Tree PLAyshop at Kerry Farm, Monday, July 28
A PLAYshop is something like a workshop except you PLAY instead of work. (No shopping is involved.) This PLAYshop focused on trees (and chickens), and was the first I have held, at our home, and the first that was for all ages. We were 4 girls and 4 women accompanied throughout the day by canines and felines, chickens, horses, frogs and dragonflies.
We gave ourselves crazy names (Branchy Brenda, Gracie Grass, Climbing Kamijo – you get the idea) – explored trees blindfolded, did tree yoga with sound effects, and followed the winding trail of a scavenger adventure to our lunchtime destination – the Queen Willow tree on the other side of the dugout. Once there we had a picnic, swung on the tire, heard a Japanese story, had a precarious drawing lesson before heading back to create some art. Off the beaten path, some of us learned to hypnotize chickens, collect eggs, had extra wheelbarrow rides, cuddled cats.
Special thanks to Brenda, Linda and Tania for their wonderful photographs, and to Vanneca, Gracie, Lilly, Kamijo for their tremendous enthusiasm. (And to my family)

Scavenger Adventure: sit on the willow bench. is it comfortable? What tree are you under? Can you find its seed? All photos with white frame are courtesy of Tania Wolk

Scavenger adventure: what is in the tree, is shaped like a branch, but shouldn’t be in the tree? Photo by B. MacLauchlan.

Please stay away from the bees (but Brenda didn’t). This day is about TREES.Bees, who are (thankfully) NOT in the trees. Don’t be a tease. Photo by B. MacLauchlan.

Slight diversion from the TREES because it is time to hypnotize a chicken and collect some eggs. Photo by B. MacLauchlan

Scavenger Adventure: What insects do you notice on the windy, grassy path that leads to our dining room?