Bird Hills Nature Explorers
ages 6-12
Tuesdays 4-6 pm
Spring 2025 - April 1 - June 3
The class hikes through Bird Hills Nature Area from the Newport entrance to the Huron River while we relax, play and share in nature connected community. Children collaborate with nature mentors to plan their time together as we explore the river, forest, field and ponds and grow in our understanding of the ecology, geology and land history of Bird Hills Natural Area. We create art, play games, explore our sensory awareness, climb trees, build forts, hang out, learn wayfinding skills, carve, watch animals and learn about edible and medicinal plants and ask big questions..Where do beetles go on the winter? What is beautiful to us? Who has lived and worked on the land before us and will after us? What does public land mean? How many shades of green are there in the forest?
Class starts with a sharing circle and snacks and ends with gratitudes and wild foraged tea. Drop off at Bird Hills Nature Area Newport entrance pick up down by the river at the Barton Nature Area.
Class starts with a sharing circle and snacks and ends with gratitudes and wild foraged tea. Drop off at Bird Hills Nature Area Newport entrance pick up down by the river at the Barton Nature Area.
Details
This class is for children ages 6-12. Class meets in Bird Hills Nature Area at the Newport Ave entrance across the road from Wines Elementary and Forsythe Middle School on Tuesdays from 4-6 pm. In very challenging weather (thunderstorms), class may be shortened or canceled.
Cost $280 (check) per child. Payment and health/liability forms are required for enrollment (see payment and refund policies).
This class is for children ages 6-12. Class meets in Bird Hills Nature Area at the Newport Ave entrance across the road from Wines Elementary and Forsythe Middle School on Tuesdays from 4-6 pm. In very challenging weather (thunderstorms), class may be shortened or canceled.
Cost $280 (check) per child. Payment and health/liability forms are required for enrollment (see payment and refund policies).
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Instructor
Syndallas Baughman grew up on the water and in the forests of Michigan and Florida and earned a B.S. in Biology at University of Michigan and M.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine. Along the way she’s camped and studied plants and pollinators in the Siskiyous in S.W. Oregon, swamps, forests and fields of Michigan, Kauai, coastal and desert California, and the California Sierra Nevada. She taught at El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative, learning from wise and loving mentors to step back and follow and support kids’ ideas. At Wildcat Community Free School she followed kids through creeks and forests, set up experiments, supervised the use of power tools, knives and fire, facilitated democratic decision making and mediated a lot of arguments about Pokemon Card trades. She’s planted native gardens with preschoolers to high school students, and camped all over the U.S.A. with her two college age sons. She holds her secondary teaching certificate in biology and is currently in a service year with Americorps working in adult literacy with Washtenaw Literacy. The beautiful wild world is the place Syndallas wants to be! She loves sharing nature connection with people and other living things and you!
Syndallas Baughman grew up on the water and in the forests of Michigan and Florida and earned a B.S. in Biology at University of Michigan and M.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine. Along the way she’s camped and studied plants and pollinators in the Siskiyous in S.W. Oregon, swamps, forests and fields of Michigan, Kauai, coastal and desert California, and the California Sierra Nevada. She taught at El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative, learning from wise and loving mentors to step back and follow and support kids’ ideas. At Wildcat Community Free School she followed kids through creeks and forests, set up experiments, supervised the use of power tools, knives and fire, facilitated democratic decision making and mediated a lot of arguments about Pokemon Card trades. She’s planted native gardens with preschoolers to high school students, and camped all over the U.S.A. with her two college age sons. She holds her secondary teaching certificate in biology and is currently in a service year with Americorps working in adult literacy with Washtenaw Literacy. The beautiful wild world is the place Syndallas wants to be! She loves sharing nature connection with people and other living things and you!
Instructor
Sacha Dansky
Sacha is passionate about the natural world and education. While living in San Diego for the past 15 years, she designed elementary science curriculum for Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center. She was also a Naturalist/Field Guide for Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego Audobon Society and other environmental and conservation organizations. She spent many happy hours with children exploring ecological reserves in and around San Diego. Sacha enjoys traveling, camping and exploring with her husband and two young kids. Having recently returned to Michigan, she is excited to continue sharing her love of the outdoors.
Sacha Dansky
Sacha is passionate about the natural world and education. While living in San Diego for the past 15 years, she designed elementary science curriculum for Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center. She was also a Naturalist/Field Guide for Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego Audobon Society and other environmental and conservation organizations. She spent many happy hours with children exploring ecological reserves in and around San Diego. Sacha enjoys traveling, camping and exploring with her husband and two young kids. Having recently returned to Michigan, she is excited to continue sharing her love of the outdoors.