Deer, Masks, and Tire Shredders

We are so lucky to be able to have Alvarado Park/Wildcat Canyon as our classroom! We're right at an urban/wildland interface and never know what will happen. We had this huge moment last week when some deer in rut came close! This experience already prompted a great family discussion after school about consent and healthy relationships. It was such a big experience that I know we'll be discussing multiple aspects of it for quite some time. I'll be looking forward to more discussion about consent, evolution, and empowerment towards personal safety for sure. I made a quick video that you can check out here:

It's not always about nature... The kids were immediately enthralled upon their arrival on the first day to find this device at the parking lot's exit. We've felt it, made it work with its spring action, counted the blades, read the sign, and now wait for a bit each day to see if anyone runs over them the wrong way, building up patience and predictability skills, the kind of lessons that come out of innate curiosity.

Here we are exploring "Betty's Well." It's not really a well, but part of a drainage system. The kids named it last year from a book we read. It turns out you can see all the way to the other side of the culvert, where it drains more directly into Wildcat Creek. The kids reported one of the two sides is partially blocked.

Enrollment

Outside School has space for the current school year and next, and would love to have your family's young ones join us! If you're interested, please check out the website for more information. A link to the application is up there, too!

www.outside.school

Resources and Community

-Do you wonder or worry about transcripts if you've decided to pursue an alternative education? The North American Association for Environmental Education asked me to write a guest blog about it: "The Case of the Missing Transcripts."

https://naaee.org/eepro/blog/case-missing-transcripts

-I created a masking resource after noticing teachers are in over their heads this school year since many other schools were closed until recently. Here you go!

https://www.teachoutside.org/masking-up

Here's a kid with a really fabulous mask that his mom made, along with its being a compulsory "it's the first day of school and the kids are already using knives" shot.

-The University of California has a robust Naturalist program along with a newer Climate Stewards program through their Agricultural and Natural Resources program. Whether or not you’d want to get involved with either, there are great resources available through their site:
http://calnat.ucanr.edu/

Please let me know if there's anything you'd like to see me discussing in this blog. I hope you're well and can make some time to care for yourself.

Take care,

Heather
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