The Art of Winter Adaptation

posted in: Nature Immersion

As temperatures drop, winter survival strategies range from hibernation to specialized physical traits that enable animals to endure the cold. Several species of animals utilize different types of hibernation to survive the cold winter months. In the winter session of the Wild Discovery Semester Program, we’ll be focusing on learning about the different strategies animals use to survive Maine winters. True Hibernation Characterized by a significant drop in body temperature and metabolic rate, true hibernators have the ability to conserve … Read More

Spring Session Begins

posted in: Nature Immersion

We were excited to see old friends and meet new students at the beginning of this session. With Jason’s still-healing ankle, older participants enthusiastically helped small ones make their way up the impossible icy sledding hill, and once they found their way into a sled, gave them a push off in a good direction. By their smiles we could tell they were all really enjoying each other, one of the reasons we love creating space for mixed age play. We … Read More

Winter Camp Reflections

posted in: Nature Immersion

As I sit by the fire, Clover asks “How do you make oatmeal?” I offer my tea pot, and she puts it in the coals then gathers snowballs for water. As she nudges it closer to the embers the snow quickly begins to melt. When the chunks of ice started to melt, she grabbed a stick and starts stirring. “See! They melt better when I push them closer.” As the last ice chunks melt into smooth liquid water, Clover says “I … Read More