We started the morning finishing up individual projects started during open build time. This was a great opportunity for builders to work independently, and experience for themselves the design, build, tinker, rebuild process. Wood is an incredible medium, but builders learned first hand how difficult it can be to create organic shapes like curves in three dimension.
We ended up with lots of great finished projects like a bird house, a time-capsule, a drawer for glasses, and a bike rack that was badly needed to stand up all the mountain bikes without kickstands.
We observed the existence of a second baby pigeon, which was promptly named, "Bucket." We boosted up a small woodblock with Bucket's named scrawled on it to join the other blocks we had positioned below the nest earlier in the week.
Time to add the last features of the raft!
We threaded the molding through the canopy we had sewn, and screwed the arches down to the side of the raft.
We added a second ladder, and positioned the queen ant bench. Builders were ready to head out for a swim and enjoy their creation.
We laughed about how the finished raft looked a little like a floating version of a wagon from the Oregon Trail.
Excitedly, a dead chipmunk was found floating around the raft during the builders swim session. (Wow! Ahhh! Eww!) It was levitated by paddle to the swimming raft's edge, and then transported (dead) in the live-well to shore. There was much talk of handwashing, and the inherent risks of swimming in a body of water called, "The Dead River."
After lunch, we gloried in our last jump off the rope swing.......... check out these ninja moves!
After a day filled with swimming and building, it was time to prepare for the parents coming for the last pick-up. We made popcorn, and watched in amazement through the transparent cover of the popcorn maker, as individual popcorn kernels exploded before our eyes.
Hard working builders jumped in to sweep, stack and neaten tools and woodscrap piles in the workshop.
After a great effort, and many parents help, we boosted the raft out of the water for transport. (One of the builders had won the drawing to take the raft home.) Apparently there was so much excitement, and heavy lifting, I entirely forgot to photograph this part! Thank you to all the friends and family who helped us avoid the dreaded barrel rolling we endured on Wednesday!
Wow, builders. I am really going to miss my daily adventures with all of you!
Have an amazing summer and keep building.