Boat Building

Last week for Earth Day we did our annual boat building

at Brooklyn Creek.

We are so grateful to Grandpa Ben who made all these boats for us.

He even drilled a small hole and included doweling for a mast.

Awesome!

Other materials we used was sandpaper, tape, hammer, nails, screws, screwdrivers,

 markers, fabric for a sail and yarn.

The families got busy gathering their materials to build.

Some started with sanding their boat,

others decorated their sail,

and others started with hammering.

Once they had it decorated and the sail attached they had to do one more thing before launching.

They needed to tie a string to their boat and the other end to a stick.

Time to launch.

And launch again and again.

A few boats had issues staying upright so some modifications had to be made.

"Oh, oh my boat is sailing away!"

Grandma to the rescue.

After playing in the creek for over an hour we walked to the beach

for snack and story.

I read "One-Dog Canoe" by Mary Casanova.

It's a cumulative tale that includes lots of animals.

We then attempted to sail our boats at the beach but it was quite windy

and the waves kept pushing our boats back in.

This picture sums up our Earth Day.

We love the earth and love spending time outside.

Happy Earth Day 2016

We had an awesome day building boats at a local creek.

The families were so ready to explore and create.

We started with a book, which I like to do, called Captain Duck by Jez Alborough.

It got us thinking about boats and what kind we would make with the materials

I brought.

One of our grandfathers made us wonderful wooden boats,

including dowels for a mast.

I brought a variety of tools and materials and 

the families got busy putting their boats together.

Hammering, colouring, adding the mast and string to pull it

through the water.

Time to launch in the creek.

My favourite moment was when I finished making my own boat

and turned to see the children IN the creek.

It's not always easy for grown ups to allow their child to take risks

but today they did.

They didn't worry about the children getting dirty or wet.

They let them experience and explore.

Big smile to them all.

Our boat makers are ready to take their creations down to the ocean.

Wonderfully sea worthy.

Love our little piece of Earth.

StoryWalk–A Tree is Nice

Yesterday when we were at the pond I set up another StoryWalk using the book “A Tree is Nice” by Janice May Udry.
             
            
I picked this book especially for Earth Day to help us celebrate trees. "Trees are beautiful. They fill up the sky. If you have a tree, you can climb up its trunk, roll in its leaves, or hang a swing from one of its limbs. Cows and babies can nap in the shade of a tree. Birds can make nests in the branches. A tree is good to have around. A tree is nice."
            
Beside the pond there is a big, open, grassy area that was perfect to spread out the walk. It meandered across bumpy grass and around the trees, offering the opportunity to see different kinds of trees.
 
The families took their time at each picture.  Giving the children time to look at the illustrations and talk about them.  Then reading the text of the story out loud before heading off to the next page.
               
A Story Walk is a relaxing activity that combines the love of book and the outdoors.  I’m already looking for our next story.