Owls, February 15th

The Owls were surprised with a choose your own adventure field trip to Princess Island. The trick was that they had to agree as a group for every choice. Our first decision was unanimous, which was to knock on Hazels door to pick her up on our way. Unfortunately she was sick. We all hope you're better soon Hazel!

Heading towards Princess Island we agreed to explore the melted, iced over snow castle that had been made in a corner of the curling club parking lot. After a good amount of exploration, wrestling and sliding in the castle it was time to make another decision. This is where it got tricky. Some wanted to stay. Some wanted to go. Some wanted to toboggan. Space was held for those who opposed an idea to be heard and eventually a decision was made by incorporating everyone's ideas. We headed onwards to throw chunks of ice off the pedestrian bridge into the river. In our debrief later Tucky said he felt the most connected to the group at this point because he needed help with carrying his massive chunk of ice. Disappointingly the ice chunks did not break the ice on the river and it was an easy decision to head to the beach to find ice to chip with chisels and hammers.

Along the way we found some wonderful ice to bash from the little foot bridge in the wetlands. The Owls came together in team camaraderie as they cleared the ice alongside the foot bridge. This evolved into free exploration time. Some stayed close to the bridge and checked out the edges of the pond. Taking notes on ice safety, some took turns slithering on the ice to explore the pond more. Those who went out had to scan the ice and look for differences in colour and volume and then agree with the teachers a safe spot to go out to. Some crossed the pond where the ice was super thick to a little island and took keen interest in the geese.

Another decision had to be made. Do we head to the beach or check out the geese. The Owls chose the latter and we went to the geese where we witnessed/initiated a great migration. It was thrilling and beautiful. Reigning in our desire to further agitate the geese we settled to observe them for a while. Ask your Owl about some of the things they observed, what they saw..was there a deformed goose(?)....what they smelt....how the geese sounded...did they feel they could communicate with the geese?

Gathering once again the Owls had another tough decision. To go to the park. To go straight to the cabin (it was close to lunch). To pick rosehips. The compromise was the pick rosehips for tea- after reading the Honorible Harvest, spending 5 min at the park and heading to the cabin.

At the cabin we worked on our felting project for the art show. The pieces are starting to look really good!

For the afternoon we challenged the Owls with another rope climb, which was a fair bit easier this time but still took team effort and motivation from one another. Once at the top we played some games. Half of the Owls were really into the games, but the other half was more into exploring the new area. There had been a lot of decision making already and so the Owls drifted into unstructured time.....again free exploration time until they all gathered on their own will for rosehip tea, which Calvin had prepared. Over tea the Owls played Kings court and then Mrs. Lea lead them in a debrief game to go over the day.

Our last decision was how we would return to the pick up spot. This took a little bit of discussion but the Owls opted to go back along the rope climb and head back through the trees for the most forested and muddiest route back.