The kids always ask: “where are all the animals?” I know they are anxious to see all the creatures up close and in person that I am always talking about. But the truth is that while Rouge Park is full of amazing and beautiful creatures, our boisterousness scares them off into hiding. And this week was no exception as we learned about animal tracking on our “Feathers & Fur Day”. Our thanks to Volunteer Rachel for providing this week’s post.

This week we utilized Rouge Park to it’s full potential. The trails became a canvas for exploring animal tracks, the trees became a jungle gym for climbing, and the ice became a skating rink with unlimited possibilities for fun!

We began the morning by playing games on the field and slipping and sliding on a large natural ice rink. The Little Rougers were immediately drawn to this large area of ice. We played soccer and hockey using whatever material we could find in the surrounding vicinity as equipment. The K.I.W.I. kids had a blast!

There are a number of animals that live in Rouge Park. Although we don’t often see them we can tell they have been in the Park by the tracks they leave behind. This week we learned about different animal prints and set out to see them up close. We were reminded to think about why the animals were in Rouge Park, what they do here, where they come from and where they go. It is important to remember to respect the place that so many creatures call home!

The K.I.W.I. kids also transformed Rouge Park into their very own jungle gym this week. Fallen trees and logs became the perfect climbing materials. Everyone took turns climbing and helping each other reach the top. One tree was even turned into a fire pole that the Little Rougers could slide down. It’s amazing how strong trees can be – thank you trees for supporting us!

After exhausting all our climbing efforts, the Little Rougers shared their own nature experiences over hot chocolate and snacks. It is great to hear different nature stories as it provided us all with ideas for adventures we can go on with our families and friends in the future! See everyone next week!