends

Their hands were freezing by the end of this (if you look closely you can see an artist's hands in her vest), but in was so engaging that they would not quit until the snowflake was done.

Inspiring Each Other

I ended the last post by asking, "What would happen if I printed and posted the children's creations?" I thought, "Would inspiring each other help to sustain the rock project longer?" This is what happened:

My three year old decided that she wanted to try and balance the rocks in the same way that her older sister did.  She looked at the picture, sorted the rocks and began to create.  This is the final product:

My eldest looked at the picture of her last rock creation and said, "Look mom, I'm going to challenge myself!" This is her final product:

"You know how I did this? Careful."

It took her about half an hour to complete this.  This was her 5th attempt.

Other children under my care took up the challenge also.  Seeing their rock balancing attempts photographed and posted for all to see, prompted them to try again.  Here is one impressive result:

"The hardest part is balancing the heavier rock on the smaller rock."

By acknowledging previous attempts through photography and posting the pictures, the children continually came back to this "invitation to create" for another week.

Andy Goldsworthy Inspiration

Andy Goldsworthy is an innovative British artist whose collaboration with nature produces unique and stunning artwork.  Using a range of natural materials- snow, ice, rocks, wood, leaves, he creates outdoor sculptures.  Before the sculptures disappear, he records their beauty through photography.

To inspire the children, I turned to the Andy Goldsworthy book, A Collaboration with Nature, where he photographed his work with balanced rocks.

The inspiration:

The Inspiration

I set up the table with materials and room to create.

The Invitation

The children, in their own time, decided to create their own works of art.

The Creation

They shared with their friends, "Look! It looks like there is a snake poking his head out of the rocks."

I am wondering now, if their art with rocks would change if I posted the photos of their first creations?

Let's try and see...

Sensory Play

In this sensory experience, the table was set up with two trays.  One tray was empty, one was filled with rice and lentils.  Also available were cups, pebbles, large rocks and shells.

The play evolved from a purely sensory exploration of the rocks, pebbles and shells to an investigation of how all these objects can be played with. 

What can be created?

Soup, tea, water and a pancake for mom!

Mud- a great opportunity for sensory play

A bathtub full of balls

Finger Painting