Posts filed under ‘Winter Activities’
Cave of the Mounds: A great escape from protesting or anything else
O
nce again, a major protest at the State Capitol coincided with one of my outings. I have to say that I was happy to be heading away from town. Protesting is noble, but it distracts me from what I love. For me, the best thing to do is to continue my work with kids and parents despite the chaos swirling around me.
It’s times like this when we need nature more than ever. We need to get away from the media and remember what’s really important. We need to be reminded of how beautiful our state is and it’s many natural wonders. We need to go to places right in our own backyards, like Cave of the Mounds, and experience one of those wonders.
Just 30 minutes from Madison, Cave of the Mounds remains a classic day trip. If you haven’t been there, it’s time to pack up the kids and go.
Cave "bacon" forms when calcite-rich water follows the contour of the cave ceiling forming drapery-like curtains. Note also the tiny stalactites.
The cave tour lasts about 1 hour and took us past beautiful cave formations: stalactites – or stalagnotites as Joan called them - hang from the ceiling; stalagmites – or stalagnomites – grow from the ground up. There’s cave “bacon” that looks… well… like bacon and classic formations like Polly the Parrot.
There’s no better place to get a sense of geologic time and the power of water. Water drips from the ceiling adding ever so slowly to the ‘mites and ‘tites.
Polly the Parrot formed when two stalactites dropped on top of a stalagmite, fusing them together into a parrotlike shape.
The cave promotes wonder and we all need that, especially when the world gets turned upside down.
I had just one small complaint. Just before leaving to eat our lunch, a staff member asked me to let her know if while eating we spilled anything on the chairs. I thought this was odd. Did she think we going to leave a mess? I don’t know. Other than that, our tour guides were informative and courteous, and of course, the cave never disappoints.
What are your favorite natural escapes within 30 minutes from home?
Diane Schwartz is busy getting ready for summer at the Goodman Community Center. Five new folding bikes will arrive soon and she can’t wait to start teaching kids how to safely ride around town. As always, subscribe to this blog now to receive a free 11-page bubble activity guide. Thank you for reading.
Wisconsin Protest Meets Outdoor Adventure
Last week I canceled Ski club. Organizers also canceled most of Winterfest.
Not for extreme cold or lack of snow, but because of the protest at the Capitol.
It’s been a surreal week.
On Wednesday, Superintendent Nerad closed Madison schools because so many teachers called in sick.
On Thursday, many other principals closed schools due to teacher sick-outs. I canceled ski club because we had no kids to take.
On Friday, schools remained closed and people continued to swarm the Capitol in growing numbers. Organizers canceled Winterfest which was to take place around the Capitol on Saturday and Sunday. A few events moved to the Memorial Union.
Since I had planned to take kids to Winterfest, we went to the Union instead. To avoid traffic headaches, we rode the bus. This was quite the adventure for the kids. Little did we know that we’d be crammed on a bus with dozens of protesters heading downtown.
The kids loved it. They got to see how peaceful protesters behave and they got to see all the people around the Capitol. They enjoyed reading the signs.
“Beam Scotty Back,” was a favorite though they didn’t get the Star Trek connection.
When we got to the Union, the kids watched sky divers land on the ice, snowboarders compete and snowsculptors sculpt. We ate our PB&J outside. And of course, they ran around on the ice and acted silly. The big fun was collecting snow eggs from the ice, as they called them.
It wasn’t the same as Winterfest, but they didn’t care. Perhaps they got something even better. They got to ride a city bus and see a historic political event. Teachable moments don’t get much better and the best part is that I didn’t have to say very much. They just soaked it up.
Have you ever been a trip where the unexpected happened? Did you take your kids to the protests? Do let me know.
Diane Schwartz takes kids cross country skiing at Blackhawk Ski Club every week until March 4. You can also find her getting ready for spring at Schumacher Farm Park in Waunakee. Become an email subscriber today and receive a free 11 page Bubble Activity Guide for free.
Is it ever too cold to Get Kids Outside?
Thursday was cold, very cold. Temps topped out at about 10 degrees with a nasty wind chill.
As a result, kids at Lowell and Emerson Elementary schools had no recess – their second in a row.
Now, it was my turn. Would I take 11 kids cross country skiing? We did the week before and the kids froze because we were out in the open. Would today be a repeat?
After consulting with Molly, the lead instructor at Blackhawk Ski Club, I decided to go – even though my boss had already told the kids it was too cold. Molly’s plan was a good one – stay in the woods and keep ‘em moving by sending them on a scavenger hunt.
It worked. The kids were not fazed by the cold and they had a great time on the scavenger hunt. No one complained. Plus, it was safe.
Blackhawk Ski Club isn’t exactly wilderness. There’s a warm chalet, hot chocolate and snacks. If kids wanted to go inside they could, but none of them did. They all stayed out for a full hour.
The kids had a blast and they learned something about the cold – if you dress right, keep moving and stay out of the wind, you’ll be fine.
Meanwhile, students at Emerson and Lowell Elementary schools learned to fear the cold. While safety is always important, I disagree with this policy.
When kids don’t get enough exercise, they are less able to focus and more likely to act out in class. Inside recess focuses on board games, not on being active. So, I suggest the following:
Why not let parents make the choice?
Why not base the choice on outerwear?
Why not let them out for a short time under the supervision of a trained teacher?
Why not structure a moving activity, such as a run around the playground?
It seems to me that going outside for recess is a lot like going skiing at Blackhawk Ridge: Kids are close to a warm building and there’s supervision.
I think we’re doing our kids a disservice by not teaching them how to dress for the cold.
What do you think? When is it too cold to go outside? What are you doing to help kids enjoy winter in Wisconsin?
Diane Schwartz takes kids cross country skiing at Blackhawk Ski Club every week until March 4. You can also find her at Winterfest on February 19 teaching kids and families the joys of winter. Of course, that will be a lot easier now that a warm front is on the horizon.
An Eagle Fan in Wisconsin: Not a joke
Go Eagles!
What are you crazy!
Not those Eagles, but the REAL eagles of Wisconsin.
Last Saturday, I took 40 kids and parents on a chartered bus to Eagle Days in Sauk City. It was a good day. When nature puts on a show, there is nothing better.
Open water below the dam attracts eagles from the north. Eagles fish here until northern lakes thaw.
We saw at least 30 eagles. Most were flying near the dam at Prairie du Sac. We saw at least 8 eagles perched in the trees near the shore and many more flying over the water. Unlike other years, it was easy to see them. We didn’t have to strain to see their white heads across the river.
Everyone’s head was pasted to the windows of the bus looking and talking.
“That one is diving for a fish!”
“Look there’s another one.”
We probably could have stayed longer than we did, but we were on a schedule.
The trip went very well, but as always, there’s room for improvement.
1) Have parents pay a deposit for the trip: 20 people who signed up didn’t show. I think it’s because we didn’t charge anything. We received a grant to take the trip so that’s nice, but some people take advantage of this.
2) Try to schedule the bird of prey show for next year: Due to scheduling, we missed the bird of prey show. Instead we took in David Stokes’ animal show. He had snakes, toads, a mouse and turtles. Pretty cool stuff, but I miss the raptors.
3) Allow more time for lunch. We were a bit rushed for lunch and some kids didn’t get to finish their eagle buttons in the kids area.
Eagles will by visible until the ice melts up north, so there’s still plenty of time to see them. Go to www.saukprairie.com for information on viewing. Then you too can become an Eagles fan.
Just be careful who you mention that to.
What are you doing to expose kids to the real world?
Diane Schwartz is a Packer fan and a real eagle fan who works at the Goodman Community Center in Madison, Wisconsin. You can also find her at Schumacher Farm County Park in Waunakee where she’s working to get the trails open for cross country skiing. Subscribe to this blog and receive a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide.
Bad Van Behavior Kills Ski Fun
What is fun? Cross Country Skiing
What kills fun? Driving a 15-passenger-van full of kids, three of which are fighting in the back.
Last week Thursday was the first day of ski lessons and everything was going great: the trip to Blackhawk Ski Club went well; the kids loved skiing; and the weather was perfect.
And then we got in the van to go home.
Joan started talking trash and couldn’t keep her mouth shut. To make things worse, her brother and another girl egged her on.
Things got so loud I had to pull over and sort things out. I split up Joan and her brother which meant displacing two other kids who were acting fine. I hate this.
Being a teacher is tough sometimes. I want to have fun with the kids, but I also have to be safe and take action when necessary. I’ll talk to the kids and parents and make sure they understand behavior expectations and the consequences. Right now, I’m thinking that if behavior results in pulling over the van, then the children involved will be removed from lessons. This may sounds harsh, but when it comes to safety, I’m not going to mess around. Besides, most of the kids are fine. It’s not fair to the others to allow this kind of behavior.
One thing is clear, if I don’t take action, it will be a very long 8 weeks.
I’ll let you know what happens after this week’s lesson.
What are you doing to help kids with behavior issues? What works? What doesn’t? How do you decide when to remove children from an activity?
Diane Schwartz is an Outdoor Education Teacher at Goodman Community Center in Madison, Wisconsin. She is also the Site Coordinator at Schumacher Farm County Park in Waunakee. Register for this blog now and receive your free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide. Thank you for visiting.
How Not to Crash: Safe Sledding Technique for Kids
Sledding is fun, but it only takes one accident to ruin everything. A few simple tips can keep your event safe.
1) Teach kids how to roll out of their sled: Jumping off of a moving sled isn’t intuitive, nor is dragging your feet. These skills need to be taught. Things happen so fast on a sled and before you know it, you’re looking to crash. If your kids like to crash – you know who they are – tell them that rolling from a moving sled is pretty exciting too.
2) Always stand with your front facing the top of the hill: This may seem like a no brainer, but it’s not. I watched two boys nearly get hit because they were goofing off on the hill after their run. They didn’t see a sled coming. Remind kids to get up immediately after a run and stay present to sledders all around them.
3) Always go down feet first: Most sledding accidents happen because kids go down head first. They can’t control the sled on their stomachs and crashing can strain the neck.
4) Wear Helmets: Okay, I don’t require this on my sledding trips, but if you are really concerned about safety, the experts recommend this.
What are you doing to keep your kids safe this winter while sledding, skiing and ice skating?
Diane Schwartz is an Outdoor Education Teacher at Goodman Community Center in Madison, Wisconsin. She is also the Site Coordinator at Schumacher Farm County Park in Waunakee. Register for this blog now and receive your free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide. Thank you for visiting.
Cross Country Skiing with Kids: Final Reflection
Last Thursday, was the last of our eight week ski lessons at Blackhawk Ski Club. It was a beautiful sunny day in the 30s. Perfect. Molly, the instructor had the kids go through a series of games. They skied through hula hoops, played red light green light, and picked up candy on the trail while going downhill. They liked the candy pick-up the best.
I was very proud of these kids. After eight weeks, they were going down hills and skiing with confidence. They could snowplow, stop and start again, and not get flustered by wiping out. It was gratifying to see this.
We started with 13 kids and ended with 9. Our sole 5-year-old quit after the fourth week. Next year, perhaps we’ll not have little ones do the course. One fifth grader kept saying she was sick, but she wasn’t. I think she struggled because of her weight. Watching her, I noticed it was difficult for her get up and stay up on skis. The other fifth grader quit after her third grader sister quit. They quit for no specific reason. They just said, “I don’t want to go anymore.” This was very disappointing. There is so much to learn from sticking with something.
For example, one boy was in tears about half way through the program and wanted to quit. He cried, he pouted and he wailed. He called his Mom and begged her to let him quit. Anyone listening would have been sure this kid was being tortured. His mom didn’t yield. I’m glad. He was one happy kid on the last day. He couldn’t stop smiling even when he fell down. The next day, he came up to me as said, “Hi Miss Diane.” He face was glowing. He was so happy. I was so happy for him. He learned more than how to ski, but how to finish something he started. He learned how to persevere and reap the rewards of completion. In addition, everyone learned how play outside in really cold weather. They learned about the “other” side of town–the west side. They experienced the culture of cross-country skiing and now have access to a sport which is primarily practiced by middle to upper middle class white folks. (Of the 13 kids who started the course, 5 were African-American, 7 white and 1 mixed. I don’t know income levels). They met new people and even a blind dog named Izzy. But most of all, they learned the fun of skiing.
I saw that on Thursday. The kids didn’t care about wiping out. They loved it. They went downhill with confidence, or fell, got up and tried it again. It was a very satisfying day and one that makes teaching worth it. My hope is that they will keep skiing as adults. Time will only tell.
Next up.. hiking and biking. We have a bon fire planned on March 26th at Picnic Point. A few days later, we’ll be going to the MacKenzie Wildlife Center to learn about maple syrup harvesting.
Stay tuned.
Giving Back: Cross Country Ski Lessons
I love to XC ski. I love feeling warm while I’m outside in the winter; I love being outside in beautiful, snowy places; and I love how I feel afterward. For me, it’s a spiritual activity that gives me so much. I learned how to XC ski as an adult and started by skiing on Lake Mendota. After college, I moved to Wausau and really learned to ski. I skied Nine-mile, Winter Park, Under Down and many northern trails. I enjoyed citizen racing and even came home with a few medals from Badger State Games and the Birkie. Because of this passion, I was happy to offer kids XC ski lessons this winter.
Through a partnership with the Blackhawk Ski Club in Middleton, Goodman Community Center been able to offer XC ski lessons to 13 kids in grades Kindergarten to fifth grade. The club provided the lessons, volunteers and all the equipment. This allowed us to offer the lessons at no charge for kids. We are now in our 6th week of lessons and the kids are really looking good. They are going down hills without wiping out and are growing more confident as a result. They are learning how to enjoy winter and love snow. For me, skiing is a gift that they will have all their lives.
It hasn’t always been easy for them. Their hands got cold. They had to walk
down and up some steep stairs to get to other trails. And of course, they have all wiped out and have had to learn how to get up. They have hung in there though and are now reaping the benefits.
So far, 3 kids have quit. This is sad to me, but I can’t force kids to go. The good news is that they didn’t quit because they didn’t like it. Two quit because they wanted to do other things at our Center’s after school. The other child quit because she had difficulty balancing on skis. Still, I am sad that they didn’t complete the course.
With two more weeks to go, I’m looking forward to giving these kids their certificates. They have really worked hard and I’m so proud of them. Plus, spring will be right around the corner.
Blue, Red and Green Snow: Colorful Outdoor Play
Give kids something unusual to play with and watch what happens.
On Friday, I filled up a bunch of spray bottles with colored water, grabbed some bubble wands and bubble juice and went outside with 6 kids. They immediately got creative. Each kid picked a different color and started squirting the snow different colors. Then each child gave themselves a name and marked off their territory in the snow. They picked tornado, storm and wolverine. I think they got these names from the Fantastic Four or from watching other super hero movies. They gave me the name “Bubble Monster.” I would blow bubbles and they’d squirt them from the sky. Then, they’d retreat to their territory for protection.
This was a lot of fun and the temperature was perfect. The spray bottles didn’t freeze up like they had on other adventures. Kids love this activity and are fascinated by the different colors. They also like watching the water freeze on surfaces and change the texture of the snow. Their creative play was an added bonus. It was fun watching these very different kids play together so well.
Eagle Watching Success Story
Small successes with kids need to be celebrated.
Yesterday, while picking up kids at Emerson Elementary School (home of the Emerson Eagles no less) for our after school program, the principal, Karen Kepler, pointed out the eagle button she was wearing.
“Do you know who gave me this?” she asked.
“John?” I asked.
Yes, it was John. A tear welled up in my eyes.
John is an African American boy in the fourth grade who had been struggling in our after school program. This was a really big deal for him to have this success. No, it’s not academic success, which some may argue is the only measure of success in school, but a real life success that he will never lose.
He got to see and learn about birds of prey first hand. This is the stuff that Richard Louv talks about in his book No child left inside. Louv writes that when kids feel a sense of wonder about the world, their world expands exponentially. John felt that. I could see it in his face that day. I could see it on the bus the day after. And clearly, something inspired him to give that button (that John made) to his principal.
I am grateful for our partnership with Emerson School. Ms. Kepler will follow-up by putting a photo of John in the upcoming newsletter. When John learned about this, he was very excited. John got even more from this trip. He had a great day with his mom. He connected with his principal. He will get needed recognition from his peers at school and after school. He had a positive experience with other kids. He learned a lot about birds and he saw a new place. Our relationship became stronger.
I may never know the full impact of this trip on John, but that’s part of teaching.
Teachers live for these little successes.
