All pine cones found on site, group project by Talia, Sasha, Marirose and Peter
Talia works on the next level of their nature mandala
The weaving takes shape
A nature weaving: Gianna and Alyssa get the warp started suspended between two trees
Team Seniors: Marirose, Talia, Sasha, Peter
Team 1: Matt, Jack, Menarsh, Alyssa, Rachel, Julianna
Team 2: Blaize, Erin, Gianna, Kaliegh
Team 3: (winners) Ian, Jenaisia, Robie, Carly, Anna, Roman, Tenay
Robin and Ian experiment with reflections at the water’s edge
The four teams building their pinecone towers in the style of artist Andy Goldsworthy
Our newest friends, a mating pair of geese
Our first communal artwork of the day
Group warming up to the space
The pitcher plant, unique to the pine barrens ecosystem
Evidence of beavers along the pond’s edge
A beautiful day for an adventure outside of the classroom! Getting an early start to our day, we traveled to Pakim Pond, in the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest (formerly Lebanon State Forest) for a day of hiking, exploring and as usual — creating. It was refreshing to travel less than 30 miles from our suburban lifestyle to such a serene spot bereft of modern day features. The morning started out with a hike around the pond to see the vegetation and scenery. Ms. Edmund pointed out several features of the landscape that make it unique such as the carnivorous pitcher plants, the color of the pond’s cedar water and the various types of pines (like the pitch pine). We then created a few communal works with collected nature debris with a competition thrown in on who could build the taller pinecone tower. After lunch we worked on our individual art projects. There were little paper houses, pictures of bottles, pinecone mobiles, a nature weaving, and a giant leaf man among other things. We had a great time at Pakim Pond.
Carly’s floating paper houses
Tenay building a cube of sticks
Jenaisia builds a work from sticks
Boots as art? think someone fell in
Beautiful reflections
A good look at the cedar water and it’s rusty color
