So....all living things need food, water, space, and shelter to survive. Yes, all do. Well, I'd like to add one more to the list for us human folk....and that is creativity. I believe people have a strong need to create. As a matter of fact, I think I can look to Viktor Frankl to confirm this thought. Part of our purpose here is to create. It's what makes us unique and adds to our purpose.
Here's where making "Fairy Houses" had such an important role in nature camp this summer.
We learned the four basic needs. We even learned the kinesthic movements that went with committing this to memory.
Food-hands on belly
Water-hands to mouth
Space-arms outstretched upwards and diagonally
Shelter-arms bent,hands meeting over head
Then we took off from these facts and got a little creative! When daughter Sophie was young, her Aunt Kris got her a wonderful book called, Fairy Houses by Tracy Kane. Ahhh....she built her share of fairy houses at a young age and then moved on to cars, boys, makeup....you get the picture.
Now, I get to relive that magic through the eyes of 5 and 6 year olds at nature camp. Here's how:
1. Collect natural items. Do not pick or destroy any living thing for this collections.
2. Choose an appropriate spot for your shelter. The base of a tree is ideal!
3. Allow time and space for the creative process.
4. Go back and visit. See who has visited your shelter. (On one particular visit...a daddy long legs was out and about).
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| Sometimes a Fairy House is a Fairy House created individually. |
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| Sometimes a Fairy House is a Snake House built together. |
