The Pond

Over labor Day weekend, we had intended to go up to Palomar Mountain. However,

Adventuring at the Ramona Grasslands Preserve

"Schoolhouses are made wrong. If they must be, they should be built in a woods pasture beside a stream, where you could wade, swim, and be comfortable in summer, and slide and skate in winter. The Windows, should be cut to the floor, and stand wide open, so the birds and butterflies could pass through. You ought to learn your geography by climbing a hill, walking through a valley, wading creeks, making islands in them, and promontories, capes, and peninsulas along the bank. You should do your arithmetic sitting under trees adding hickory-nuts, subtracting walnuts, multiplying butternuts, and dividing hazelnuts. You could use apples for fractions, and tin cups for liquid measure. You could spell everything in sight and this would teach you the words that are really used in the world." -Gene Stratton Porter

Explore

"Children do not need to be made to learn about the world, or shown how. They want to, and they know how." -John Holt

Closing Time

There is something magical about walking into the Zoo as everyone else is walking out. (not to mention up front parking spots galore!) 

We can usually only handle an hour or so of the zoo, so going in an hour before closing is ideal for us. The workers are so happy and upbeat because work is almost over, and the concession stands are closing up so there's no begging for cotton candy! There are very few people inside, so we can linger in front of any exhibit without feeling guilty. Many of the nocturnal animals are beginning to wake up and move around.

There is Another Way

Textbooks, laptops at the kitchen table, a strict schedule of compartmentalized math/literature/history/science, and an online checklist to answer to. Tests. Worksheets. Requirements and deadlines.