WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST

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  • Rushton Conservation Center

Nature Escapes for Kids: Create Your Own Headdress

April 9, 2020 By Blake Goll

Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer.  Photo by Blake Goll/Staff
A Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer during Discover Rushton Mini Camp. Photo by Blake Goll/Staff

One of my childhood memories that has not faded throughout the years is from “Outdoor School,” which was basically a week-long field trip to a local nature center.  Simply reporting to a nature preserve instead of school everyday with my classmates was enchanting on its own.  One of the lessons, however, really got my attention: role-playing the Native American way of life.  I remember the instructor telling us about how connected they were to the land and how even when they walked it was with respect to the earth.  Following her lead, I picked my way delicately among the leaves —rolling my foot from the heal through the outside edge and then finally the ball and toe. This was, she explained, how Native Americans could stealthily walk through the woods without making a sound during hunting trips.

Role playing is such a wonderful way for children to mentally escape and be transported to a different time and place.  Making nature headdresses is one such activity that fully engages a child’s creativity and focus while exercising fine motor skills and communication.  I got this activity from a marvelous little book called Play the Forest School Way by Peter Houghton and Jane Worroll.  The book is full of great ideas for outdoor play and is an essential resource for parents, especially during this time.

A Rushton Nature Keeper wearing his nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll

Start with introducing the concept of a headdress to your child.  For example, in England a king or queen wore a crown with jewels to represent nobility, or a Native American chief may have been awarded a feather in his headdresses for an act of courage.  Then explain to your child that they will be creating their own headdress and embellishing it with items found in nature; these items can be chosen to personally represent themselves and/or transform themselves into a mythical deity, woodland fairy, or other character of their imagination.

A Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll

All you will need prepared ahead of time is a long strip of sturdy plain white paper or posterboard.  It should be 3-4 inches wide and long enough to go around the child’s head.  You can help the child with fitting the strip to their head and cutting it to the right length; be sure to mark on the strip where the ends will overlap with tape so the child knows not to decorate that little section.  Put a piece of double-sided tape along the length of the strip, onto which the child will stick bits of grass, seeds, flowers, twigs, feathers, and whatever else they find.  (You will also need regular tape to put over top of the embellishments to secure them in place, and to tape the ends of the strip together once they are finished decorating—a stapler will also work.)

Decorating nature headdresses. Photo by Blake Goll
Making nature headdresses. Photo by Blake Goll

When you set the child loose to look for their embellishments (whether in your yard, a woodland, or nature preserve), I found it is easiest to have them gather their items and then bring them back to a work space rather than bring the paper strip with them during the foraging.  It is easier for them to focus on foraging first and designing and sticking things to their headdress second.  And boy do they design!  You will be amazed at the beautiful works of art that your child will create. 

Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll
Rushton Nature Keeper wearing his nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll
Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll

Be sure to have your child explain their creative decision process when they are finished.  What does each decoration symbolize?  Why did he/she choose that item?  What was the role of that decoration in the natural world?  Who have they become with the headdress on?  How does it make them feel?  Are there animals in nature that create works of art or use decorations? Can you think of animals with headdresses of sorts?

Last but not least, don’t forget to take a picture of your child wearing the headdress since unfortunately these do not last in their original form for very long.  They are, however, guaranteed to last a lifetime in your child’s memory.

Rushton Nature Keeper wearing her nature headdress last summer. Photo by Blake Goll

Rushton Nature Keepers

Blake manages our Rushton Nature Keepers (RNK) club for children ages 7-11. Through year-round programs covering four conservation themes (birds and wildlife, regenerative farming, healthy habitat, and watersheds), RNK provides children with unique opportunities to develop a meaningful life-long relationship with nature. Although things are subject to change regarding Covid-19, we plan to resume children’s activities on May 2nd.  Click here for the schedule of RNK programs and membership information.

Filed Under: Nature, Nature Education, Rushton Nature Keepers Tagged With: environmental education, kids and nature, nature activities, nature education, nature headdresses, nature play, rushton nature keepers

Not Just Smoke and Sparrows

October 5, 2018 By Blake Goll

Spider webs illuminated by the dew at Rushton. Photo by Blake Goll

Mornings at Rushton this week were humid with water dripping from every leaf and berry.  As the sun ignited the fog, the water rose like smoke from the spicebush hedgerows and the cedar roof of the banding shelter.  It reminded me of a jungle sunrise— the forest visibly exhaling and enormous marbled orb-weavers retreating from their ubiquitous webs.
A new tinkling call from the north woods entered the soundscape.  It was the unmistakable chip note of the White-throated Sparrow.  Sure enough, we caught our first White-throat of the fall season on Tuesday, which marks the transition from a catbird- heavy catch to one dominated by sparrows.  Many of these White-throats will continue south, but some may stay to overwinter at Rushton Farm.

First White-throated Sparrow of the season banded on Tuesday. Photo by Celeste Sheehan

Red-eyed Vireo banded on Tuesday. Photo by Blake Goll

Indigo Bunting (After Hatch Year male) banded at Rushton on Tuesday. Photo by Blake Goll

Wednesday was a bountiful day of 30 birds of 17 species, including more White-throats and the guest of honor, a bright male Connecticut Warbler!  Adult male Connecticuts are large, stunning warblers with easter egg-yellow bodies and elegant gray hoods.  Breeding in northern spruce and tamarack bogs, this is a relatively uncommon bird to see during migration and one that gets birders flocking.  According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this is a bird that is of conservation concern, meaning it is at risk of extinction without significant conservation action to reverse declines.

Connecticut Warbler banded Wednesday at Rushton. Photo by Blake Goll

Abington Friends second graders enjoyed their visit to the banding station on Wednesday.  However, the muddy woodland might have rivaled the excitement of the birds.  These children will always remember the simple thrill of their shoes getting stuck in the deep mud and creating forest art from found objects.  And when they see birds at school or home, we hope they will experience a deeper emotion thanks to their time at Rushton.

Abington Friends second graders with earthworm in Rushton Woods. Photo by Blake Goll

Abington Friends second grader creating nature art in Rushton Woods. Photo by Blake Goll

Abington Friends exploring bumble bees at Rushton Farm. Photo by Blake Goll

According to radar and nocturnal flight call analyses, Wednesday night saw some fairly heavy migration activity in our region.  Consequently, Thursday’s catch produced 35 birds: a good bunch of Swainson’s Thrushes, Wood Thrush, American Redstarts, Black-throated Blues, a Field Sparrow, and American Robins.  We also caught a few residents including a Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, and  White-breasted Nuthatch.  Our Connecticut Warbler from Wednesday decided to stay at Rushton another night to continue bulking up fat stores.  He’s trying to figure out which net he likes best.

Field Sparrow banded at Rushton on Thursday. Photo by Blake Goll

Last but not least, a teeny tiny Winter Wren delighted us all. Do yourself a big favor and listen to the video below from Garth McElroy.

Winter Wren banded at Rushton on Thursday. Photo by Blake Goll

There’s a lot going on in the woods,
Blake

Marbled orb-weaver spider at Rushton. Photo by Caitlin Welsh.

Filed Under: Bird Banding, Bird ecology Tagged With: Bird banding, Connecticut Warbler, kids and nature, migration, Winter Wren

OUR NATURE PRESERVES

Our nature preserves are open to the public 365 days per year from sunrise to sunset, providing natural places that offer peace and respite for all. Willistown Conservation Trust owns and manages three nature preserves in the Willistown area - Ashbridge, Kirkwood and Rushton Woods Preserve. We maintain these lands for the … Learn more about our nature preserves.

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The work of the Willistown Conservation Trust is concentrated on 28,000 acres of Willistown Township … read more

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