November 2023 Program Updates
Happy November everyone! It has been such a wonderful fall in the woods and fields that we wander here at Wolf Tree. We have encountered our first truly crisp - and even snowy - program days, calling forth our favorite winter activities. We've begun getting into more dedicated fire building and tending, cooking projects, and crafts that are conducive to cold weather and gathering around a fire. Read on to see what our youth and adult programs have been up to!
Flintknapping
In October, Neill led a flintknapping workshop with a wonderful group of adult participants. Over the course of the weekend, participants learned various techniques and history around creating stone tools with flint! The ability to create useable stone tools from found natural resources is an ancient one, and Neill loves sharing what he knows with both new and returning students.
Roots
Roots has been getting into all sorts of excellent adventures in the last month. On a recent program day, Roots visited the trees known as The Elders, a grouping of three venerable trees of different species growing side by side. From there, the group made "long match" tinder bundles to carry coals across the land to light a fire at the Village, ending in a successful fire! A big project in progress for Roots is creating a new site for our beloved Jedi Training game, at a site with fewer branches overhead so the ball will get stuck less often. To bring new logs for the game, the group learned methods for moving large logs together using rope and the strength of many arms!
Rootlets
Rootlets has been blessed with fair weather, up until last week on a very cold and rainy Thursday! But even with the challenging weather, it ended up being one of their most memorable days in the woods. They were warmed by a fire of witch hazel and cherry wood, and sang songs and wandered the woods looking for beautiful forest treasures. Earlier in the month, Rootlets had its Ancestor day, when everyone brought in items and stories and songs to remember all those who have come before. And although the persimmons did not have a big year, there were enough for all to enjoy at least one!
Wild Coyotes
Like most other youth programs at Wolf Tree, Wild Coyotes has been watching and adapting to the change from fall to winter. Days have been crisp, sunny, cool, rainy, and always lovely! They've lost track of how many times they simply stared in awe at the falling leaves cascading through the forest. A solid and protective lean-to for fire-making materials was built, and folks have spent time carving, working on burn-bowls, and even getting a coal and flame with a giant bowdrill! Their annual ancestor day was sweet and deep, with many children bringing family stories and artifacts to share. This last week, Elias spearheaded the making of soup in a pumpkin, boiling the water and ingredients with hot stones from the fire!
Rivers
For the second overnight, the Rivers group was met with another chilly and rainy weekend! An excellent opportunity to work on setting up camping tarps. To start the day, the group was challenged to light a fire by friction with half the group blindfolded! After a beautiful sunset, there was an epic night game of "Ill Fated Poets" which involves glow sticks, stealth, and sneaking! In the morning, the group practiced ridgelines for tarp shelters and honed their tracking and trailing skills. We are so impressed by the wonderful teens we get to work with at Wolf Tree!
Red Foxes
A few weeks ago, Red Foxes had its first overnight. It was an unseasonably warm day, which made for an easeful day of projects and play. The girls welcomed their families with songs to a bountiful evening potluck, followed by making cozy sleeping spaces for the night. After dark, there was a venture into the woods to practice using our senses at night without sight. The wander brought all to an open field where they sang endless songs to the full moon. And, in the morning, they carried out a Red Foxes tradition of making the biggest, most delicious breakfast imaginable! Last week, they had their Ancestor day, and the girls brought in stories and offerings to honor their lineages and loved ones.