A Morning with a Chinese Home School Group

“To raise a nature-bonded child is to raise a rebel, a dreamer, an innovator… someone who will walk their own verdant, winding path.” 

Nicolette Sowder

13 November, 2025

Linear Trail, Cambridge, ON

     Once a month I have the great pleasure of getting together with a group of children and their moms to engage in a little outdoor education. It speaks to their enlightened view of learning that they consider time spent in nature an important part of their curriculum.

     The mothers are delightful, fun to be with, kind and considerate, and the children are a model of enthusiasm, filled with the joy of life, yet attentive and anxious to learn.

     On this occasion, even three grandparents joined us to absorb a little of the outdoors.

     Josh was ready and willing to signal the entrance to the trail.

     Before embarking on our walk, I took a group picture to memorialize the event.

     Who would not be happy to be in the company of this jovial group?

     The colours of fall have not quite faded totally, and a fine burst of brilliant foliage was appreciated by everyone.

     At the Speed River the first birds we encountered were, almost predictably, Canada Geese (Branta canadensis). 

     They are familiar birds, but quite regal in their own way, and the members of a pair are faithful for life and devoted to each other.

     Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) were also present in small groups out on the water.

     A few of them quacked quite vociferously, no doubt saying "Good morning" to the children.

      All of the kids are observant and curious, and Theodore's keen eye spotted a piece of wood that had the distinctive contours of a duck.

     He took it a home as a unique souvenir of his walk along the river's edge.

     As might be expected, we got strung out a little from time to time.

      As we proceeded farther along the river, a couple of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) flew alongside us, looking for all the world like a relic from the Cretaceous.

     One of the truly endearing aspects of this group is that the mothers encourage the children to be children. The pleasure of climbing a tree is eternal, reawakened in every generation, and should not be forbidden because it might pose a hazard. 

Photo: Penny Li

     Children should be adventurers and explorers, not cocooned in over-reaching concerns about a scrape or two.

     As a total aside, did you ever see anyone cuter than the little girl at the right? I still can't remember all the kids' names - but I am getting there.

     Several Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) flew overhead.

     Some of the children ran ahead and rolled balls of snow to block the path.

     Soon they were joined by the others as a gesture of solidarity.

     I suspect they wanted to charge a toll to let us through, but they relented and pushed the snow aside. Phew!

     We were happy to see one female Common Merganser (Mergus merganser).

     At The Confluence, where the Speed and Grand Rivers unite, a squad of Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), recently arrived from the north, was quite far out, but no less delightful.

     Before turning to head back to our vehicles we offered the kids a choice. Dawdle and play on the way, or walk briskly and move over to nearby Riverside Park to hand feed some chickadees. We received a unanimous vote for Riverside Park!

     And the birds were cooperative.

Photo: Penny Li

Photo: Penny Li

     House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) do not come to the hand, but are always ready to vacuum up any seed that has spilled from outstretched hands.

     Squirrels are not at all shy about getting their share - or even more than their share!

     An American Red Squirrel (Tamiascirus hudsonicus) guarded its stash against all comers.

 

Photo: Penny Li

     At one point four Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were in a bush barely more than arm's length away, and as soon as we placed some seed on the rail they came down to feed.

     A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) was just a little hesitant to land on Josh's hand, but it came very close.

     High overhead a magnificent adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephala) showed us every aspect of its plumage.

     All the while, a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) remained aloof to the activities going on around him.

     And happy children continued to feed the chickadees, keeping score of their success.

Photo: Penny Li

     It really doesn't get much better than that!

Health Valley Trail, St. Jacobs, ON

15 October, 2025

     A female Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) rested contentedly on a rock in the Conestogo River.

      This Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a majestic old tree.

     American Robins (Turdus migratorius) were numerous, finding a variety of berry-bearing bushes and trees to feed on.

      Elm Mushroom (Hypsizgus ulmarius) is quite distinctive.

     Other bracket fungi are more difficult to identify, and the following are in the kingdom Fungi, but I can't say much more than that.

     Just like trees, we should sometimes reach for the sky.

Ashes (genus Fraxinus)

     Of all our local mammals American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) surely rivals Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) on the cuteness scale. This one is jealously guarding a large snack.

     There is a move afoot to restore the Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladius dioiceus) to our area. 

     It is a hardy, resilient native species and should be encouraged.

     Knapweeds (genus Centaurea) attract a range of pollinators.

     Given the substrate and its general appearance and colour, this fungus is probably Orange Mycena (Mycena leaiana).

     I should have examined the underside to be sure.

     A Common Water Strider (Aquarius remigis) is a never-ending source of fascination for me.

     We were excited to see three Great Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) still fattening up in preparation for their long migration.

     This one had caught a small fish.

     A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was probably hoping for something a little bigger.

     We noticed that this Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) had been banded, but it was not possible to read the number.

     The yellowlegs seemed to hang around both the Canada Geese and Mallards (Anas platyrynchos). Perhaps the probing activities of the ducks and geese stirred up morsels more easily captured.

     Large Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus) are very attractive insects, with different instars being present on the same host plant.

     The seeds of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) will soon be dispersed by the wind, to go on to found new growth of this plant, so vital to the survival of Monarchs (Danaus plexippus).

     A Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) gazed at us from its secure position on the river.

     Ruby-crowned Kinglets (Corthylio calendula) are a study in perpetual motion, and are tiny little birds to boot, so Miriam did well to get this shot.

     Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is both common and beautiful.

     The sharp call note of a male Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) first alerted us to its presence.

     We also heard the distinctive churr of a Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) but it remained partly hidden.

     To complete the chorus, White-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) uttered their nasal quank to alert us to their presence.

     A female Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) was a pleasing discovery.

      To complete our walk we came across a bright yellow Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) nestled in the mowed grass at the edge of the parking lot.

     It seemed entirely appropriate that a much maligned species should be there to bid us a cheery farewell.

     The Clouded Sulphur agreed.