We have enjoyed the first three weeks of Summer 2015 Programming with lots of wonder-ful activities: Fairies & Forts- flower fairy making, fort building, fairy ring necklaces, sunflower planting; strawberry short cake making; Herb'n Kids- herb i.d. scavenger hunt, lavender salve making, mint crowns, mint-herb sun tea; Wild Art I- "long distance" painting, yarn & fiber dying, sun mandalas, puppet making; Don't Bug Me!- bug hunt & i.d., pine cone bumble bee craft, snail (or bug) pretzel roll baking, field trip to Farmer's Market w/ picnic lunch... and much more! We're planning our first "makers/farmers" market experience- this time as vendors... the children will experience the cycle of materials to market with creation of products- lavender salve, wooden clave sets, freshly baked lavender lemon scones, etc... to take and sell at an upcoming Monday Farmer's Market at the Village (located in the Piazza area near Left Foot Charley and Higher Grounds Coffee). Pro"seeds" will benefit our tuition scholarship fund. Details are forthcoming!
How to Make Homemade Bug Spray
How to Make Homemade Bug Spray
- Fill spray bottle (we used approx. 8 ounces) 1/2 full with distilled or boiled water
- Add witch hazel to fill almost to the top
- Add 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin if using (glycerin optional)
- Add drops of essential oils to desired scent. The more oils you use, the stronger the spray will be. We used Lavender and Lemon essential oils. It works great and smells good too!
Autumn Update October, 2014
A few Autumn highlights...
The children have been enjoying Michaelmas Celebration activities including dragon bread making (baking), bulb planting (gardening), and wearing their golden capes (helping our inner "knights" gain courage to slay the dragon!). We have been reading Autumn themed stories- The Princess and the Pumpkin, Little Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter... , wet felting acorns (handwork), and creating a Native American corn craft which will help decorate our tree entry for the upcoming Festival of Trees (November 19-21). Our tree's theme is "Bountiful Harvest" this year.
We have been experiencing some cooler days outdoors as we begin to put the gardens to bed for the winter, and we have visited the fish weir to observe the culmination of the salmons' journey. Music has included a percussion "workshop", Michaelmas song, Squirrels song, Come Little Leaves, and A Basket Full of Nuts, among others.
We have also celebrated (and still more to come) numerous birthdays... Margo- Sept. 23, Helly- Oct. 4, Cate- Oct 5, Joshua- Oct. 9, Mia- Oct. 15, and Janine- Oct. 18. A most Happy and Joyous Birthday to all of you!!!
In the upcoming weeks we will plant the rest of our bulbs, harvest our final garden remnants, put the gardens to bed, and transition from "gardening day" to "soup day" on Wednesdays. On "soup day Wednesdays", the children will each bring a favorite vegetable from home to chop/prepare and add to our soup pot. We will also begin preparing for our next celebration- Martinmas, for which the children will make their own lantern to carry on our Lantern Walk in November. More details with dates are forthcoming. Hope you and your families are all enjoying our lingering color-filled harvest season!
With many blessings and much warmth,
Dana & Janine
The children have been enjoying Michaelmas Celebration activities including dragon bread making (baking), bulb planting (gardening), and wearing their golden capes (helping our inner "knights" gain courage to slay the dragon!). We have been reading Autumn themed stories- The Princess and the Pumpkin, Little Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter... , wet felting acorns (handwork), and creating a Native American corn craft which will help decorate our tree entry for the upcoming Festival of Trees (November 19-21). Our tree's theme is "Bountiful Harvest" this year.
We have been experiencing some cooler days outdoors as we begin to put the gardens to bed for the winter, and we have visited the fish weir to observe the culmination of the salmons' journey. Music has included a percussion "workshop", Michaelmas song, Squirrels song, Come Little Leaves, and A Basket Full of Nuts, among others.
We have also celebrated (and still more to come) numerous birthdays... Margo- Sept. 23, Helly- Oct. 4, Cate- Oct 5, Joshua- Oct. 9, Mia- Oct. 15, and Janine- Oct. 18. A most Happy and Joyous Birthday to all of you!!!
In the upcoming weeks we will plant the rest of our bulbs, harvest our final garden remnants, put the gardens to bed, and transition from "gardening day" to "soup day" on Wednesdays. On "soup day Wednesdays", the children will each bring a favorite vegetable from home to chop/prepare and add to our soup pot. We will also begin preparing for our next celebration- Martinmas, for which the children will make their own lantern to carry on our Lantern Walk in November. More details with dates are forthcoming. Hope you and your families are all enjoying our lingering color-filled harvest season!
With many blessings and much warmth,
Dana & Janine