Ending and Beginning

A transition is a process or period in which something undergoes a change and passes from one state,

The weather during camp week was terrific.

stage, form, or activity to another.  

Transition Camp is a wonderful time between the structured daily routines of the school year and the open, unstructured days of summer. By design, the days of transition camp begin with favorite choice activities;  building, drawing, dramatic play, stories, games and one central table where a morning snack of toast, or pancakes or waffles is served.  By serving breakfast camp acknowledges that children may be staying up later as the Northwest’s longer hours of daylight keep us all outside until well past our winter dinner times.  It is good to respond to the natural rhythms of the seasons, and this week of transition encourages us to take notice.

Breakfast gets a morning at camp off to a good start.

Mid-way through the first morning of camp we gather together to plan the week. Everyone is encouraged to offer ideas and build on another child’s suggestions.  We fill several sheets of easel paper with possibilities,  and the children practice an important skill to see them through the summer; “How do I want to spend my time and what will it take to make it possible?”  There is a nice balance of indoor and outside activities, things to do alone and in community, physical activity and creative and cerebral pursuits. After a song or two and a good story book, our meeting ends and everyone sets off with purpose to enjoy the day together.

The adults in the room begin to observe new friendships forming between ages and genders as well as increased risks taken as new activities are tried in the safety of our small community.   The multi-age family grouping of camp encourages older students to revisit favorite play activities and spend extended, uninterrupted time building elaborate play mobile set-ups.  During mornings at camp younger students stretch themselves, as they learn to play more complex games brought in from the North Room.  Everyone is encouraged to go a little deeper as the longer days of summer allow for a slower pace.

At the garden.

At Triangle Park.

Afternoons we venture outside to visit our favorite parks and outdoor spaces.  The building of fairy houses is the focus of our time outside and everyone looks a little closer at the shape of a tree trunk or the pattern found in a leaf or petal.  Ideas are shared, sticks are gathered and all the experience of building with Lego or blocks is called upon as structures are built with the materials found at hand.  Before the afternoon ends we come together and visit each house, listen to the builders share the thinking behind the choices that were made, and plans for tomorrow’s houses start to form.

On the boulevard.

At Mt. Baker Park.

Each morning throughout the week we look at the long list created on the first morning.  We select several ideas to incorporate into each day and take note of the things we have done.  By the end of the week we have done many different things together and we still have some great ideas that just didn't get done during this first week of summer.  There lies the great luxury of summer; we have more time, the season is just beginning.  I hope when you hear the tinkling of the wind chimes you remember to go outside and read a book or just look around, up close at what is growing, or find the perfect spot to build a fairy house.

 

Best wishes for a warm and wonderful summer.

Eileen

We still have several openings in our Viking Camp next week, come learn about Norse Mythology, the stories of Mermaids, and the art of these Nordic Sailors, many of whom settled in the Pacific Northwest.

We Welcome Spring in the Garden

One of the many things I love about the Lake and Park School is the tradition of working together in small mixed-age groups.  Sometimes these groups involve the whole school working on a study as we did this past fall learning about salmon.  At other times a small group may work on a special skill or project, riding bikes, jumping rope or learning to play chess.  A multi-age group provides many rewards including the opportunity to get to know one another in a different setting, make new friends, and learn or try new things in an unself-conscious way. 

This month I was able to work with just such a group as we began the spring clean-up and early planting at our school P-patch in Coleman Park.  As the spring continues different groups will continue the work in the garden and in the summer opportunities for families to keep the garden going will be available.  In addition the P-patch is also a lovely outdoor classroom space that each of the classes will travel to for special lessons and activities, or maybe just a nice place to find a quiet spot to read a book.  Please read on to learn more about what has been happening in the garden this spring.

                                                                                                                                Eileen

                         

Planting flower seeds in the hopes of attracting butterflies.

I was in the garden group.  It was really fun.  I liked planting flower seeds.  We planted flowers to attract butterflies.  I already saw two butterflies.  Our neighbor at the p-patch is Harriet.  I like her garden too.  It is pretty.

We had to get the soil ready before we could plant.  We had to spread compost.  It was fun.

Every day we went to the garden in March was sunny.

By Olivia

Adding chips to the paths in the garden.

We came to the garden in March to get it ready for planting.  The first day we weeded the paths and put wood chips down.  We picked up all the tree branches that had fallen during the winter.  Then we weeded the beds.  We started seeing worms and centipedes.  The worms are good for the soil.  We also planted some chives.

Every time we come to the garden we see more insects.  I don’t even know what they are.  I hope to learn what they are.  I really like to plant peas.  It was fun to plant peas.

By Thomas

I like sage.  I like it because it is colorful.  I planted the sage in the herb garden.  I helped bring the wood chips.  We got the beds ready.  Then we planted the vegetables.

By Tate

Stepping stones added to the square garden bed .

Hi, my name is Sadie.  I planted broccoli-kale and if you are wondering I planted about 3 or 4 plants.  I also planted most of the beets in the middle of the newly planted garden.  We put in stepping stones there too.  And we saw two butterflies and Tate found tiny eggs.

By Sadie

Hi, my name is Kaitlin.  I really enjoy coming back to the garden!  We were the first people back to the garden.  No one was here all winter!  Planting was so much fun.  I brought down wood chips in a big wheelbarrow.  I hope to see you at the garden.

The wood chips are hard work.  The wheelbarrows are really heavy when they are full.  The path is on a hill. It takes teamwork to carry the chips.  You get them down the hill, through the tiny path and down another hill.  Then you have to stop the wheelbarrow and then dump.

By Autumn

Why I enjoyed planting the chives was because they are edible grass.  I like planting plants because I want to have my own garden to make my parents happy.  I also like gardening in my duck gloves.  I am excited because the potato I planted last week has green leaves.  I am becoming better friends with Olivia, and now she is becoming an “old” friend.  I loved picking chives for Olivia.

By Jordi

In front of the pea trellis.

How We Built the Bamboo Trellis

By Chloe

I was working in the garden and someone named Jim was working.  So I asked him if I could help him make the pea trellis.  We started to make the pea trellis.  We used bamboo and string.  I never did anything like it before.

Surveying the progress.

This spring we planted peas, chives, radishes, potatoes, rosemary, strawberries, sage, mint, rhubarb, cabbage, kale and more.  I love the garden.  I helped with the wood chips, turning dirt, planting, and I learned the code to the shed.

By Franklin