BEARS (Polar Bears & Black Bears)
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Polar Bears Newsletter
Polar Bears’ First Adventure at Bunns Creek
Polar Bears’ First Adventure at Bunns Creek
The Polar Bears arrived at Bunns Creek ready for their first Forest School adventure! We began our day by building a shelter to provide shade and protection from the sun. Once our home base was ready, we gathered together for a smudge and shared what we were thankful for in the forest. This gave us a peaceful opportunity to connect with one another and appreciate the natural environment around us.
The Polar Bears arrived at Bunns Creek ready for their first Forest School adventure! We began our day by building a shelter to provide shade and protection from the sun. Once our home base was ready, we gathered together for a smudge and shared what we were thankful for in the forest. This gave us a peaceful opportunity to connect with one another and appreciate the natural environment around us.
We then headed out to explore and see what we could discover. Along the way, the children noticed many different types of berries, ranging in colour from bright orange and red to deep purple. They carefully collected some berries to bring back to our home base, where they used their imaginations to create colourful potions. The children experimented with combining the berries and other natural materials, creating their own imaginative recipes and stories.
We then headed out to explore and see what we could discover. Along the way, the children noticed many different types of berries, ranging in colour from bright orange and red to deep purple. They carefully collected some berries to bring back to our home base, where they used their imaginations to create colourful potions. The children experimented with combining the berries and other natural materials, creating their own imaginative recipes and stories.
During our adventure, we came across a bridge. As we crossed, we noticed several ducks in the creek below. The children observed that the water level was quite low, and the ducks had to make their way through the mud to continue along the creek. This sparked conversation about how animals adapt to changes in their environment and how water levels can affect the creatures that depend on the creek.
During our adventure, we came across a bridge. As we crossed, we noticed several ducks in the creek below. The children observed that the water level was quite low, and the ducks had to make their way through the mud to continue along the creek. This sparked conversation about how animals adapt to changes in their environment and how water levels can affect the creatures that depend on the creek.
After lunch, we headed down to another area of the creek where we discovered an assortment of rocks. The children were excited about using the rocks as a natural obstacle course, practicing their balance as they carefully moved from one rock to another. Before beginning, we completed a risk assessment together and discussed ways to keep ourselves safe. The children agreed that only one person would be on a rock at a time and that we would test each rock first to see if it was stable or wobbly.
After lunch, we headed down to another area of the creek where we discovered an assortment of rocks. The children were excited about using the rocks as a natural obstacle course, practicing their balance as they carefully moved from one rock to another. Before beginning, we completed a risk assessment together and discussed ways to keep ourselves safe. The children agreed that only one person would be on a rock at a time and that we would test each rock first to see if it was stable or wobbly.
As they explored, the children discovered different ways to move through the creek bed. Some found that crawling on their hands and feet helped them move more safely and confidently across the uneven terrain. This experience encouraged problem-solving, body awareness, balance, and collaboration as the children supported one another and shared ideas.
As they explored, the children discovered different ways to move through the creek bed. Some found that crawling on their hands and feet helped them move more safely and confidently across the uneven terrain. This experience encouraged problem-solving, body awareness, balance, and collaboration as the children supported one another and shared ideas.
While exploring, we were also lucky enough to spot another family of ducks with their babies watching us from a distance. On our walk back to home base, we looked up and spotted a falcon high in a tree!
While exploring, we were also lucky enough to spot another family of ducks with their babies watching us from a distance. On our walk back to home base, we looked up and spotted a falcon high in a tree!
What an exciting first day at Bunns Creek for the Polar Bears! From building our shelter and creating berry potions to balancing on rocks and observing wildlife, the children spent the day learning through curiosity, exploration, teamwork, and connection with nature.
What an exciting first day at Bunns Creek for the Polar Bears! From building our shelter and creating berry potions to balancing on rocks and observing wildlife, the children spent the day learning through curiosity, exploration, teamwork, and connection with nature.
August: A month of growing, exploring, connecting, and learning together!
August: A month of growing, exploring, connecting, and learning together!
How quickly time flies! Summer is almost over! August was a very busy month for the Polar Bears. It was a wonderful month filled with meaningful learning experiences, joyful exploration, and many opportunities to connect with one another and the world around them. Throughout the month, the children participated in community gardening, visited parks and splash pads, celebrated Folklorama, and took part in Forest School, which became a memorable highlight for our group.
How quickly time flies! Summer is almost over! August was a very busy month for the Polar Bears. It was a wonderful month filled with meaningful learning experiences, joyful exploration, and many opportunities to connect with one another and the world around them. Throughout the month, the children participated in community gardening, visited parks and splash pads, celebrated Folklorama, and took part in Forest School, which became a memorable highlight for our group.
While participating in community gardening, the children learned how plants grow and the importance of caring for living things. It was lovely to see their interest as they explored the soil, seeds, and plants with their hands. This experience fostered patience, responsibility, curiosity, and fine motor development as they dug, planted, watered, and observed the garden around them.
While participating in community gardening, the children learned how plants grow and the importance of caring for living things. It was lovely to see their interest as they explored the soil, seeds, and plants with their hands. This experience fostered patience, responsibility, curiosity, and fine motor development as they dug, planted, watered, and observed the garden around them.
Our visits to the parks and splash pads gave the children time to be active, playful, and confident in outdoor spaces. They ran, climbed, balanced, splashed, and moved their bodies in many ways. These experiences supported their gross motor skills, coordination, physical confidence, and healthy risk-taking, while also giving them time to laugh, play alongside friends, and enjoy the summer weather.
Our visits to the parks and splash pads gave the children time to be active, playful, and confident in outdoor spaces. They ran, climbed, balanced, splashed, and moved their bodies in many ways. These experiences supported their gross motor skills, coordination, physical confidence, and healthy risk-taking, while also giving them time to laugh, play alongside friends, and enjoy the summer weather.
As we move into September, we look forward to welcoming the new season with more opportunities to explore, play, and learn together. We will continue spending time outdoors, discovering our community, enjoying nature walks, and taking part in engaging group activities as we transition into fall.
Celebrating Folklorama was a special opportunity for the Polar Bears to experience different cultures through music, food, dance, clothing, and traditions. For school-aged children, it provided a meaningful way to expand their understanding of the diverse community around them. The experience encouraged curiosity, respect for diversity, appreciation, and connection, while helping the children see how learning about others can bring people together. Joining the preschool group during Folklorama was also a valuable experience for the Polar Bears. As school-aged children, they had the opportunity to build relationships with younger children, practise leadership, show care and patience, and strengthen their sense of community. These shared moments fostered communication, cooperation, responsibility, and belonging as the children learned to be positive role models within the group.
One of the most meaningful highlights of August was Forest School. In this natural outdoor setting, the children explored, observed, wondered, and learned through hands-on experiences connected to the land. It was especially heartwarming to see their beaming faces as they tried to get into the creek, discovering the water, rocks, and natural surroundings with curiosity, excitement, and confidence. The children also had the opportunity to listen to Grandmother Tree as she shared her knowledge of the land and its connection to people. This experience invited the children to slow down, listen, observe, and understand that the land offers many lessons. During tree climbing, they practised balance, coordination, problem-solving, and courage as they challenged themselves in a safe and supportive way. The visit to the medicine field offered another rich learning experience as the children discovered that plants could hold special meaning and importance. They were encouraged to reflect on how we care for the land and how the land cares for people. The children also completed their visits to the Seven Teachings, where they learned about love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility, and truth. These teachings supported their social-emotional development by fostering kindness, responsibility, reflection, and positive relationships with others.
August provided the Polar Bears with many opportunities to grow as active learners, thoughtful friends, curious explorers, and confident children. Through gardening, outdoor play, cultural experiences, preschool routines, and Forest School, the children strengthened their physical and social-emotional skills, language, independence, creativity, and sense of belonging.
We are very proud of the Polar Bears for their curiosity, enthusiasm, kindness, and confidence throughout the month. Thank you to our families for your continued support and partnership. As we look ahead to September, we are excited to welcome new routines, learning opportunities, and more meaningful experiences that will help the children continue to grow, connect, and explore together.
Black Bears Newsletter
We have been working hard on helping prepare snacks! Carefully cutting the ends off the carrots and then peeled them, practicing fine motor skills and learning about kitchen safety. We take turns grating the carrots to prepare them for our carrot slaw. Measuring carefully out the ingredients, working together to mix them, and making the dressing. This hands-on experience gave the children an opportunity to practice measuring, following steps, teamwork, and building confidence in the kitchen.
We have been working hard on helping prepare snacks! Carefully cutting the ends off the carrots and then peeled them, practicing fine motor skills and learning about kitchen safety. We take turns grating the carrots to prepare them for our carrot slaw. Measuring carefully out the ingredients, working together to mix them, and making the dressing. This hands-on experience gave the children an opportunity to practice measuring, following steps, teamwork, and building confidence in the kitchen.
We went to check on our garden to see if anything was ready to harvest, and to our delight, we discovered an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs! The children were excited to find cucumbers, some huge zucchinis, and even one itty-bitty cherry tomato hiding among the plants. We also harvested fresh basil, thyme, and rosemary.
We went to check on our garden to see if anything was ready to harvest, and to our delight, we discovered an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs! The children were excited to find cucumbers, some huge zucchinis, and even one itty-bitty cherry tomato hiding among the plants. We also harvested fresh basil, thyme, and rosemary.
The children enjoyed exploring the garden, noticing how much everything had grown, and helping with the harvest. We talked about where our food comes from and the care and patience it takes to grow our own vegetables and herbs.
The children enjoyed exploring the garden, noticing how much everything had grown, and helping with the harvest. We talked about where our food comes from and the care and patience it takes to grow our own vegetables and herbs.
We are very excited to put our harvest to use and try making 24-hour refrigerated pickles with our fresh cucumbers. We can’t wait to taste the fruits and vegetablesn of our garden adventure!
We are very excited to put our harvest to use and try making 24-hour refrigerated pickles with our fresh cucumbers. We can’t wait to taste the fruits and vegetablesn of our garden adventure!
Educators in the environment
Aileen
Aileen
Gagan
Gagan
Gurbrinder
Gurbrinder
Taylor
Taylor
Viktoriia
Viktoriia
Support Educators
Caitlin
Caitlin
Madden
Madden
Miq
Miq
Rodge
Rodge
Troy
Troy
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