Good morning!

We had nearly a full crew (52 kiddos) for the NeighbourWood Walk out at the Lazo Marsh yesterday and wow was I ever impressed at the ingenuity and sense of teamwork this group of tiny people have developed with each other.

But, before I gush, some cool breaking news.

Our long-term NeighbourWood Walks partner Active Comox Valley has featured CVK’s walk program in its Summer newsletter.

I’m always grateful for the support and wisdom that Robyn Butler is so warmly willing to offer up, and appreciate everything she and her board do for CVK.

Download the newsletter and check out ACV and all of the great things it is doing to keep our community healthy and active.

Now, back to walking.

The Lazo Marsh is a short loop that, from just a walking standpoint, makes for a quick jaunt. But, the kiddos – as usual – turned it into an amazing adventure of fake campfire building, checking out the creatures of the marsh, huckleberry eating (surprise) and some quite serious spider spotting.

I see a pattern developing that makes my heart melt. By this time in both the Spring and Summer walk series, the kids have forgotten about the “I don’t know you” factor and really begun to understand how each one of them plugs into nature.

They recruit, they explore, there is no rejection involved when another kiddo needs a boost up onto a tree stump or just wants to hold hands.

The less boisterous tiny people pick their spots – amidst all the action – where drawing in the dirt or just watching everything going on is prime time. I even catch them trying out the log climbing and other adventuring when the rest of the crew has moved on…which is so sweet.

And the parents have found their way into conversations, are comfortable with the dirt factor and find themselves connecting.

You can often hear, down the path, kids screaming out the names of cool things we have learned about in the forest throughout the Summer – and it makes me a bit sad that next week is our last official Summer walk before our wrap-up parties at the Filberg.

But, we are ending the season big.

Next week’s walk leads us up to Mt. Washington, hitting Strathcona’s Paradise Meadows for an amazing hike to wind down the season next Wednesday.

The folks at Mt. Washington have made arrangements for kiddos who are going on the walks to get a special deal on lunch at the Raven Lodge (open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). So, make sure to make plans to have lunch before or after your walk that day if you are signed up (there are some drop-in spots too. So,e-mail me if you are interested. The walks should be lovely (I’m in negotiations with Mother Nature right now:))