Building the Biggest Butterfly Girl Fairy House for Charity (part 2)

Getting kids outside and connecting with nature couldn’t be more FUN!

Upon arrival, the girls discovered the Butterfly Girls hanging in the trees.

Once everyone had arrived I handed out some chalk and asked the children to draw their favorite animal, bird or insect.

Let’s Go ….

…and build the biggest fairy house in the Okanagan.

The children collected foliage and weaved their magic into my tepee structure, making it their very own…Butterfly Girl Fairy House.

The girls added flowers…

…built a fire using cones, sticks and stones then proceeded to hang up their butterfly girl chrysalis pods.

What a joy to watch.

The inside of the Butterfly Girl house was just as beautiful as the outside.

Later we made Pine Cone Bird Feeders at the Little Humbugs picnic table and stools, located in our secret wooded hollow.

Learning about American Robins as we made the pine cone bird feeders. Part of the Little Humbugs “Let’s Go Outside” video series is to encourage children to “touch, feel and be involved” with nature.

What better way to do this than let the children hunt for pine cones, get messy with sunbutter and bird seed, then experience the pleasure of watching birds arrive to feast on their delicious pinecone feeders.

Snack time…

We picnicked on fruits that were in season, peaches and plums that I picked fresh from my garden earlier that morning. One of the mothers (Kristina) kindly made Butterfly Cup Cakes.

A party wouldn’t be complete without a party hat. We made mini nature crowns for their Butterfly Girl dolls.

And finally …………

…We finished the event with a treasure hunt.

The children delighted in finding Nika and her gemstone collection.

A perfect ending  to a magical day….

Time for goodbyes….Hugs brought tears to my eyes.

This truly was a very special day in my life that I will treasure……………..

My Butterfly Girls and their 8ft Butterfly Girl Fairy House 2010

I can’t wait to do it all again in the Spring. We plan to do a tour from BC all the way down to California starting in the late Spring and early Summer. If your interested in holding one of my Little Humbug Events (Dragonfly Boys and Butterfly Girls) for Charity please contact me : info@littlehumbugs.com Closing date for applications will be 15th November 2010. I’d love to meet you and share the joy that comes to everyone from getting kids outdoors and connecting with nature.

Part 3 coming soon with video.

This post and the following 2 posts are dedicated to my beautiful friend Don who allowed me to hold this magical event in his grounds, a nature haven for wildlife.

The Butterfly Girls of Summer Charity Event 2010 (Biggest Fairy House – Kelowna 2010)

These days, a typical child spends only 4 to 7 minutes outside each day. Compare that to the 7½ hours daily the average kid uses electronic media, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. I want to help reverse these statistics.

So I decided to hold a nature event…….based around my book characters The Little Humbugs. The Humbugs live their lives not dissimilar to how we all used to live, just like indigenous people who respect and live in harmony with Mother Earth.

Preparation for the event…

First I cleared an area for my tree stump stools around an existing stump that was just the perfect size for a Little Humbugs table.

The Little Humbugs seating area. An area in the shade for crafts and picnicking.

We evolved in nature – if we become disconnected from the natural world we lose something magical, something so precious.

Then I started on the construction of a tepee structure for the Butterfly Girl (fairy) house

For the last couple of weeks I have been foraging, collecting pine beetle infested logs, stripping them, cutting back any large branches and finally on Friday I got to raise the logs with the help from Don (the owner of the grounds) and my eldest son into a tepee like structure.

Next, I started to add the frame work. (Older children can be involved in this process).

A spiritual experience.

There was something very magical about building such a structure, I enjoyed the solitude, it gave me time to let go, to feel the connection with the earth, the wonderful surface, patterns and textures of the rustic wood, the dry, dusty soil. My days of working on the land, getting dirty, smelling the forest, feeling the warm summer breeze kiss me and make the long, dry native grasses toss and dance were special. Finally seeing the structures come together as damselflies and dragonflies entertained me with their magnificent acrobatic displays, it reinforced my mission to start a nature facility (school) for kids sometime in the not too distant future. To share the joy and wonder Mother Nature gifts us every day and to feel connected to our incredibly beautiful yet fragile planet.

Keeping it environmentally friendly, I used pine beetle damaged branches

and biodegradable twine.

A welcoming heart (made from willow, handmade felt beads, a pine cone threaded on twine) for the entrance.

A whopping 8ft structure stood in front of me.

Now it was time to invite the children to hunt for foliage, decorate and let them weave their magic into my tepee structure, making it their very own…Butterfly Girl (Fairy) House.

Find out how the children bring  their enthusiasm and energy to breathe life into the Little Humbugs charity event and fill my heart with joy and laughter in my next blog post…………

The more I work with children in nature the stronger my passion grows to spread the word about the importance of nature in a child’s life. This event is raising funds to help kids with cancer. We hope to raise enough funds to allow several cancer patients the opportunity to have a fun day in nature.

If you would like to get involved helping to raise awreness of such an important cause please contact me: info@littlehumbugs.com or why not become a Little Humbugs Ambassador.

Picking Peaches Barefoot

What a joy it is to be able to walk outdoors and pick fresh fruit from your own garden.

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a great way to get kids outdoors and connecting with nature. Not only do they get to eat the freshest, most delicious organic food going, introducing them to healthy eating habits, but they get to learn where food comes from, how it grows and they get to spend lots of time outdoors, tending to their little peach tree, potted herbs, potatoes in a tub, or even a tomato plant growing in a small pot.

Peaches Galore……

I was gifted two peach trees from the kids three years ago. This year we have an amazing crop. Samuel and Jasmine are in charge of watering the peach trees, pruning them back and adding stakes if needed.

Pick and Eat

Guess what we’ll be eating for National Eat Outdoors Day 31st August! Join in the fun @ C&NN Connect : Recipie & Idea Swap by Suzi Lipman.

Peach recipes

Grilling peaches deepens their natural sweetness. A family favorite is Barbecued Peaches with hot Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Icecream or Yogurt.

And here’s a scrumptious savory alternative:  Jamine Oliver’s Grilled Peach Salad with Bresaola

Peaches are good for you.

Peaches are high in beta carotene, which provides cancer-fighting properties and the ability to inhabit the growth of cancerous tumors. A recent laboratory study also identified phenolic acids in peaches aschemopreventive dietary compounds because of their ability to inhabit growth of estrogen-independent breast cancer cells. Lutein and zeaxanthin, also help protect against age-related macular degeneration. Fibre, vitamin C, and iron are more reasons to indulge in peaches this season. Heidi Hoff -Alive.com

What fruits or vegetables are your kids growing?

Here’s a cool gardening certificate for kids: Chloe the Gardener Certificate.

How to make a Butterfly Girl Petal Crown

Head outdoors to collect petals and leaves. The girls in my nature class all got to pick an empty Butterfly Girl Chrysalis (pod bag) to collect their treasure.

What you will need to make a Butterfly Girl Crown:

1. A selection of petals and leaves (we also added lavender)

2. Long strip of recycled paper or card (measured to fit child’s head)

3. Glue (Glitter and sequin are optional)

4. Tape or stapler to join the two ends of paper together

Place the stem of leaves and lavender in the center of the paper and tape in place (we found the tape held the leaves in place much better than the glue).

Glue petals in place and sprinkle with glitter if desired. Now staple or tape the two ends of paper together.

Now grab your Butterfly Girl Wind Streamer …..

…….and GO PLAY!

Dragonfly Boy crowns are made in exactly the same way only using more leaves and swapping seeds for petals.

Native people have always recognized or imbued in animals certain human like traits, easily recognized by youth. Otters appear to be playful, and squirrels assertive. No one questions the strength of a bear, the extraordinary expressions of a frog, or the patience of a spider. (Thom Henley)

I got the idea to do the Empowerment Pebbles with my Little Humbugs nature class after reading a marvelous book “REDISCOVERY” by Thom Henley. A fascinating read and full of outdoor activities based on Native traditions.

Little Humbug Spirit Pebbles.

For my Little Humbugs nature class, I decided to get the children to search for 7 smooth pebbles, one for each day of the week.

Using simple drawings of animals listed below, paint or draw your designs on the rocks.

Once the child has drawn a design on each pebble, tell them the special gift that each of these animals bring to them and ask them to think about how they can use this gift in their own lives. Use animals that are native to your region and familiar to your child.

WOLF: Special Person – Just as the wolf howls its proud song to the moon, you too can recognize that you are a unique and special child. You are a lovable and wonderful child!

RAVEN: Curiosity – The raven is never bored, always curious, always exploring every corner of the world. So too can you awaken your sense of wonder – discover nature and its endless wonder.

SALMON: Sharing – just as the salmon shares its body with the bear, otter, eagle and human, so too can you learn to share your food, your feelings, your fears, your books and toys. Sharing is one of the most important traditions.

SPIDER: Patience – Spider spins her web and waits, and waits, and waits…Spider knows that her patience will be rewarded with a fly in her trap and a meal for her young. You too can learn the lesson of patience; all things will not come to you instantly.

BEAR: Strength – The powerful grizzly bear will bring you to the gift of strength-inner strength to help you through sad moments in your life. Like the mother grizzly bear who overturns logs to feed insects to her cubs, or to protect them from danger, you too can learn to be strong.

HUMMINGBIRD: Happiness – Hummingbird, this joyful little spirit, brings happiness into your life. All the sweetness in the nectar is yours. Remember to take time and smell the flowers and find joy in all you see and do.

DEER: Peacefulness – The gentle deer brings you the gift of a peaceful spirit. Deers are always aware, always alert, but at the same time they are peaceful and gentle. Take time to be quiet. Ask your parents to take you to a beautiful meadow of wildflowers or the hushed silence of the forest and you will know the gift of the deer.

The youngest in my class (6yrs) turned over each pebble after drawing her animal and wrote the meaning on the back of the pebble. I was very impressed by this action and all the other children followed suit.

How to use your spirit pebbles.

At the beginning of the week, get your child to close their eyes and randomly draw one pebble from the pouch. This will be their special power, or focus, for the day. By keeping that day’s pebble as a touch stone in their pockets, they will be reminded of their discipline throughout the day. At the end of the week all pebbles will have been drawn and are then returned to the pouch. Once a month your child could have a special day to reflect on being joyful, patient, generous etc.

Use recycled felt or a scrap of old material to make a pouch to store your pebbles.

The beauty of the journey of Empowerment play is that it brings the animals alive for the children in a way they’ll long remember.

This was one one of my favorite and most rewarding activities out of all the The Little Humbugs nature camp activities. I really do hope you make time to do this wonderful nature craft with your children. If you would like a copy of my Little Humbugs Spirit Pebbles worksheet, drop me an email:info@littlehumbugs.com

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Thom Henley for writing “Rediscovery“. It has been an inspiration and continued resource for my work. The Little Humbugs live very similar to how the Native American Indians used to live and I am thrilled to be able to incorporate a little of the Native American Indians traditional teachings in my work.

“Children need to be together in nature, so they can learn to respect, accept and understand each other better. Native American Indians have something important to teach about respect for the earth and all our relations that live here.” Erma Bearstops, Lakota Elder.

“As a parent, environmentalist, and a scientist I cannot conceive of a more important program than Rediscovery.” David Suzuki

A beautiful day with a beautiful friend in his stunning wildlife garden.

A storm the night before had brought lots of rain making the mud thick and gooey.

Chloe and her Butterfly Girl friends Amber and Olivia love when the earth is of a squelchy consistency, just perfect for making mud pies. Sometimes the girls will jump in the squelchy mud, making them laugh so much that their sides ache, then dance in the warm summer rain to wash it all off.

Go on……..have a SPLASH in the MUD!

Just like the Little Humbugs, my kids love getting dirty!!!!

Mud Glorious Mud!

Backyard fun-David Jnr and Samuel 2008

According to this report, playing in dirt can make you smarter: Smarter Kids

Watch the DIRT Movie trailer:

I seem to be meeting a lot more friends in nature these days. Meet my latest Poppy friends….

Pepe

Peeps

And Pippin.

Pepe, Peeps and friends dancing among the Lavender.

Nature is an endless source of  inspiration for me.

What nature buddies have you come across lately?

Who’s inside the chrysalis?

Ava and Ella, the American Butterfly Girls.

Ella and Ava the Butterfly Girls love playing outdoors, just like all the Little Humbugs.

The little Humbugs visit the cities when humans are fast asleep to spread their magic by planting seeds and checking on urban wildlife. The Little Humbugs are curious of the humans whom they observe from a distance. For many years they have watched the human children and are growing concerned that they are not playing outdoors as much as they used to do. They have decided it is time to call upon some human children who love nature to SHOUT OUT about how cool it is to play outdoors.

CONTEST

I am passionate about nature and my mission in life is to help reconnect children with nature with the help from my book characters the Little Humbugs. I know there are many children who are just as passionate about nature and the outdoors as I am, so I have decided to run a competition to let children share their story with other children about how cool nature is with the help from Ava and Ella the Butterfly Girls.

Deadline extended to 1st September 2010.

How To Enter

Leave a comment or email info@littlehumbugs.com and you’ll be automatically registered.  Then submit your short story via email: info@littlehumbugs.com or by sending me a recording of your child’s ideas. For young ones too young to write, you can record their story idea on a recording device.

PRIZES

First Prize: The winner will receive a USA Butterfly Girl Doll and Chrysalis. (These dolls are very unique-only 5 were ever made).

The winning story will be illustrated by Marghanita Hughes and published on the Little Humbugs website.

Runner Up Prize: The winner will receive a signed print of Ava and Ella the Butterfly Girls  and their story will be published on the Little Humbugs website. Please note: the runner-up story will not be illustrated.

The Rules

Subject : “Let’s Go Outside”

The whole point of this competition is to get children thinking about what they love about nature and the outdoors. Drawing on their own experiences and imagination to create a short story that would involve Ava and Ella in their magical outdoor adventure.

• The deadline for the submission is the 1st of Sept 2010 (midnight). Submissions must be made via email to info@littlehumbugs.com
• Remember to add your age and contact details along with your short story submission.
• Send your story either in the body of the email, or as a word doc attachment or recorded message.
• Age: 12 years and under.
• The stories must be in English, original, and must not have been published in the past.
• Your story can be as simple as four sentences or as many as 500 words.
• By taking part in the competition you allow Marghanita Hughes to publish your story online.
• Marghanita Hughes will be choosing only one winner and one runner up. The runner up story will be published on the Little Humbugs website the following month but will not be illustrated.
• Parents are permitted to help young ones but the story idea has to be the child’s own.
• When children and nature mix, something magical happens. I want to read about the children and the “magic” they discover.
• The winner and runner-up will be notified by email on 20th August 2010.

Did you know:

The Butterfly Girls from all around the world communicate with Jasmine by sending messages which are carried by the ancient whispering trees, across the vast grasslands and over the crashing waves. So the next time you see a tree swaying in the wind, you never know, it may be one of the Butterfly Girls sending Jasmine a message…

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE-I can’t wait to read (and listen) to your stories.

The Honesty plant, Lunaria Annua, is prized for an abundance of virtues. The scented white or purple flowers attract pollinators to the garden. The seed pods called silicles are highly ornamental.

Fairy Decorations

The Butterfly Girls love to make wind chimes and decorate their windows with the seeded pods.

Jasmine the Butterfly Girl collects a few extra seeds to store in the Little Humbugs’ seed library.

The Dragonfly Boys like to make cool eco warrior necklaces.

What you will need:

• honesty plant seed pod
• felt beads
• darning needle
• twine

Note: It is best to thread the seed when it is fresh. It is more likely to tear if the seed is dry.

My nature boy made me one too…

Nature Play

Lunaria is one of the best play plants for children. Let their imagination run wild…..seeds can become  Humbug jewelry, coins, trinkets to trade, fairy magic potions, decorations, tea party wafers,window ornaments, mobiles, fairy wind chimes………….