A short Walden experiement

[Amaranth]

Have been working out an idea to do a family Walden experiment for a week. Here's the thinking so far:
Campground with cabins, a swimming/canoeing lake, and near woods with a variety of walking trails
Quieter campground
Near pick your own places to serve as substitute for the gardening aspects
Have similar items to what Thoreau had
Plus laptop for blogging, digital camera

Would like your ideas on:
What to take
Activities to consider
Ways to challenge ourselves

[Gardenarian]

Well this sounds fun!
Who is in your family? (ages)
I would bring at least one musical instrument and a songbook.
Local field guides (birds, plants, geological features)
We like to make small journals for trips like this (or you can bring ready made.) Bring colored pencils for drawing. This site (http://simplehomemade.net/nature-journaling-with-kids/) has some good ideas for nature journals.
Make collections of rocks, leaves.
Storytelling games are fun - one person starts and then each person continues the story.
I would get a wilderness survival guide (or look up stuff on the web) and practice some of the skills - fox walking, bird language, fire building, shelter making, making cordage.
Bring some ropes - for jump rope, practice making bear bags, tying knots, making a slack line.
Try a blindfold hike (the leader, of course, does not wear a blindfold.)
Star charts.
Binoculars.
Read-aloud stories to share.
Have each person pick a quiet sit spot not far from the camp site (the spot should feel special to the person) and practice sitting silently and alone in nature. Start with ten minutes - see what you can hear and see.

[catherine]

Have each person pick a quiet sit spot not far from the camp site (the spot should feel special to the person) and practice sitting silently and alone in nature. Start with ten minutes - see what you can hear and see.

That's where I was going to go with this experiment. I don't think Thoreau thought "DO" when he went to Walden. I think he was thinking "BE." That being said, kids aren't great "BE-ers" especially when raised on all kinds of stimuli, but I would definitely low-key it, and try to keep the planning to a minimum. Just see what happens and let the kids take the lead.

[ctg492]

Sounds wonderful.

[Amaranth]

Thanks for all the great ideas. A friend off the list has another one to add. She suggested taking a piece of string or rope and laying it out in a circle about 3 feet/1 meter wide on the ground. Then observe within the circle for 10-15 minutes and make a list of everything seen in the circle.

What sort of food or cooking related projects would you suggest as part of this?