[tags, forest, school, open, play, woods]As I sit to write this post, my kids are currently outside running around playing in the yard with whatever leftover snow is left, and all the mud that is now left in the wake of the quick snow thaw we experienced earlier in the week. Today, we are experiencing above normal temperatures, and a sunny day giving us hope that Spring is just around the corner!
This was not the case earlier this week on Wednesday as we prepared for our weekly Forest School meet up. The day was a cloudy, damp 30 degrees. The kids dreading to put on "all these layers AGAIN!". But, as often is the case when it isn't a lovely, warm sunny day, we found it was still worth the effort to get outside.
The kids and I ended up taking a walk in the woods. The grumpies were erased as soon as we noticed new green plants beginning to peek through the layers of dead leaves that still carpet the forest. The excitement on their faces as they realize that plants are waking up again to cover the forest in green again was such a joy to behold. And I must admit, I felt a sense of hope myself for warmer days coming again soon!
So, if you find yourself in the woods again soon, pick up a nice stick and rustle up the damp leaves and see what you find trying to poke through again. Or, better yet, just get your hands dirty with the young ones, and notice the temperature difference in the soil as well. Enjoy this mild weather the next few days, because seasonable weather will return in a few days with the need for hats and gloves a bit longer. But, the woods are showing us, these days are numbered.
Below are pictures of our finds this week: