Posts tagged ‘hiking’
The Wonder of a Water Pump
Water pump, stock photo
I never know what kids will discover while outside. On a recent trip to Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area, the kids were fascinated by a hand water pump.
The kids liked pumping the handle and then seeing the water come out. They were mystified by how the water could keep coming out even after they stopped pumping. “Why does the water keep coming?” I explained something about the pressure in the pipe and that there was enough pressure left to bring the water to the surface.
Some kids thought there was a tank underground. When I told them that the water was stored between rocks deep in the earth they asked, “How does the water get there?” ”How is it cleaned?” This led to a short explanation of how the rocks and soil act as a filter for pollution. My co-teacher mentioned that this is why we are careful about what we put on the ground.
I could see their little minds turning. Some of the kids were just five years old so I’m not sure they quite understood the whole concept. Heck, many adults don’t fully understand how ground water works.
I was thrilled that something as fun as a water pump brought up the topic. It’s learning at it’s best…hands-on and fun. It was tough getting them away from the pump. Of course, a call for lunch did the trick.
Where is Your Coat?
We’ve had a cold October in Wisconsin. Last weekend it was about 40 degrees at the start of our hike to Parfrey’s Glen Natural Area. I was dressed in a wind breaker, a neck warmer, hat, gloves and hiking boots. So, when the first kids showed up without none of the above I had to ask, “Where’s your coat?”
“I’ll be okay,” Joan responded. “I don’t get cold,” her brother cheerfully replied. She had on a sweater. He came dressed in shorts and a light jacket.
I told them that they needed to get a coat and that it was colder than they think outside. While I couldn’t do anything about the shorts, his mom did have coats (with hoods) in the car. Other kids had a hat and mittens but no coat. Still others had a coat but no hat and mittens. Fortunately, we keep a stock of mittens and hats at the Center. After handing out some items, I stuffed a few extra pairs in my backpack, just in case the kids change their mind.
Dressing for the weather is a big part of learning to be in the outdoors. Truth is, most kids go from the car or bus to school and home and rarely spend any time outside at all. Recess is just 15 minutes and they don’t venture out on really cold days. Some kids simply don’t think it’s cool to wear hats and coats. Schools also have to be careful about cold because many kids do not have the proper attire. Schools now routinely close when temperatures are below a certain mark. They simply can’t risk having some child outside in bitter temperatures who isn’t dressed properly.
When we got to Parfrey’s Glen the winds were brisk and two kids asked for hats. A mom volunteer asked for mittens. I’m glad I had some extras, but then again, perhaps they would have learned more if they’re ears were a little cold. After all, it wasn’t below zero, it was a brisk 48 degrees.
If the other underdressed kids were cold they didn’t complain, though one boy took his arms out of this coat sleeves to preserve heat. I could tell he was cold, though. I have yet to fully understand this undressing thing. Why would someone intentionally want to be cold? I’m pretty sure the parents told them to put on more a warmer coat, but maybe not.
As we walked and got into the woods, the kids did warm up. The kids who had on more clothes, peeled off a few layers. They learned that it’s better to have it and have to take it off, then not have it and freeze.
I’m not sure how to instill the dress code for these outdoor adventures. When it’s really cold, we require that kids wear snow pants or we provide snow pants to those who don’t have them. For fall weather however, it’s a little trickier. The day started out sunny and it looked warm. I think that fooled parents and the kids into thinking that it was warmer outside.
Before the trip, I reminded parents to “dress for the weather.” Perhaps, I need to provide a list of specific things to wear before the trip. This may not guarantee compliance, but at least I’m doing more to ensure that no one gets cold. I will no longer assume that parents know what “dress for the weather” means. Just like math and English, dressing for outdoor fun needs to be taught if we want kids and parents to enjoy spending time outside.
Sneaking up on Chorus Frogs
My kindergartners and first graders tried to “sneak” up on Chorus frogs today. Our center has a rain garden that is now full of water and home to quite a few frogs. The frogs were singing loudly in the morning and I thought it would be great fun to have the kids walk up to them so they could experience how they stop singing when approached.
Turns out, the frogs had stopped singing completely by the time we got outside. There was a lot of noise around the center in the afternoon. We talked about this for a bit and then explored around the pond. We found interesting rocks to look at and watched two male mallard ducks. The kids wanted to throw rocks, which is natural, but I told them we’ll have to wait to get to a lake to practice our rock skipping. So, we talked about the rocks. One smart kid asked what would happen if we hit the rock with a hammer? “We’d get a lot of little rocks,” I said. He thought about that awhile and then seemed to accept the answer.
I got to explain why I knew that the two ducks were both male. To them, these mallards were probably exotic looking. I always have to remember that when I see something common. Some kids picked dandelions. It’s great fun to let them pick these flowers. I think it would be great to make necklaces in the park on Friday.
Then, the railroad crossing bell started going off and the kids waited in earnest for the train to come. It didn’t. Bummer. I had to tell the kids that the bell goes off sometimes when the train is far, far away. It’s just a precaution. The kids left a little disappointed, but at least they got to go outside and explore around the center.
I want to use this area as a natural laboratory this summer. It’s a good place to look for insects and to plant our potato traps. It’d be nice to get a few benches to sit on too. I can’t wait.
My feet hurt! Lessons from the Front Line.
My feet hurt. I’m hungry. Are we there yet? I’m thirsty. I’m dehydrated. I’m gonna die. I’m bored. This sucks. I’m hot. So goes the litany of complaints experienced on a recent hike to Cherokee Marsh with a group of 7 first through fifth graders.
The weather was in the 70s, there were no bugs, and we saw some amazing things on this hike: spring peepers, tree swallow, Canada geese, Sandhill cranes, a millipede, red-winged blackbirds and a lot more. Plus we had cookies! There were fewer complaints when it was nearly below zero! While the kids were engaged when there was something cool to look at, the kids quickly turned to complaints once back on the trail.
What was going on? First, this was the longest hike we’ve been on so far. To kids, this can seem like a very long way. Second, this was the first time that most of them had been on a hike of this type. There was no play equipment and few signs of civilization. Cherokee Marsh is a conservation area so amenities are kept to a minimum.When I told one of the kids that wetlands are important because they help replenish our ground water supply, he wanted to dump out the water he was drinking. There are so many things that I take for granted that these kids have had no exposure to. For them, this is all new.
Here are some things we did to help with the complaints and some things I will do in the future. It’s always good to have water, which we did. However, some kids didn’t have enough to eat for breakfast, or no breakfast at all. Trail snacks are critical. We did have plenty of food on the hike, but I think I would ask kids before the hike if they wanted something to eat.
Just 15 minutes into the hike, while hiking up a modest hill, one 9-year-old African-American boy, lost steam. Turns out, all he had for breakfast was a glass of orange juice. We stopped a lot and fed him to help keep him going. At an overlook, the whole group got cookies, which most really needed.
On the way back, there wasn’t as much to see on the trail so the complaints started again. I shared some stories about how I dealt with boredom while hiking: singing, making of stories, etc. I’m not sure this helped. I also pointed out things: like an airplane landing at the nearby airport, an old oak tree that was around when native people lived here. What I will look for are more examples of African-American people who like to hike and to help make connections between hiking and their own lives. Here’s one:
Barack Obama said, “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”
True, hiking is about making steady progress, especially for a young kid. But it’s also about enjoying the moment, the fresh air and the wonder of nature.For me, one of the most enjoyable parts of hiking is completing a difficult hike. The hardship is forgotten quickly, and then all that’s remembered is the scenery and the good parts.
Perhaps this is the real message for these kids. Even though that 9-year-old wanted to leave as soon as he got started, he kept going. He didn’t give up. This takes guts.
It will be interesting to find out what the kids say about the trip on Monday.
What lessons have your kids learned while getting outside?
It Looks like Africa
Once a month, I take a group of kids on outdoor adventures. These trips are designed to get kids outside hiking. The trips are sponsored by a group called Inner City Outings (ICO). ICO partners with the Sierra Club, REI and others to offer these trips to kids that normally wouldn’t have opportunities to hike and enjoy nature. They provide the snacks and any equipment that may be needed. It’s a great opportunity to get to know kids and take them on fun adventures.
In March, we went to Governor Nelson State Park, a small park on the north shore of Lake Mendota. I didn’t quite know what to expect on this trip as I had never been to the park. I didn’t prep the kids on what they would see, but I did tell them to bring binoculars if they had them. What happened when we got there was truly unexpected.
On the way into the park, a second grader name Jane pronounced, “It looks like Africa.” For a second, I was stunned. Then, I realized that she was right. The park’s landscape is oak savannah, which in March, does look surprisingly like the African savannah. The grasses are matted down and gray. There’s no green anywhere. And scattered about the landscape are huge trees, in this case oak trees.
Her statement told me a lot about Jane. First, Jane is an observant second grader. She’s looking all the time. While she had never been to Africa, she remembered an image of Africa in a book and was able to make a connection – a significant connection – to what she was actually experiencing. Second, Jane is likely a visual learner. If I see that she is struggling with language (she’s an ESL learner), I can try using visuals to help her learn.
The comment also points to the value of taking kids on field trips. I believe that Jane is going to remember this connection for a long time, if not forever. I remember the field trips that I went on as a kid: The Milwaukee Zoo, Cave of the Mounds and the Milwaukee Museum. I don’t remember much else about my elementary school days, but those trips are etched in my mind. I didn’t get to travel much as a kid, so to get out of town and see something new was a really big deal.
I also experienced a similar moment when I finally saw a glacier in person, after first seeing one in a book in fourth grade. Standing at the foot of the glacier, I felt that connection was complete. While I don’t know if Jane felt the same way, I do know that something clicked in her mind in that moment. She saw something in real life that she had seen in a book. She had a positive “mind” moment when something she had read about became real. I believe that this experiential learning is critical for kids, especially for kids with few opportunities. Who knows? That one trip could ignite a thirst to seek out other things she sees in books.
I’m grateful that I can offer these opportunities to kids and I can’t wait to go on the next trip.
