Awakening with the Seasons: Embracing Nature’s Rhythms
Celebrating Seasonal Changes
Across the world, nature signals the passage of time not with dates on a calendar but through the rise and fall of temperatures, the movement of water, and the quiet shifts in plants and animals preparing for what comes next. Long before clocks and schedules dictated the rhythm of daily life, humans lived by these natural cues, celebrating the transitions between seasons with ceremonies, traditions, and deep gratitude for the gifts of the earth.
At Creative Nature Academy, we step into this ancient rhythm, using the changing seasons as our guide. Whether it’s the first frost settling on the leaves, the arrival of migratory birds, or the first shoots pushing through thawing ground, these moments invite us to slow down, pay attention, and recognize that we, too, are part of this great, unfolding story. When we tune into these shifts and honor them, we help children develop a sense of place and belonging—not just to a school or a community, but to the land itself.
For thousands of years, the first people of every region have marked these transitions with ceremonies rooted in deep respect for the land. The renewal of the growing season, the return of an animal whose migration has sustained communities, or the ripening of a particular fruit—all were seen as signs to gather, reflect, and give thanks. By exploring these traditions, learning from those who have stewarded the land before us, and observing the natural cycles happening right where we are, we rekindle a connection that modern life often rushes past.
Seasonal celebrations offer a tangible, hands-on way to cultivate this awareness. These traditions return with each passing year, providing a cyclical view of time that helps children grow in their understanding of natural rhythms. They ground us in the present while giving us something meaningful to anticipate and celebrate. Through these experiences, children feel the pulse of the earth beneath their feet—a visceral connection that stays with them and shapes how they walk through life.
By celebrating seasonal transitions, children become woven into the cycles of life. When they tap the first maple tree of spring, plant seeds under a warming sun, or listen to the rustle of autumn leaves, they aren’t just observing nature—they are becoming part of it. These moments root them in place and belonging, creating a foundation for stewardship and care for wild spaces.
Seasonal celebrations help children recognize that they are part of something greater than themselves. They experience the abundance of nature and the responsibility that comes with being part of a larger, interconnected world. This deep relationship with the earth is not only transformative for the individual but essential for the future of our planet. Together, as parents and educators, we have the privilege of growing a generation that walks gently on the earth, sees the value of every life form, and carries forward the knowledge that they belong to a vast and precious web of life.
Sugarbush: The First Celebration of the Year
At Creative Nature Academy, our new year begins not with fireworks or a flip of the calendar but with the slow awakening of the trees. When the days grow longer and cold nights give way to warmer afternoons, something magical stirs beneath the bark of the sugar maples. This is the season between seasons, when sap starts to flow toward the not-yet-swelling buds, coaxing the trees out of their winter slumber. We call this Sugarbush—a time of transformation and renewal, when we honor the cycles of nature and begin again.
For the Anishinaabe, whose ancestral land we are privileged to live and learn on, Sugarbush was the start of their year. After surviving the deep winter, they welcomed the flowing sap as a gift from the trees—a gift that required skill, hard work, and a deep relationship with the natural world. It wasn’t marked by a date on the calendar but by the perfect combination of longer days, freezing nights, and warm afternoons. Their lives moved in rhythm with these seasonal cues, guided by nature’s timing.
In today’s world, we try to predict when the sap will run, but nature has its own schedule. Cold nights and daytime temperatures just above freezing are essential for a productive season. Without the frequent freeze-thaw cycles, sap won’t move, and the magic won’t happen. The Great Lakes region, with its unique climate and geography, is one of the few places in the world perfectly suited for maple syrup production.
When we tap the trees, we become part of something ancient and ongoing. Sap flows through the xylem, responding to changes in atmospheric pressure, rising from the roots like the earth’s slow breath. Celebrating the new year through Sugarbush connects us to the land and the generations that came before us, inspiring a new generation to live in harmony with the rhythms of the earth.
The science behind this process is as fascinating as the tradition itself. Maple sap flow depends on a precise pattern of cold nights and warm days, creating positive pressure within the tree that causes the sap to flow. This physiological response is primarily found in certain maple species, making the Great Lakes region ideal for maple syrup production.
Engaging in Sugarbush activities allows us to participate in a tradition that has sustained communities in this region for centuries. It fosters a deep appreciation for the natural world and the importance of seasonal cycles in our lives. Each step—tapping trees, collecting sap, and boiling it down into syrup—reminds us of the delicate balance between climate, geography, and biology.
Learning Through Experience
Sugarbush at Creative Nature Academy is more than an event—it’s a hands-on lesson in ecology, chemistry, and traditional skills. Our students participate in every step, from identifying the right trees to boiling sap into syrup. They witness how seasonal changes shape the land and how humans have adapted to these cycles for generations.
Through this process, students develop a deeper connection to nature, celebrating the wisdom of the land and the shifting seasons that guide us. As the year unfolds, we continue to mark each transition with traditions that help us learn, grow, and appreciate the ever-changing world around us.
Honoring the Tradition of Iskigamizigan
At Creative Nature Academy, we celebrate the tradition of Sugarbush, known to the Anishinaabe as Iskigamizigan, in deep gratitude for the land and its original stewards. For generations, the Anishinaabe have welcomed this season as a time of renewal and sustenance, living in harmony with the land’s natural rhythms. After enduring the long winter, they tapped the sugar maples for sap—a gift from the trees that required skill, patience, and an intimate relationship with the natural world.
This practice, intertwined with seasonal rhythms, provided not only nourishment but also a connection to the cycles of life. Their lives moved with the cadence of nature, guided not by a calendar but by the perfect balance of longer days, cold nights, and warm afternoons when the sap began to flow.
By engaging in Iskigamizigan, we honor these ancient traditions and the knowledge passed down through generations. We step into the flow of something much larger than ourselves—a shared history rooted in resilience, stewardship, and respect for the land. As we tap the trees and collect the sap, we not only experience the magic of the season but also reflect on our place in this ongoing story of life, connection, and gratitude.
The Sweet Science of Sugaring
The magic of sugaring lies in the remarkable biology of the sugar maple. Unlike most trees, sugar maples contain gas-filled cells in their sapwood. This unique structure is key to how sap flows. As the temperatures drop below freezing at night, the gas inside the tree contracts, creating negative pressure that pulls water and nutrients up from the roots. When the sun warms the air during the day, the gas expands, generating positive pressure and pushing sap outward. This daily freeze-thaw cycle is essential for sap flow and continues for several weeks, providing just enough time to gather the precious liquid.
But the story of maple sap starts long before spring. In late summer and fall, sugar maples begin preparing for the colder months by storing starches in their sapwood. When spring arrives, these stored starches convert to sugar, mixing with the rising sap and giving it the distinctive sweetness that makes maple syrup so special. This high sugar concentration is rare among tree species and is part of what makes the sugar maple so prized for syrup production.
The conditions have to be just right: warm days, cold nights, and an ongoing rhythm of freezing and thawing. If temperatures remain too cold or too warm for too long, the sap won’t flow. And once the buds begin to swell, the sap’s chemistry changes, resulting in an off-flavor that signals the end of the sugaring season.
Understanding the science behind the sap deepens our appreciation for the intricate relationship between tree, climate, and land. It’s a powerful reminder of nature’s balance—one that our students learn with every bucket of sap they collect and every sweet drop they taste.
Seasons of Connection: Honoring the Earth’s Rhythms with Purpose and Joy
Every place on earth has its own unique rhythms—seasonal shifts that tell the story of the land and its people. For thousands of years, the first people of each region lived in harmony with these cycles, celebrating them through ceremony, story, and shared work. These seasonal markers were powerful reminders of the earth’s abundance and the deep connection between humans and nature.
As educators and parents, we have the opportunity to revive this relationship with the land. By tuning into the natural rhythms where we live, we help children develop a rich awareness of their surroundings and a sense of belonging to the world. Observing the first flowers of spring, the migration of local wildlife, or the ripening of fruit is more than just noticing nature—it’s a way to ground ourselves in the present and reconnect to the cycles that have sustained life for thousands of years.
Why is this important? Because it teaches children to slow down and notice. It builds curiosity, awareness, and gratitude. It shows them that they are part of something bigger and that life moves in cycles—sometimes fast, sometimes slow, but always unfolding in its time. It’s an antidote to the fast-paced world we live in, offering children a way to root themselves in the rhythms of life and find joy in the small, beautiful moments that each season brings.
Connecting to these cycles also opens the door to learning about the rich history of the land and the indigenous communities that have lived in harmony with it. Every place has a story. What seasonal shifts have been celebrated here for hundreds or even thousands of years? What plants, animals, and seasonal changes have sustained the people of this place? These are questions worth asking and exploring with children. They help us understand the land we walk on and honor those who came before us.
Creating simple seasonal rituals—whether planting a native flower, tasting the first fruits of the season, or sharing stories under the stars—gives children a direct experience of nature’s cycles. When we celebrate these rhythms, we offer them more than just a science lesson. We offer them a way of being in the world—a way that’s grounded, present, and filled with wonder. We offer them the chance to see the world as a place of connection, where each season is a teacher and each shift is something to be celebrated.
Closing
The changing seasons are an open invitation—a chance to slow down, observe, and connect to the world around us. They offer a rhythm that has guided humans for thousands of years, grounding us in something ancient and enduring. As educators and parents, we have the privilege of helping children discover these rhythms and their own unique relationship with the land they call home.
Wherever you are, the land is alive with seasonal shifts waiting to be noticed and celebrated. You don’t need elaborate plans or perfect timing—just a willingness to step outside, look around, and listen. What is the land telling you? What is emerging, blooming, ripening, or fading? These small moments of awareness become powerful when shared with children. They help root them in the present, inspire awe and curiosity, and foster a sense of belonging to the natural world.
Start simple. Gather to observe the first signs of spring. Tell stories under the stars. Plant something that grows with the seasons. These small acts, done with intention, have the power to spark lifelong connections to the earth. Together, let’s honor the land, its history, and its ongoing rhythms—teaching the next generation to walk gently, live curiously, and celebrate this wild, beautiful world.