TUTORED BY NATURE STAFF - EXCURSIONS SPRING, 2015 - MANDALA ?

(left-right) Munir, Oxana, Gary, Aatiqa

Such a committed staff! Meet the mentors and leaders of Tutored by Nature. Where's Catherine? Tasnim is in Australia. Tutored by Nature Inc developed and led local outdoor excursions for Fallingbrook M.S. (gr. 7's, Spr- 2015) and Rick Hansen S.S. (gr.9's, Fall-2014). Focus activity? Blindfold saunters, logging experience (pencil/water-colour sketch and photography), Mandala, Talk Circle and Eco-stewardship locally on the Creditview  Wetland and Carolyn Creek riparian.

Sauntering Carolyn Creek - impacting Aesthetic Sensibilities

Sauntering Carolyn Creek - paying attention with all senses. The Fallingbrook gr. 7 students could sense both the beauty and ugly of their community's subwatershed.

Their logbooks and circle talk communicated a great concern and awareness of local human impact on the ecology here - their home and habitat.

Connections with the Cardinals, Brown Cowbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, various butterflies, snakes, mammals and that family of Mallards impacted the participants sense of awe, wonder and aesthetic sensibility.

The water course itself was devoid of fish, crayfish, benthics, etc. Wonder if it has anything to do with the concrete slabs? Just how unhealthy - how polluted is this water-course?

Creating an image of Mandala while sauntering the Wetland

Fallingbrook student creates a visual image - a water-colour sketch to communicate their chosen Mandala in Nature.

What is Mandala? The word Mandala is ancient Sanskrit for 'circle'. Another translation for Mandala is simply 'Community'.

It has been practiced for thousands of years by cultures such as the aboriginal people of North America (e.g., Anishenaabek people), Hinduism, Buddhists - the Tibetan Monks.

Mandala is always based on Circle and is understood as 'revelation of the cosmos'. It's not 'art as object' - rather, art as process. Medicine Wheel and dream catchers are also forms of Native American Mandala.



Mandala is highly valued as 'sacred practice' - symbolic representation of the universe. This is not told to the participants.Tutored by Nature staff and teachers who participate try to follow Rachel Carson's advice - to see Nature through the 'child's eyes' and leave teaching back in the classroom. Mandala is an experietial that helps the participant to focus on local Nature relationship, be awed, have fun and usually facilitates sensing Her unity. We shared Mandala experience in 'Talk Circle'.

Creating the water-colour or photo is representative of the eco-connection process as is the Buddhist and Aboriginal coloured sand drawings. Mandala is understood by Tibetan monks as a revelation of the cosmos and is highly valued as sacred practice -a symbolic representation of the universe 

This participant's Mandala experience was in the North Cultural Meadow - one of the nine ecosites that make up the Creditview Wetland - a cultural swamp ecosystem. What is the relationship between sauntering local 'urban wilderness'  and 'Eco-Aesthetic knowledge'?

Stewarding the North Cultural Meadow

Paying Attention (Sketch, Paint, Shoot)

* How can a child - an adolescent access Nature's tutorials?

* What does it mean to Saunter Nature?

* Where does Nature actually hold her Tutorials?


* How does viewing the Ecosystem as a communication - information system benefit our ecological understanding of Her?

* What is the role of a teacher-a parent when taking children into Nature?

* How do we expect our children to accept and know their relationship with Nature ecologically, if they learn about Her indoors? Sauntering Nature requires paying attention to Her with all of the senses.






 

Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Ontario Atlas Program

Do you know him? Hint! He calls his mate with notes that sound like they're played on a broken banjo string. Tutored by Nature Inc staff witnessed awe and wonder in ours and our participants' eyes both at the Creditview Wetland BogFest 6 while we were bird counting and during Fletcher's Creek M.S. gr. 6 eco-excursions.

This other 'critter' lives in and around Fletcher's Creek holding pond near Ray Lawson. We've seen others at the Wetland. Any guesses? Many of the Green Frog(gies), Western Chorus Frogs, Bull Frogs, SnappingTurtles and Painted Turtles dared us to notice, observe and capture them with our pencils, brushes, and cameras.So, if you live within either of these communities, you would probably want to check out the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Program and get involved.

Such lifeforms' habitats have shrunk - are shrinking within both of these ecosystems.We're responsible for that!  Fletcher's Creek and The Creditview Wetland are both on the Credit River Watershed. It's time to support the biodiversity that supports our community - our homes. Follow the website for the Creditview Wetland Stewaredship www.creditviewwetland.org Developing community natural corridors might be a good idea to pursue in the near future - to remediate habitat shrinkage. Follow our community's successes. For more information on the reptiles/amphibians...

http://www.ontarionature.org/protect/species/herpetofaunal_atlas.php

Gr.6's Saunter Fletcher's Creek Riparian

Fletchers Creek Sr.P.S. and Tutored by Nature

Grade 6 Sauntering Tales of Fletcher's Creek Riparian: June, 2014 

These amazing gr.6'ers ( 8 classes - 4 excursions each) and their teachers have connected to Fletcher's Creek subwatershed Eco-Aesthetically - paying close attention to Nature while we sauntered the riparian. Tutored by Nature Inc recognizes school administration for their dedication, initiative and hard work to make this happen. Thanks to the support that Brampton Parks (Jessica and Dirk) provided wrt site visits and permissions needed for the children's eco-glimpses of Fletcher's. Witness some of their log and circle talk expressive language.

S.J. Humans are afraid of nature and uncomfortable and afraid and they don't see nature like we do...we should tell people (what) we know about and actually have them come out (to experience)...

A.R. More and more people are coming into the area and then more buildings have to come in and then more problems...                               

Ch. I think people are just afraid. When people see bugs (and plants such as Giant Hogweed or Poison Ivy) they get afraid because they don't know if they are poisonous. What we can do is bring them out and our family and friends and show them...

 

STEPHEN LEWIS S.S. / GLS / TUTORED BY NATURE/ PARK 403 WOODLAND

Setting up circle after 'blindfold saunter'. "Fun!" "Amazing!" "Beautiful!" "Exciting!" "Mysterious!" "Mosquitoes!" "Special!" etc. Words chosen by Stephen Lewis S.S. gr.9'ers (GLS) when logging one word answers to share in circle. And we're just getting started. Three more excursions to go for each of the 14 classes, then 'Debriefing' to consider further school & community eco-stewardships. Prompts responded to? "This place that you just experienced today is _______?" and "Your experience of Park 403 woodlands today was _______?"

Based on their amazing pencil sketches, Mandalas, photos and expressive language to date, realization is that such experience is connecting the students' to an ecological sense of community.

GR. 9 'GLS'/'GLE' CONNECTIONS TO PART 403 WOODLAND

 

Park 403 Woodland is a natural community. It is made up of a myriad of ecological relationships (e.g., photo of Jack-in-the- Pulpit's habitat) - a communication system that is being impacted by local human community development. Students of Stephen Lewis S.S.'s grade 9 GLS/GLE programmes are attempting to recognize and understand the 'ecological issues' by developing their sense of ecological aesthetics. Hopefully solutions will be realized that could slow down local mono-cultural development. Is this even possible? The teachers and students believe that connecting through experience will provide them with an important sense of ecological community. Stay tuned. 

FALLINGBROOK STUDENTS RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR THEIR WETLAND ART CONNECTIONS

Congrats 'R' on receiving such an amazing prize  - that community donated 'camera'. All of the Wetland committee members loved your water-colour and photos. Your theme 'Home of the Geese' - your connection to the Canada Goose family on the east buffer was special. Your comments "This is my first water-colour. (One of my subjects) I kept taking pictures...like 50 pics...In a few of (them) I saw the baby goose. I had no idea that I took a picture of the baby..." (R.L.) lends insight into your experience.

K.T. received a $40.00 gift certificate from Henry's Photo - donated by Tutored by Nature on behalf of the Creditview Wetland Committee. K.T.'s theme is "Family". It makes so much sense as do your words... "I really enjoyed going to the 'Bog'. I learned a lot of a new things...I mean, a lot. The Bog is very special to our community... (it) is very beautiful.. my class got to keep a log book...and we would sketch ...sometimes water-colour... we mulched trees and (I) made a water-colour of my Mandala (left). (The community doesn't) understand the importance (of this place)."

 

"... my entries for the contest...included 2 photographs and 1 water-colour painting. The title of my first picture is 'the Pollinator'. It has a bee in one of the flowers... My water-colour (left) painting is ... of 'my mandala'. "(A.I.) Thank you so much K.T. for sharing your connections to the Wetland from your excursions. The water-colour is amazing and your theme 'Exploration of Nature' is sooo appropriate. You certainly deserve the recognition for your work - enjoy the $40.00 gift certificate.

C.Y. was awarded a neat water-colour kit to encourage her to continue her creativity and aesthetic connections with Nature. 'C's' theme is "People of the Mire". "...because of what I learned about how plants...were sort of an intelligent being because of how they communicate...the mire part...that means bog/wetland too and it seemed regal (kind of like the actual place)...the sketch 'The Lady Butterfly-Leafed Tree' ...seemed like a feminine version of another tree... (it) had groups of leaves that were shaped like delicate butterfly wings ...grouped in 2's sometimes." (C.Y.)

S.R. was also awarded a water-colour kit. Her excursions were filled with wonder, awe and energy. She helped to organize the environment club, share input at the CWS committee meetings (planning of BogFest) and lead activities for young people at BogFest. WOW! Your theme for your art and photography entries 'Life in a Wetland' is so appropriate. The water-colour (left) - interestingly simple yet complex. Love the title 'Smudged World, small world' - imagery of her Mandala. Check out 'S.C.'s' photos in the slide show.

R.A-F. themed her 2 photos and water-colour sketches 'Snakessssss'. Wonder why? Her comments?  "I took these (my photos) at the bog at one of the class excursions... my little brother and I painted the water-colour at the (BogFest)...After further research, I found out that these snakes are actually 'Garter Snakes' and are quite common in North America. But they will always be special to me because this is the first time I saw a snake so close." Congrats 'R' - your Garter Snake's kin is the Rattle Snake.

Love yours and your brother's water-colour 'Abstract'! Have you used your new water-colour kit yet?

FALLINGBROOK'S WETLAND STEWARDSHIP CONTINUES

 That's right. Fallingbrook grade 7A and 7C were at it again. These amazing students followed Mr. Zirnis (their wise teacher) out to the Creditview Wetland to meet Tutored by Nature and - away we went. Students were out a total of 6 - 1 hour excursions - April through to beginning of June. We sauntered (payed close attention while in Nature) the east buffer, the north cultural meadow and north swamp ecosites. Their pencil and water-colour sketches, and photography reflects meaningful personal knowledge gained of the Creditview Wetland. If you're a parent, make sure you read their informative naturalist's log books. (e.g., S.C's amazing sense of the Wetland's beauty (left) - her mandala at the marsh eco-site). 

With the support and direction of the City of Mississauga Parks and Forestry (thanks John), the students ably mulched many of the trees already planted in the north meadow - to dissuade the bindweed from choking them out. Each student also set up and existed in his/her solo site - a Mandala - an ecosystem within the Wetland. They sensed and connected with some of the multiple relationships using all of their senses and then captured life and non-life here with their camera and water-colours. 

 

Many of these young'uns from Fallingbrook were leaders at this year's BogFest and helped to make it such a success. Thanks for getting your parents out - you guys and gals are very special! Check out their connections made in the slide show - soon to be created (right). 

STEPHEN LEWIS S.S. - ECOLOGICALLY, WELL SEASONED

Thanks to the cooperation, support, and guidance of Mississauga Parks and Foresty (esp. JC-G & JM), six classes of Stephen Lewis S.S. gr.9 sci/tech teachers and students continued their eco-stewardship of Park 403 Woodlands this past spring. Their first excursion with Tutored by Nature Inc started up March 25, just after the vernal equinox - the last excursion May 29, 2013 -  classroom debriefing mid June.

 

 Outside the woodland is self-explanatory. Unrelenting development once again compounds local watershed fragmentation and creates a myriad of local ecological issues. Photo on the left -worth a thousand words? Inside the woodland, the students sauntered, sketched, water-coloured, photographed, set up personal mandalas and logged connections to this local urban wilderness. Their experience - their aesthetic knowledge is shared within the language, water-colours and photos. A sense of change in the season captured their imaginations  - impact of the local community on this part of the watershed raised their compassion and concern.

 

Debriefing? Our progeny's solutions? Decrease soil compaction within the woodland, lessen the community air, water, soil and noise pollution and the littering; i.e., somehow remediate the problems caused by watershed fragmentation - local human behaviour. Actions recommended? Clean-up the litter, alert the local community to the beauty and importance of the biotic/abiotic relationships within the vernal pools and woodland, and totally support the City's decision to fence Park 403 before it disappears. Is there a sense of immediacy? Stay tuned next fall.

 

 

CONGRATS STEPHEN LEWIS GR 9'ERS

Steven Lewis S.S. gr. 9 prized 'saunterers' of Park 403 Woodland entered a contest to publish their 'sense of aesthetics' - display their connection to this amazing Urban Wilderness within their community. Each of the following received $50.00 gift certificates for DeSerres Art Store and Henry's  Photography - complements of Tutored by Nature Inc and Stephen Lewis S.S. administration.  

 

"Blossoming Spring 2 the MAX"... "The shape and colour of the flower intrigued me...a Hawthorne Tree was blossoming ...and it looked very beautiful. I thought about all the trees that must have been where the construction was happening and about how (it) took away a lot of the natural beauty. I focused on this particular branch ...it showed the raindrops well and the different colours of the flowers. (H.S.)

"Green Spring" "It's amazing to see the changes in the leaves in the (woodland). First it was filled with snow and now, everything is turned into a beautiful shade of green." (S.L.)

"Down Below" (J.C.)..."Usually when I see fungus, it reminds me of something ugly but now looking back on this photo, there's just something about it that seems beautiful. It just depends on how you look at it."

"Wilting Trillium" (S.L.)... "I water-coloured this Trillium because I liked how its colours (were) a nice change of pace from all the green in the (Woodland). I also thought that the shape of the leaves were interesting because while the flowers were wilting, the leaves were still bright and green."

 

 

 





The Who - What - Where When - Why ?

 

 BogFest 5... May 25th, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm - a community celebration of Mississauga's jewel, the Creditview Wetland and its eco-stewardship...checkout the CWS website http://creditviewwetland.org (or access from this blogspot - right)