It's WINTER at Springbrook…

Winter blankets Springbrook with a fresh, deep layer of snow. Follow me along this slippery, snow packed trail. Turn your feet sideways to keep from slipping backwards…oops! It turns into a free-for - all ~ kindergarteners bundled in brightly colored coats, snowpants and hats, eyes barely peeking out, sliding in every direction.

Look! Tracks! Bird tracks, squirrel tracks, deer tracks! We are far too noisy to see the owners ~ but now we have proof. The forest is still filled with life, even in this quiet season.

The pond is frozen. Where will the deer drink, one child worries. Let's find out. Come this way. Stop. Listen. Close your eyes and really listen ~ can you hear it? It's too slick to stay on our feet, so let's just sit down and slide the rest of the way. Whee! Feet first, head first, end over end, we follow the sound.

There it is, still open and winding and flowing…the stream. Why?

Why is the pond frozen, but the stream flows merrily on?

You tell me. You think of the reason that the pond and the stream are different and tell me. Yes, that is it exactly! Let's continue our hike, back uphill now. You smallest travelers don't weigh enough to break through the surface crust of snow, so follow in my footsteps if you need to. Hiking in the snow makes us warm and tired and ready for lunch!

As you sop the crust of your grilled cheese in the last bit of tomato soup, I am at the bird banding net, preparing to untangle a small flock of American Goldfinch, thinking that I would really prefer to catch one at a time, when…wham! In the split second that it takes me to think "What was that? Oh, my gosh! Should I grab it…" a Sharp-shinned hawk slams into the side of my jacket, bounces off the net and is gone. Hurry! I can't wait to tell you about my amazing encounter and to help you discover this tiny bird that just missed being hawk food. I want to see your eyes widen as I put it gently up to your ear so that you can hear and feel its heartbeat. Together we will collect information, band and release it back into the wild.

Later on, we'll go ice fishing on the frozen pond, pulling out bluegill after bluegill, holding them up for one proud moment (and photo) before dropping them back into the holes. Grab the sleds and head down to the hill beyond the fire ring ~ the snow is perfect!

…ahhh, wintertime!