Today we went to Seward Park for a little nature hike. It was a lovely welcome especially since as we go off the bus the bus driver allowed the boys to pull the "next stop" bell several times each. We were the only ones on the # 39 at that point.
The Audubon Center was hosting craft activities inside to keep people warm and in preparation for the holidays. My boys loved the activity of making a reindeer out of a toilet paper roll. Just as we were finishing at that station the other kids from cooperative preschool and their parents arrived at the center. It looked like it might be a challenge to get everyone hiking. One of the kids was really wanting to go to the playground and not go on a hike and soon S. was ready to go play out on the playgroound too. However, we got everyone to go upstairs and hike out the back door of the center. I had brought a bag of finger puppets and had each child grab one out of a bag: holding a cozy robin, or bear, or wren seemed to help encourage the kids to think that there was a lot to see out in the woods and we started off.
The hike went well although we mostly saw signs of animals and not the animals themselves. When we got tired we did tree bark rubbings and this re-engaged drifters.
I think that creating a habit of hiking is probably what is best for wee ones. Then adults don't need to be so guiding, also kids develop confidence to investigate and scurry about.
We emerged from the woods to sprinkles and then sunshine- yet another reason to just get out of doors.
So it went well? Did you have a decent turnout? I'm impressed with you for doing this.
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