Nature's Way

12/21/2025

Today we celebrate the return of the sun and the beginning of Winter.

The days will grow longer each day now and to represent this we decided to make oil and salt candles.

The children used some of the smaller pieces from the oranges we dried and cinnamon.

They had the excellent idea to wrap cinnamon sticks in a tea towel and to use a mallet to break them into pieces. The house smells truly divine!

For those who would like to join us in making them the recipe is:

- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup cooking oil
- Any extras you would like to add (other ideas are sage, rosemary, cranberries, pine needles and thyme. Can you think of more suggestions?)
- Cotton string or a toothpick covered in cotton

We decided to do 6 small jars instead of one large one. A wide mouth jar is best to make it easier to light.

- Pour in your salt and then your oil
- Mix
- Optional: add extras
- Tie your cotton string to an item that is long enough to not fall into the candle (we used pencil crayons)
- Use a tooth pick to push down your wick (cotton string) or alternatively add it before you pour anything in.
- Leave to cure.

30 minutes for minimum curing, mind you 24 hours or longer is better. It will still work if you only have 30 minutes! The only difference is that the wax won't have absorbed the scent of the extra items and it will burn faster.

Here's to rest, coziness, and togetherness.

Happy Winter Solstice. ❄️🕯️☀️

11/24/2025

TLDR: Not a school, more like an after-school (but during school) small program for children 3 and up to learn hands on skills, socialize and play while their parents can leave them in a safe and caring environment. Part time enrollment is welcomed!

Can you think of questions to add to this?

10/09/2025

Their garden made it through the first frost of the season!

We discussed what frost is, what it does to plants and how to protect them.

Now the older learners are discussing ways to build a cold frame in an attempt to lengthen the growing season.

I'm LOVING the organic learning happening here. ❤️

Do you have a fall garden planted? If so what are you growing and do you have any tips or funny stories to share?

09/09/2025

So excited for this!

We absolutely will be buying these for the program.

Being able to support such an amazing person, business owner and fellow homeschool parent is extra special. ❤️

🍂 ❄️ 🌷 🐝 Today feels extra special- I finally get to share with you the covers for all four seasons of my new curriculum!

Each season has its own unique look and feel, just like the world around us, and together they form a year-long path of discovery and wonder.

The Autumn Curriculum will be the very first to release this coming Tuesday 🍁, with Winter following in November. Spring and Summer will arrive in the new year- and I’ll be sharing another sneak peek later today!

This has been such a long time in the making, and seeing all four seasons covers together feels like a dream finally coming to life. Thank you for being here to celebrate this moment with me. ♥️ I appreciate all of you!

09/03/2025

We are exploring seeds this week.

Mixing, harvesting dried ones from the garden for next year's planting, how seeds travel and of deciding what some of our favourites are to eat.

Peanuts, peas and sunflowers are the ones chosen here. What is your favourite seed to eat?

09/03/2025

Did you know JK and SK are not mandatory and it's completely OK to change your mind and not send your child if you feel they aren't ready for a classroom with that many other children yet. (Or any other reason you might have)

Everyone has their own path and you can pick one that works best for you and your family. ❤️

Reach out today if you would like to chat more about my program here. I have 2 part time or full time spaces left. (I use a childcare ratio, which means it will be a small close community of children socializing, learning and going out into the Dresden area during field trips together.)

08/27/2025

More information about the Nature Enrichment program here. 😄

What stands out most to you?

08/18/2025

Today's harvest from the learning garden. 😍

The children have been part of every single step.

- Looking through the seed catalogues
- selecting what plants to grow
- building a garden box
- discussing and deciding where the best location would be.
- filling with dirt and compost
- measuring and placing guides for square foot gardening
- discussing companion plants and choosing where to put the plants
- planting
- watering
- monitoring for any changes (positive or negative)
- encouraging the plants to grow
- comforting and cheering each other on
- harvesting
- sharing with each other, our families and even the nearby community
- discussing the whole experience, what went well, what they would change

It has been another wonderful year of experiences and I'm lucky to have watched them grow and gain confidence in their own abilities. 🌿❤️

07/25/2025

I finally put up the sign in the front garden. Our sign from the National Wildlife Federation is in the back garden.

The children will be making some new puddlers to add to the gardens next week as the old ones deserve to retire after their years of hard work.

Have you made a puddler before? It's fun and low maintenance.

Happy learning!!

07/23/2025

I can't believe I forgot to post these!!

Not pictured is the children finding their sticks, myself cutting them (except for the eldest of the group who I forgot to take any pictures of during the process, whoops). All of the children helped to screw in the hooks, measure and cut their strings. They also threaded the strings through and tied the knots with minimal help.

I coated them with a sealant so that they can be hung outside.

Everyone was very proud of what they made (as they should be!) and I absolutely loved seeing how confidently all of them tackled each step. No hesitation at all!

And the best part is that they actually make noise!! A lovely tune of tap, tap, tap.

Bonus was the learning about how forsythia stems will become hollow when dried.

I highly recommend giving this a try and be sure to tag me so I can see your beautiful creations when you do!

07/23/2025

This is going to be awesome!

🌟 NatureCK's Youth Day is coming 🌟

Join us on August 10 from 10 am to 2 pm at C. M. Wilson Conservation Area for a free family event filled with fun, discovery, and nature.

🦋 Guided nature tours
💧 Safe water exploration
🎨 Nature crafts
🍎 Snacks and prizes
🌿 And yes, Mother Nature is expected to attend

Bring refillable water bottles to stay hydrated, and come ready for exploration. Tthis day is all about connecting with the natural world.

Presented by NatureCK in partnership with Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority and proudly supported by WATCH Citizen Science

Families are welcome to come and go.
Perfect for all ages—especially the young and the young at heart.

📍 21799 Fargo Road, Charing Cross
🗓️ August 10
💚 A joyful day of play, learning, and adventure awaits

07/13/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15fpk77vLv/

I too had an awkward teenage phase. 😂❤️

✨UPDATED GUIDE✨ Does that young songbird need your help? If the bird is a fledgling, the answer is: probably not.

A fledgling is a bird who’s just left the nest. They don’t fly much at first and might seem small or scruffy, but this is normal. If they can stand or hop and are covered in feathers, they’re likely fine. Their parents are usually nearby foraging for food to feed them.

A young bird only needs a rescue if they’re naked or partly naked (that’s a nestling), obviously injured or very lethargic. In those cases, please bring the bird to a wildlife rehabber right away. Never provide any food or water.

If a fledgling is in the street or in a high-foot-traffic area, it’s OK to move them to a nearby bush or somewhere safer but only a few feet away! The parents must still be able to find them or the bird won’t survive.

**Pigeons are the exception. Pigeons stay in the nest a long 4 weeks and look almost like adults when they fledge. Usually if a pigeon looks too young to be out of the nest (short wings, short tail, fuzzy head), they are.**

We hope this guide will help you identify the most common songbird fledglings seen in NYC and beyond during spring and summer. Contact us if you’re not sure! We love to puzzle over bird photos. 🦤

And please donate to your local wildlife rehabbers! https://wbf.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/wbf/donation.jsp