We have relatives {and friends} with many expertise and a plethora of knowledge to share: Uncle is a history buff, Nana is musical and creative in many ways, Great-Grandma knows card games, and loves puzzles, Grandma Sharon is the "camp cook", sews, and knows how to make do at a cabin with no electricity or running water, and Papa is a hunter, trapper, fisherman, all around woodsman and nature enthusiast, as well as a master craftsman.
During winter months, outside sources can be invaluable when it comes to helping us learn even if what they are doing doesn't have the "traditional" look and feel of school teaching {works much better that way for us}.
Like I mentioned, Grandma and Papa do a lot of *teaching* throughout the year, and it mostly takes place at the lake. During winter, days that I would probably not send the kids out onto our snowy, city streets can sometimes better be spent away in the big woods learning how to chop wood...
Or, how to catch fish...
...and then watch them be filleted and cooked:
They can learn to play chess when it's too cold for outdoors...
Or hear a history lesson on what this old wheel came off of and when:
By doing or observing these things, the littles learn skills that many adults do not posses these days. If our kids had to make a fire, they would know how. If they had to bait a hook to catch a fish, they could {and do} do it. If you asked them about that wheel, they'd know it came from the early 20th century and the car it came off was abandoned when loggers left the area :)
We are blessed to have time spent away from mainstream, but even if your babes attend day school, you or a trusted adult can teach outdoor skills ~ there are fabulous books available about trapping, foraging, and so on ~ and your kids will never ever forget the time you took teaching them how to wittle wood or make a shelter out of branches.
During our winter weather slump, cabin learning is a priceless asset that I feel so grateful for: The littles count the days in between lake trips because they can't get enough of the unique experiences offered {best part is that they have no clue it even counts as education, but it does}.
Whenever someone shares their love of a subject with your children {as long as it's something you approve}, they are helping to expand the endless horizon of education and expanding their knowledge base. If you can begin backyard learning I highly recommend the good times, and acquisition of life/survival skills that come with it. Being able to go outside and learn during the long winter is refreshing for them; it gives our kids a boost in spirit, schooling, and all around wellness.
More ideas for learning outside in winter:
*Snow forts/Igloo building
*Winter Safety: Make a survival kit for your vehicle
*Foraging in Winter: Study what edible plants are available in your area and go find them {make sure you have a detailed, in-color reference}
*Ice fishing
*Trail blazing/marking your path for a safe return {and using a compass or natural signs for direction}
There is so much more and you can add to these in many different ways. Just remember to always be safe, and keep it fun.
Love,
Jenny
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