Sprouts: November 7th
Today’s session with our Sprouts was a beautiful balance of curiosity, care, and connection to the natural world. One of our Earthkeepers kicked off the morning by sharing a gem from his personal collection – a shining Tiger’s Eye stone that held everyone’s fascination as we admired its unique patterns and colors.
Before diving into play, we decided to spend a few minutes tending our space, clearing away some of fall’s lingering debris. The boys quickly picked up the tools, learning how to use them safely, and what was meant to be a brief “giving back” session turned into a full morning of reciprocity. They surprised me by wanting to keep going, constantly asking how else they could help. Seeing their enthusiasm and commitment to care for our space was a beautiful reminder of the natural desire to give back.
With our area refreshed, we checked in on our worm hotel, tracing the intricate, winding patterns the worms had tunneled. Each path was a tiny testament to the life beneath our feet.
One Earthkeeper also revisited the spot where he had buried a snail friend a couple of weeks ago, placing a stone marked with its name as a tribute. His small act of kindness was touching, showing how empathy and respect for other creatures naturally flourish here.
During lunch, we read A Log’s Life, setting the stage for our afternoon focus on decomposition. Together, we discussed the critical role of decomposers in nature’s cycles, and then observed some Halloween pumpkins left to slowly return to the earth. We documented the pumpkins’ first signs of change, and the kids are eager to see how they transform over the coming weeks.
As we worked, we were thrilled by a special visit from a new friend – a black-capped chickadee at the bird feeder! None of us had seen him here before, and he brought a spark of excitement to our day. Later, during some quiet downtime, we spotted even more birds visiting the feeder, and we’re all hopeful they’ll continue to stop by through the winter months.
Each Sprouts day brings new wonders and deeper bonds with our surroundings. We can’t wait to see what changes await next time!
