Free to Bee Wildschool

10/04/2022

We are searching for a new leader for Free to Bee!

We are searching for people to lead two different programs for kids. One is an outside nature based play and exploration group for ages 3-12 and the other is a sort of magical, feminist, empowering adventure/art group for ages 10-17. The same person can lead both groups or they can be different. We do not have the ability to pay at this time, but we do have 501(c)3 status so if the person hired is motivated, they may apply for grants under our organization. They may also choose to charge an affordable amount to the participants in the group.

No experience is necessary but the leaders must meet the following criteria: Enthusiastic, confident, reliable, q***r friendly, trans* supportive, anti-racist. Women, non-binary & trans folks, and POC are encouraged to apply! We would love to find a few people who are excited about building these programs to collaborate with. Please reach out if you are interested! We are located about 20 minutes outside of Athens near Burr Oak.

Message us here or email [email protected]

06/08/2022

BENEFITS OF PLAYING IN A CREEK

There are so many incredible benefits to taking kids creeking. Not only do they get plenty of fresh air and sunshine while creeking, but they get to wade through the cool water, catch minnows, tadpoles and crawdads, hunt for fossils, climb over/around obstacles, skip rocks, build dams, observe wildlife and connect with nature in a very personal way. When kids go creeking, they’re part of nature – they’re surrounded by it, immersed in it, touching it and exploring it in ways that they can’t by standing on the sidelines.

Creeking also helps kids in a multitude of other areas – walking through a creek helps with balancing and stability (rocky creeks are unstable terrain), encourages problem-solving (how to get from one side to the other), teaches about life stages of nature (from tadpole eggs to live bugs to dead fish) and prompts kids to ask questions about nature and the environment that they might not otherwise think of.

My 4 year-old asks some of the most amazing questions while we’re creeking, like: Is this a dinosaur tooth? Is this the same kind of water that’s in the river? Do fish eat rocks? Why is the water cold? What kind of fossil is this? Where do frogs go at night? Why does that tree bend like that? Is that a crocodile? Where can we find a snake? If so, can we take it home with us?

What do you love about creeks?

Feature 📸 credit:
Follow us and use the hashtag to be featured.

05/25/2022

Wow! So true. 💕

05/24/2022

Hi everyone!

Our meet up this week, Thursday May 26th, will be weather dependent. The forecast is calling for thunderstorms but they are expected to clear out by 11 (according to my weather app)

As long as it is safe and there is no lightening our meet up will be from 1-2:30.

🐝

I will bring sand+water toys along with a ink+stamp activity.

Bring a snack and change of clothes, we hope to see you there! 😊

05/18/2022

We've decided to change the way Free to Bee Wild school operates. We'll no longer be charging per session/class and instead just having some activities outlined and focus more on free+creek play.

🐝

There will be a class this •Thursday (May 19th)• from •1-2:30 pm.

There is shade where we will be playing in case the sun is intense.

I'll be bringing plenty of sand+water toys.

I also still have the bug activities if a nature walk sounds good to the kids!

🐝

05/10/2022

Hello everyone!

Sorry this is a little late but the internet at my house has been super spotty today.

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up that this Thursday's (May 12th) class will be at a different time, from 9-10:30 am. It's supposed to be pretty hot that day so I'm trying to avoid being in the intense heat.

We're going to be doing the bug lesson that we had to cancel two weeks ago because of the weather.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Bugs are abundant in the warmer months, so this week we will take advantage of that! Studying bugs is also great for kids because understanding them often helps calm fears.

🐝

We will be going on a nature walk to look for bugs that are using their natural camoflauge. I will provide paper and writing utensils so the kids can keep track of how many we see.

I will also bring paper+ink pads so that the kids can make thumb print bug art if they would like.

🐝

05/04/2022

Eden is still out of town so we won’t have “class” tomorrow, but the weather is going to be perfect for creek play so please come out and get muddy! We will also be painting new targets for Bigfoot Hollow Paintball Park if anyone wants to help with that! Thursday from 1-3pm.

04/27/2022

Eden is out of town, so there won’t be any instruction tomorrow, but everyone is still welcome to come out and play at the creek if the weather is nice.

04/21/2022

Hey everyone!
I wanted to get this out as early as possible, it's pretty cold and rainy at our location, so I will be cancelling class for today 🐝

04/20/2022

Hi everyone! Sorry this is a day late.

So far the weather for Thursday (4/21) is forecasted to be pretty cold and rainy. I had originally planned to do bug camoflauge, so not the greatest weather for that.

I'm going to keep an eye on it, if it's still forecasted to rain and looks bad the morning of class I'm going to post an update calling off class, if the weather is nice we will continue with the original plan.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

If the weather cooperates we will be learning about how bug camoflauge themselves in the wild to hide themselves from predators.

🐝

We will be going on a nature walk in search of bugs/ and or animals that might be hiding in plain sight. We will also play hide and seek to practice hiding our selves like the bugs/animals we observed.

*A change of clothes is suggested*

We will end class by inviting the kids to make camoflauge collages. This activity is optional for those that would like to participate.

04/14/2022

Thank you all for a wonderful class today ❤️

04/11/2022

Hi everyone!

This Thursday, April 14th•1-3pm, is the second class for the Free to Bee Wild school. So far the forecast is predicting a high of 64° with light rain.

*I will update if the weather changes*

This week we will be honing in on gross motor, balancing, and problem solving skills by creating big pieces and utilizing natural art mediums.

🐝

We will begin with introductions again and see if the kids would like to listen to a story together.

( It is perfectly ok if reading together gets skipped again, I understand wanting to play in the creek over listening to a story, and we can always save it for the end when we gather for snack.)

We will then move onto activities.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Clay Self Portraits

We will go on a short nature walk to gather supplies to create our nature self portraits. These supplies include but are not limited to: twigs, leaves, flowers, feathers etc..

**A ball of clay will be provided for the "face"

*This will be a messy project, a change of clothes is recommended.*

🐝

Land Art

In our second activity we will be practicing patience, hand eye coordination, and balance.

We will be creating vertical rock stacks with assorted rocks of different color, weight, and height.

*This activity will be done creekside, mud boots suggested.*

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

We will be ending the class with a snack together. Feel free to bring whatever food you like, lunch box or picnic style- and please let me know if there are any food allergies the group should be aware of.

🐝

The address shows up at Bigfoot Hollow in Glouster.

🐝

Please let me know if you plan to attend so the necessary items can be provided.