It was a chilly November day, but that didn't stop our Sprouts from heading out on an adventure! With two wagons in tow, we set off for Gibbons Park. The children took turns lending a hand pulling the second wagon, sharing the work as we made our way along the Thames Valley Parkway.
Of course, we had to stop at Wishing Bridge to check on the minnows! Along the way, the children continued to notice all sorts of interesting things. Beautiful yellow leaves covered the ground, mushrooms grew among patches of moss, and birds flitted through the trees. Even as the landscape changes with the season, there is still so much to discover.
When we arrived at Gibbons Park, the children enjoyed challenging themselves on the playground and playing together. Afterwards, we wandered over to the nearby pond, where we talked about some of the differences between a pond and a river. Our explorations also turned up some interesting finds, including more beautiful leaves, some particularly good sticks, and turkey tail mushrooms!
By the time we started heading home, everyone was feeling the cold and was pretty eager to get back. But even chilly fingers couldn't keep our curious Earthkeepers from making one more stop!
As we passed Underwater Kingdom, the children spotted some ducks and decided we needed to investigate. One girl noticed a patch of moss, so we stopped to touch it and feel its texture. Meanwhile, a few children settled themselves on the riverbank to chat and watch the ducks. Before long, the rest of the group had joined them.
One Earthkeeper informed me that he was singing a song to the ducks, and that was why they were quacking so much!
What had started as a quick stop turned into a lovely little gathering by the river. The children watched the ducks, chatted together, and explored the tree roots along the bank. There was so much moss growing on those roots that the children christened that part of Underwater Kingdom "Moss World!"
I love moments like these. We had a destination in mind, and the children were cold and eager to get home, yet something as simple as a few ducks and a patch of moss was enough to bring everyone together and capture their attention. These familiar places continue to offer new discoveries, even after so many visits.
Eventually, we completed the last leg of our journey and headed into the dome for a much-needed break. The children happily coloured while listening to The Enchanted Wood on the Yoto.
I headed outside to build a fire, and before long, a few Earthkeepers joined me. Some got busy in the mud kitchen while I chopped wood, but one child was particularly interested in the fire itself. She watched closely and asked about which materials would burn and how blowing air onto a fire could help it grow. It was a great opportunity to explore some of the science of fire through real observation.
Once the fire was going, I started raking leaves away from the rope swing. Almost immediately, an eager Earthkeeper announced, "I can help you Miss Stef!"
He got straight to work, gathering handfuls of leaves, filling the wagon, and hauling them away. Where exactly he was taking them, I'm not entirely sure, but I appreciated the help nonetheless!
Soon the rest of the children emerged from the dome and gathered around the fire for some stories. For the remainder of the afternoon, they moved between the fireside, rope swing, hammocks, and mud kitchen, settling into their own play and enjoying the warmth of the fire between adventures.
We finished our day with nature journals and a game of Outfoxed.
It was a full day of walking, exploring, helping one another, and finding interesting things in familiar places. I especially loved how our little stop to watch the ducks turned into an entirely new place with its own name. I wonder what else we'll discover in Moss World on our next visit!
Thanks for a great day, Sprouts!
