Environmental Field Trip - June 7, 2012

Back in the “winter” Willow Springs Creative Centre invited students from St. Bernard School to join us for a Winter Fest. As it turns out, winter barely happened so we had to adjust and host an early spring festival. The first group of students came to visit us back in March. They were able to plant spinach and peas in March! It wasn’t until June 7th that the second group of students was able to join us. We were beginning to wonder if they would ever make it out as the rain kept them at bay for weeks.

With all the activity stations set up we took a deep breath and dove into the day with 42 very excited grade 2 students. Being in the smaller stage of human life it didn’t appear like 42 humans were standing in Willow Springs’ front yard. With the rules stated and everyone divided into groups, we began the day at Willow Springs Creative Centre. The children would learn about local food, gardening, art and the natural environment.

The groups rotated through four different stations: Pizza Making, Gardening, Wind Chime Creating and the Buggy Bonanza. At the pizza-making station Ayla provided the kids with a hands-on opportunity to learn about flour that comes from a local mill. They rolled out their own dough and put their pizza toppings on while enthusiastically sharing stories about baking at home with their families. Some students revealed that sometimes they are sneaky and eat the cookie dough when no one is looking. This sort of behavior apparently sticks with some of us into our adult lives. 

Next they headed outside to get crafty. They worked with pieces of driftwood, beads and recycled materials such as juice lids, pieces of pipe, bamboo and pottery to create beautiful wind chimes. They worked hard in the sun picking out their chime pieces, inserting eye screws, threading twine, tying knots and getting everything attached to the driftwood.

Roxanna and Ella, Willow Springs Creative Centre’s gardeners, greeted the groups at the gardening station. Here the kids got to dig their hands into the dirt and see what it takes to have a great garden. They learned the importance of healthy soils by mixing composted manure into the garden beds. Once the beds were prepared they planted them up with carrots, beans, potatoes, onions and, peas. They watered the beds and then each student planted up a pot with a sunflower seed to take home and tend. Watch for the pollinators!

The final stop was the Buggy Bonanza. Students went on an exploration of our flower gardens and peered into the pond to find bugs and frogs. Stink bugs, butterflies, snails and “bolak flies” are a few of the critters discovered. Once the search was over each student created a painted bug flag for our “insect prayer flag” banner that will be hung around our newly constructed bee yard. Thanks for your artistic abilities everyone!

The day finished with cookin’ up the pizzas in the outdoor, wood-fired oven. In the blistering heat of the sun and flames, Judi showed us her swift baking abilities that only a woman under the pressure to bake 45 pizzas in less then an hour possesses. The kids happily ended the afternoon chowing down on their pizza creations, some chocolate chip cookies and juice.

We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon with the students from St. Bernard. It brings such joy to hear happy voices discovering the simple pleasures that life can offer.


~Ayla Ludwig