We are all outdoors this school year. There is so much to say about the days and months we have been outside, so much wonder, so much growing, and so much learning.

Today it rained. People wonder about the rain. Summer and Fall rain is one thing, but today it was a Winter rain. Today, I told the children as they arrived bundled up and rain resistant ready, today is a 100% rain. It wasn’t going to stop.

On cold, rainy days, you better have a plan. There is no shelter up to the challenge of a 100% rain. This kind of rain creates at least four different kinds of mud. The mud calls to the children right when they walk in and it all seems like a great idea, but on a cold day, it doesn’t last. Like I said, you better have a plan.

Our plans usually center on leaving the play yard. There is a lot to see once we walk outside. And in a 100% rain, the amount of rain on our newly paved street with the lovely new curbs is a very impressive sight. Even with the children’s brightly covered Tuffo Muddy Buddies and the adult neon gear, we have to be careful with traffic. So today, to celebrate the 100% rain we gave the children chalk to mark our route inspired by Peter in Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats. Peter drew his way along the sidewalk with chalk.

“It is called sidewalk chalk!” shouted one of the Leaves class children (we are usually shouting on 100% rain days).

The children predicted that they would be able to find their way back to school, no worries. The rain thought otherwise.

This task — draw lines and arrows to mark our path — proved to be fascinating and galvanizing. 100% rain? 100% fascinating!

The same thing didn’t happen for the four- and five-year olds arriving later in the day. They were not at all impressed with the 100% rain. Not at all. They have been there, done that. What could this one offer?

Well, for one thing, we went on a gnarly walk. This was a new word for the children, but I had no other way to describe the adventure we went on. It was straight up, 100% gnarly. They wanted to know what that meant. I told them it meant everything together — tangled up. Fun and scary. Exhilarating and terrible. It was amazing and while we were on the hike, the 100% rain tapered off to something the children thought could be a 60% rain. And the children were 100% invested in this gnarly adventure.

The Tracks class has been trying to find a way to Sligo Creek which doesn’t involve crossing the Parkway. Who knew they would finally find it in a 100% rain? Except they also discovered that the Parkway is always there. The creek was impressive from high up on the ridge where we stood. Then we found this path and that is when the gnarly began.

We got to the end of this path and the children took a vote — to continue on the road or go back along the path. The majority voted to walk on the road. I’m interested in how they always want to go forward to find new ways to get back to the school. We started off, but then the lead team saw something they needed to investigate. A wall! What could it be?!?!? Without talking they started climbing.

Guess what? After a 100% rain, a steep hill gets 100% gnarly.

And the destination? Once we got there, was 100% the best and most mysterious thing ever.

What an adventure!