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!