Activities for co-op

We have lots of exciting new things happening at co-op over the next few months! I'm looking forward to the sunshine bringing people out of hibernation too and having a fab time together. So, here's what we have to look forward to - besides spring!...

After speaking with most of the group, it's been agreed that a better time to go to the Marine Discovery Centre will be the 20th of November... Lots of time to put it in our calendars and hopefully the weather will be sunny and warm, so we can potter on the beach nearby.

Yoga Bugs will be joining us on September 4th for a free yoga class to trial. If everyone loves it, they are also able to offer us a program of regular visits to co-op for as much yoga as we like! I'll have more details of that soon, but you can check out their website here.

Fran has kindly organised for wildlife carers Stephanie and Wayne Clarke, the Coordinators of Southern Wildlife Tasmania, to come and talk to us on September 18th. Here's a brief run down of what they might talk about:

- what we do as wildlife carers and the role of Southern Wildlife

- what you can do to help our wildlife, including dogs and cats

- what to do when you see dead wildlife on the road

- what to keep in your car to help wildlife - pillowcase, etc

- feral animals

- roadkill & roadkill prevention

- who to call

- we also talk about how special some species of wildlife are

- We also have a small flyer that we ask the children to give to mum or dad and ask them to put it in their car so that when they come across any wildlife there are instructions on the flyer to help them to help the wildlife as well as the Southern Wildlife rescue phone number."

If you think you'll be at Stephanie and Wayne's talk, please let me know by email, on facebook or in the comments section below and I'll pass that on to Fran so that they can prepare adequately for the day. 

If you feel like organising something at any time, or if you know someone with a fantastic skill they could share or talk about, please feel free to set aside a day and let me know. It's so great when we all get involved as a community in organising something mutually beneficial for our families. And it's easier than you'd think ;) 

See you at co-op! 
Lauren. xx

Book Week!

Next Tuesday at co-op we are celebrating Children's Book Week. If you feel like it, come along dressed up as a favourite book character and bring along a book you'd like to share with the group. Those who are reading can read to those who aren't quite reading yet... This was one of our most popular activities last year, and a great indoor thing for cooler weather. Perhaps you'd like to bring along a game, activity or food to share from your book? Lets see where the inspiration leads us...

In other news... I'm still collecting names for the Marine Discovery Centre on the 28th. If this date doesn't suit, let me know and we can reschedule for another day later in the year. One family has already expressed a wish to postpone...

Also, Fran has very kindly offered to organise for a wildlife carer to come along and chat to us about what she does... she may even bring a little furry friend along! Stay tuned for more info... xx

Science week update!

 We had an early celebration of science week at co-op on Tuesday.

 We moved a table out into the sunshine and placed a range of kitchen ingredients, balloons and bowls and left it to our budding scientists to discover various reactions, colours and potions. 

It was loads of fun and very messy. 

Afterwards we stretched out, some choosing to play in the playground. Some invented a game of olympics-inspired swing long jump. Some wandered and ran in the paddock and some stayed indoors to read a book... Something for everyone!

If you're up for some more science week activities, check out the National Science Week Tasmanian program here. 

Science week!

During the next fortnight it will be National Science Week in Australia, so we thought it might be apt to undertake some science experiments at Co-op on Tuesday (7th August). Perhaps some old favourites, or something you've not tried yet? Some of them we have tried several times over, but we keep going back to do them again because they are so much fun!

If you are coming along and would like to play with science with us, please feel free to bring along an experiment to share with the group, or perhaps some of the following ingredients:

• Cornflour
• Yeast
• Balloons
• Small plastic bottles
• Bowls (for mixing things)
• Food colouring
• Straws
• Dishwashing liquid
• Glycerin
• Liquid starch
• Clear glue
• Zip-lock bags
• Sticky tape
• Vinegar
• Bi-carb soda
• String

If you are able to bring anything in particular, please leave a comment below, or on the facebook group (to save me from going and buying bulk quantities at the supermarket!!)

We're looking forward to lots of (messy) fun! Perhaps bring a smock or change of clothes and a towel along with you? Hope to see you on Tuesday. xx

Housekeeping...
There is a red folder with a form that we need to sign for insurance purposes at co-op. Please list your family as attending and remember to initial the form each time you attend, so we are covered for cottage hire. Also, there is a little red money box usually on top of the microwave in the kitchen. Please put your gold coin contribution here to cover your attendance. If not enough people contribute, it comes out of our family's pocket. We love spending time with everyone at co-op, but it becomes an expensive exercise if attendees don't contribute. 

Marine Discovery Centre - please confirm your interest in attending the Marine Discovery Centre on 28th August. Our attendance and cost will depend on numbers of people who commit to going. Please leave a comment below, or email or let me know on facebook. Thanks!

Gadget dissection at co-op!

It was lovely to see some new faces at co-op last week.  We all had a great time pulling apart things to see what makes them work. Some of the adults had just as much fun. Who knew destroying things could be so much fun?! You can learn so much when you pull things apart - just ask my toddler ;)



There were type writers, remote control cars, keyboards, heaters, telephones, clocks... all manner of things. All pulled apart enthusiastically. For those too small to join in, there was playdough.



The useful bits from our deconstructive fun, were swept aside for next week when we'll turn them into inventions! Lots of us are looking forward to that.



After lunch and a play and a warm cuppa, we wandered through the community garden to check out the community beds we have been invited to tend while we wait for our own plot *. We managed to stay until 3.30pm, when the sun dropped down behind the hill and it became a little too chilly for the playground. All in all, a fun day!

If you'd like to come along next week and make an amazing invention, please bring along some bits and pieces you don't need anymore, to add to the left over gadget bits. Some glue, tape, hot glue guns, scissors... anything you think might be useful. All would be appreciated! See you then. xx

* There's a working bee at the community garden in a couple of weeks. Please let me know if you're interested and I'll forward the info to you. 

Marine Discovery Centre Visit and a Community Garden Plot!

We've penciled in a visit to the Marine Discovery Centre on Tuesday 28th of August. We'll be participating in a hands on program making art, fish printing, doing a little foreshore study and exploring the touch tanks. It's pitched at K-6, so should fit our large age range nicely. Cost to attend will depend on numbers... If you're keen to come along, please email Lauren at owletmama@gmail.com

Also, we are waiting our very own co-op plot at the community garden located behind the cottage. It shouldn't be too long, but if you're keen to get involved, we've been invited to attend working bees and help tend the neighbourhood plot (which means we can help ourselves to surplus vegies too!). Let Lauren know if you are interested.

Don't forget that if you'd like an update on anything happening at co-op, make sure you subscribe to receive this blog via email (see the little subscribe button top right). Or, you could join our facebook group. Look forward to seeing you at co-op soon!

Dissecting Gadgets

For next Tuesday's meet (July 10th), we thought we'd spend some time getting stuck into looking at what makes things around us go... Pulling them apart, looking inside, playing with tools... Have a look at this article for some inspiration.

What to bring:

Any old/broken appliances/computers/gadgets that you'd like to explore... and are happy to never have functioning again!

Tools for dissection - pliers, screwdrivers, spanners etc.

We'll pop the dissected bits in a box when we're finished and reuse them for the next meet - Inventions!

I'll also bring along some playdough for little ones.

Please feel free to bring along any games, toys, books or activities and if you have something you'd like to donate to the group to keep at the cottage, that'd be lovely. xx