Walden West Outdoor School & Summer Camp

Take a break this year! Walden West is offering Mid-Winter and Spring Break recreation camps for children in grades 2-7. Check it out here: http://www.waldenwest.org/wow2021/

Mocha is totally ready for Virtual Camp. #waldenwestsccoe #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestsciencecamp2020 #pacificgophersnake #naturelabday #gotmypencilsout

This Thanksgiving, we take the time to honor and acknowledge the people who are native to this land: past, present and future. While it’s good to reflect on what we’re thankful for, especially during such a trying time, it’s also important to educate ourselves on the true history of Thanksgiving. If you want to make a small step towards honoring the Native Land you live on, you can look it up at NativeLand.net (@nativelandnet on Instagram). If you’d like to learn about the ...land that Walden West resides on and the Ohlone Muwekma who called that land home for centuries, check out @muwekma_ohlone_tribe on Instagram and their website http://muwekma.org Take care of yourselves, wear a mask, physically distance when possible- we love you all Photo credit: Otter #waldenwestsccoe #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestsciencecamp2020 #thanksgiving #dayofmourning #nativeland #muwekmaohlone #muwekmaohlonetribe #nativelivesmatter

Nothing like the first rain of the season Looking good, Nature! Photo credit: Ringtail #waldenwestsccoe #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestsciencecamp2020 #rainbow #deepbreaths

We are proud to be offering these programs in 2021! For 5th and 6th grade classrooms: Virtual Science Camp http://www.waldenwest.org/virtualcamp/ & Science Day Camp http://www.waldenwest.org/school_programs/outdoor.asp Classroom teachers can call our main office for more information and to schedule their days (408) 573-3050. For 2nd to 7th graders: Mid-Winter break and Spring Break WOW Camps! http://www.waldenwest.org/wow2021/

Surprise! Live Campfire program tonight! 5:30pm on YouTube! Be sure to subscribe to the channel, give us a thumbs up on our videos, and click the Notification bell so you'll be the first to know when new videos are available! https://www.youtube.com/waldenwestsccoe

Here is the album from the Walden West School Band for sale: Includes 5 new songs recorded this school year 2019-2020: 1. Banana Slug- 2019 new version ... 2. Under the Compost (Under the Boardwalk Parody) 3. Root, Stems, Leaves (6 Parts) 4. The FBI (Fungus, Bacteria, Invertebrates) 5. My Life Has Changed All proceeds will go to the Walden West Foundation. https://waldenwestband.bandcamp.com/releases

Our friends from Silver Oak wrote this song about our beloved Chunky. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/R8g5pY9V5nw

Come watch the Walden West band play some music! https://www.youtube.com/c/WaldenWestSCCOE We plan on live-streaming every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!... It would be awesome if you clicked that like and subscribe button. See more

Colonialism: The Past and Present Effects on the Ohlone People The Spanish Arrive In 1769, Spanish ships anchored north of Monterey Bay. When they came upon the Ohlone tribes, they were welcomed, fed, and cared for by the indigenous leaders. The Spanish called the Ohlone, Costeños, Spanish for, Coastal People. This marked the beginning. Within a few years, the missions would be built and the Ohlone people would be taken from their homelands and forcibly stripped of their...Continue reading

Indigenous Customs in Dance, Dress, and Stewardship Ceremonies & Dance Dancing, like music, is a huge part of Ohlone culture and used alongside ceremonies and celebrations. The Ohlone used dance to tell stories, practice religion, and celebrate life events like marriage. Large houses (Top Picture) that could fit the village were built to host all kinds of ceremony dances.... Traditional Dress Because the Muwekma Ohlone traveled from the coast to the valley with the seasons, the materials used included shells, feathers, furs and plants. Feathers were important for ceremonial outfits, and furs were usually worn during the colder seasons. Stewarding the Land Pruning and Coppicing: Coppicing is the act of pruning a tree or bush back to its base to get it to produce more growth. This picture shows all of the new shoots of willow growing from the coppiced willow tree, which will be excellent for basketry and more. This helps the plants grow back healthier, too. Controlled Burns: Don’t try this at home! There are multiple reasons to do controlled burns. It kept invasive plants at bay, it helped certain plants to express their seeds, it worked as a decomposer, and it kept the possibility of wildfires far lower by removing all of the excess dead and dry plant material. The Muwekma Ohlone didn;’t just live off of what the land provided. They used the natural interdependence of the ecosystem to create constantly renewing resources. By pruning the plants, insects came to eat the exposed plant, which brought birds, which brought their predators and so on. Caring for the land, a responsibility given to them by the Creator, allowed them to live sustainably for thousands of years! @muwekma_ohlone_tribe #muwekma #muwekmaohlone #ohlone #ohloneterritory #muwekmaohlonetribe #muwekmaohloneterritory #indigenous #indigenousculture #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestsccoe

Indigenous Crafting Tools and Wares Musical Instruments Music was and is an integral part of Ohlone culture. (Top Picture) Flutes and whistles were carved out of wing bones, typically from large birds like Herons, Condors, and more. Percussive instruments were made out of local materials. (Bottom Picture, upper right instrument) Elderberry clapper stick: played by striking against the palm of the hand. (Bottom picture, lower left instrument) Cocoon rattle: moth cocoons filled... with small pebbles and tied to a stick. Hunting Tools Spears and bows and arrows were frequently used to hunt game. (Top Picture) The Ohlone used an assortment of materials for the heads. Obsidian was preferred because of its durability, but it had to be traded for. If that wasn’t available, they carved them out of stone. (Bottom Picture) Fishing harpoons were made from carved antlers. Crafting Tools An awl is a pointed tool that is used for poking holes in leather and also for stitching tough materials. The Ohlone used deer bone awls for creating matting, sewing nets and leather hides, and for weaving in patterns for multiple types of basketry. Basketry and their uses Baskets were used for many different things, and the Ohlone were skilled in making them specialized for each job. They even had a style of basket that could hold water. (Top Picture) This is a grinding bowl, woven with sturdy materials and a tight weave. (Bottom Picture) This is a cooking basket, treated so it wouldn’t burn while exposed to heat. Mortar and Pestle Mortar and pestles made from giant slabs of granite were used for creating art materials and food preparation, like grinding acorns into flour. (Bottom Picture) These mortars and pestle were for making paint pigments. (Top Picture) Mortars like these can be found all over Sanborn County Park. It takes lots of time and effort to make these, and the durability of the granite has preserved them all these years. @muwekma_ohlone_tribe #muwekma #muwekmaohlone #ohloneterritory #muwekmaohloneterritory #indigenous #indigenoustools #indigenousculture @santaclaracountyparks #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestsccoe

Native Plants and their Indigenous uses As food sources, Madrone trees have edible fruits in small amounts, California Live Oaks have acorns that can be ground into flour, and the seeds of Bigleaf Maple trees are edible, too. Some plants that were used for their medicinal properties are Yerba Buena for relieving pinworms and toothaches, Nettle for relieving arthritis, hives, and infected sores, and Coyote Brush for a general remedy. Wood from the Coastal Redwoods and Pois...on Oak was used for basketry, and Poison Oak leaves were also used to wrap and contain bread. California Black Walnut is good for both eating and healing. Infusing water with the leaves helped as a blood thickener. Toyon trees have fruit that can be eaten dried or toasted, and the leaves were also used as a method of birth control. The California Bay Laurel was used for many things! The fruits were eaten raw or boiled and the nuts were roasted or ground into flour cakes. Smoke from the burning leaves gets rid of fleas and also was used for hunting to drive ground squirrels out of their burrows. The fragrance of the leaves also make an excellent air freshener. #nativeplantsofcalifornia #nativeplants #ohloneterritory #muwekmaohlone #muwekmaohloneterritory #indigenousculture #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestsccoe

New fall programs for students in grades 2-8! Visit www.waldenwest.org/fall2020 for more information and to register.

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day at Walden West! Each day this week, we will be highlighting different parts of the Muwekma (Muh-wek-ma) Ohlone (Oh-low-nee) Peoples’ culture and history. . Why have a land acknowledgment? - It brings attention to a marginalized people ... - It prevents Indigenous cultural erasure - It critically looks at the effects of colonialism and the need for change - It establishes positive norms of recognition - It builds relationships with local tribes and the land . One of the most important things that goes into a land acknowledgment is the consent and communication with the People that it acknowledges. Currently, Walden West has not yet completed this and we are working to complete this crucial part. Our land acknowledgment is a living statement that will change and grow as we become more educated and better advocates. . Walden West has a complicated history with acknowledging and presenting Indigenous culture, especially as a predominantly White/non-Indigenous institution. Acknowledgment is only one drop in the bucket. Being an advocate for the People who are connected to this land is constant work, and we hope to inspire others to join in this advocacy and lift up Indigenous voices. . Walden West’s Land Acknowledgment: Walden West acknowledges that our facility and trails sit on the stolen land of the Muwekma Ohlone People. We recognize their ancestral past, their present, and their future generations. We are humbled and give our appreciation for the opportunity to teach, work, live, learn, and steward on their traditional homelands. We encourage everyone to continue to educate themselves and support Indigenous people and their culture that has been around for thousands of years. #indigenouspeoplesday #landacknowledgement #muwekma #muwekmaohlone #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestsccoe See more

All of the animals from the Nature Lab are back at camp, safe and happy in their homes! Big shoutout to Gobi, Crow and Weasel for bringing them back and making sure they’re comfortable #waldenwestsciencecamp2020 #waldenwestsummercamp2020 #waldenwestsccoe #waldenwestoutdoorschool #happyanimals #flatrockscorpion #drinkwaterreminder

The foxes are helping with the weeds in the garden The fires never made it over the mountain and Walden West is safe! It’s a bit smoky, but we’re good Sanborn Road and the parks up here are still closed to the public. Keep an eye on the air quality and take care of yourselves! #czulightningcomplex #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestoutdoorschool #waldenwestsciencecamp2020 #waldenwestsummercamp2020 #waldenwestgarden #greyfox #natureslittlehelper

And now, the Walden West Summer 2020 Online Campfire is available for all to enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch

Well, we’re now in the Evacuation Warning. Again, the fire is still held up at Hwy 9 in Boulder Creek. This is just a precaution. Walden West and Sanborn County Park are closed until further notice. If you live anywhere near the evacuation areas, it’s a good idea to have an emergency bag ready to go with all of your important things. Stay safe out there, y’all. We you... #czulightningcomplex #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestoutdoorschool #waldenwestsciencecamp2020 #firepreparedness See more

Walden West is safe right now, though the air is filled with smoke. On the map, the area in red is the evacuation orders as of August 22nd, and Walden West is the small circle that’s being pointed at. Sanborn Park is closed to the public and the rangers warned us to be ready to evacuate, just in case. So ready ourselves we did! The animals in the nature lab have been evacuated, completely safe from the fires. ~~ ~~ What YOU can do:... Keep your pets inside as much as possible! The smoke is just as bad for them as it is for us. Keep them hydrated and loved With the destruction of the local wildlife’s habitat, please be kind to animals that have been forced out. If you can, putting out a water dish or bucket for them can significantly help their chances of surviving (change out the water daily!) If you see any animals that are hurt, don’t touch them! Instead, call your local wildlife rescue centers. Stay inside as much as you can, wash your face and eyes with cool water after being outside, and if you live close to an area that may need to evacuate, make sure you and your family are prepared. Stay safe out there, everyone. We you all #czulightningcomplex #calfire #waldenwestoutdoorschool #waldenwestsciencecamp #waldenwestsciencecamp2020 See more