Teo & Patty, sibling rangers at Station WIL, share stories, scribble haiku, and send monthly trail whispers. They ask, “What’s it like?”—and find the voices who know "What it's like."
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Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Joyful Holiday Season from Ranger Station WIL
Published 5 months ago • 7 min read
Trail Roundup Newsletter
Empowering Stories for Young Readers
❄️ Hello everyone! ❄️
🌟 Welcome to the December edition of the Station WIL Trail Roundup Newsletter. 🌟
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, we find ourselves wrapped in the gentle glow of the season. Christmas trees shimmer with soft lights, menorahs shine with quiet dignity, and the spirit of giving fills our hearts with warmth and joy.
This month, we invite you to pause, appreciate the simple gifts around you, and share in the stories that make this time of year truly special. Whether you’re trimming your tree, lighting candles, singing together, or wrapping presents, may this newsletter bring a little extra sparkle to your holiday season. 🧭❄️
Look what's happening now!
The first three chapters of Ranger Station’s newest book Station WIL ~ What It’s Like to Find Your Way are now live in our Books & Blogs section.
This second book in the Station WIL Series invites readers to explore outdoor skills like orienteering, compass reading, and navigation — all mixed with a little adventure, showing how map skills can help us make thoughtful decisions in any circumstance.
For now, join Rangers Jack and Jill and the team as we journey through stories, skills, and winter wonder — and yes, we’re finishing the book together!
LISTENING Can you hear the snow, Echo and crunch as you go Down this wintery trail?
Sometimes, it's those little things that bring us joy!
🍓 Welcome to the Strawberry Patch with Abby🍓
Hello there and hop right in! I’m Abby, and this cozy little corner is where I share curious tidbits, bunny-sized stories, and questions from my friends. It’s not a big advice column — more like a soft patch of clover where we can nibble on ideas together.
🎄 This time of year, the clover’s frosted and the strawberries are tucked in for a winter nap, but our stories still sparkle like snowflakes. So, grab a warm blanket, light a little candle, and let’s share some gentle wonder — together. 🍓
Abby's Poetry & Haiku ...Just for you!)
A TASTE OF THE HOLIDAY
Strawberries, parsley Christmas delicious and bright Stockings stuffed with joy.
JOY
A crate full of hay A bowl filled with yum A heart full of love A day filled with fun.
CHOICES
My snowy footprints Icy tracks of where I’ve been Steps ahead unmarked.
Joyful bunny! Abby hops into her present on Christmas morning.
🌼 What’s on Your Mind?
Now it’s your turn! Got a question, a story, or a silly thought? Send it my way. The Strawberry Patch is always open — and there’s room for everyone under the leaves. 📬 Write to Abby: abby@abbyadventurebooks.com (Abby reads every message with a little help from Sofia.)
Having Fun! The Value of Play
Why Play Matters
Play isn’t just fun—it helps us grow strong, kind, and creative. When we play, we learn how to share, solve problems, and imagine new worlds. Play is practice for life!
Seasonal Spark: Snowball Battles
Winter brings a special kind of play: %snowball battles! When kids toss ..snowballs back and forth, they’re not just laughing—they’re learning teamwork, quick thinking, and how to bounce back when things don’t go their way. Every snowball is a chance to practice resilience and joy.
Try This Today
Build a small snow fort with friends.
Have a playful snowball toss (remember: gentle throws!).
End with hot cocoa and a story circle.
Legacy Lesson
Play is a gift we carry into every season. Whether it’s snowball battles in winter or tag in summer, play helps us grow into our best selves.
🧺Winter-Wonder Hunt
Theme: Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt
Make a list, wait for the snow, bundle up, grab your friends and a camera, and explore the outdoors this season to see how many of these winter-wonderland treasures you can find.
Pinecones
Animal tracks in the snow
Icicles
Evergreen needles
A bird’s nest (Don't remove it, just take a picture, please)
Frost patterns on leaves
What else could you find where you live?
And if you don't live in snow country, see what wonders you can find that remind you of this season—capture the moment in a treasured photo!
📸 Send us a photo of the things you’ve gathered, and we’ll add it to our Kid-Made Gallery in the next TRU Newsletter! Share your stories and discoveries with us!
“Sticks or stones, leaves or cones—what did you find today?” —Scavenger Hunting Guide
Merry Christmas!
...and Happy Hanukkah!
As we gather together...
As we gather in homes and hearts this holiday season, it’s a beautiful time to pause and reflect on the blessings that light our way.
Whether it’s candles in the window, twinkling lights on the tree, or shared laughter around the table, this season invites us to celebrate the bonds of family, friendship, and community that guide us through every trail and turn.
We hope your hearts are joyful, your homes are cozy, and your spirits lifted by the simple wonders of connection and care.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Station WIL! ❄️
Ranger Station WIL New Year Note
🪶 It's always time for journaling...
Why not finish this year by reflecting on some of your favorite memories from 2025. Then pen a few goals for the new year, because...
...it's almost 2026!
Happy New Year 2026 from Station WIL!
As the calendar turns and the trail ahead unfolds, we pause to honor the steps we’ve taken and the stories we’ve shared.
This new year invites us to explore with fresh eyes, to navigate with kindness, and to carry lanterns of wisdom into the unknown.
Whether you’re mapping out new goals, journaling your journey,
or simply watching the snow fall in quiet reflection, may 2026 bring you clarity, courage, and a compass that always points to joy.
Here’s to new trails, old friends, and the wonder of finding your way.
Trail Markers
At the end of 2025!
🧭📚The Landing Page:
Dear TRU Friends,
✨ A New Trail for 2026: Serialized Stories You Can Follow
As we close 2025, we open a new trail into 2026—one that invites readers to walk alongside us, chapter by chapter. Adventure Writers Ink and Station WIL will begin sharing serialized installments from our upcoming books, letting each story arrive like a lantern on the trail.
No pressure to finish the whole book at once. Instead, each chapter becomes a milestone, a moment of discovery, and a gift to our readers.
🌿 Coming Soon! Featured Serializations and Short Stories
Critter Chronicles by Cat Fiasco (AWI) Whimsical adventures, shared in gentle installments.
The Long Trail Home by CS Norwood (AWI Old Brands Western) A western legacy brought to life, chapter by chapter.
The Grand Antipodes by Michael McBride (Loonsong Lake Books) The first three chapters are available now— Africa and Alaska - Timeless Lands of Fire and Ice
Three Rivers of Alaskan Gold by Michael & JoAnn (Loonsong Lake Books) A frontier journey serialized for fresh perspective.
Coyote Star Song: The Journey of Us by LSM, CF and CSN (AWI) Poetry, prose, and reflection woven into a living archive.
Downstream (AWI)
Short Stories are Coming Soon!
Motherlode (AWI Old Brands Western)
By the Light of Dawn (AWI Old Brands Western)
A Texas Story (AWI Old Brands)
Amelia’s Legacy (AWI Old Brands)
One Murder Too Many (AWI Old Brands)
Want to see what’s unfolding chapter by chapter? Click the button below to visit The AWI Landing Page and begin your journey. Once there, explore the menu for Books & Blogs — chapters and stories will be added along the trail.
🐾 Soft Paw Moments: Winston started gobbling just to show off his winter-white camouflage snowsuit — perfectly suited for snowy strolls and seasonal flair.
🕯️📚🕯️Legacy Threads: Editor’s still napping on the Night Before Christmas — so it’s the perfect time to read a good book. Try the first few chapters of Station WIL ~ What It’s Like to Find Your Way, now available in Books & Blogs on The AWI Landing Page Menu.
✍️Have fun! Send us your latest poem or leave an epic haiku. Share your own adventure story — you never know how it might inspire our next tale.
Haikus are like trail markers! Be sure to include a title and the date you wrote it. Short notes help, too — we’re moving quickly into journaling now.
Walking a well-worn path or carving your own trail? Tell us:
“What kind of trail will you trek today?”
End of the December 2025 Trail
❄️END-OF-YEAR HAIKUS 1. Lanterns in the snow, Stories guide us through the dark, Season’s light shines on.
2. Snow drifts, lanterns shine, Old year bows, new trails begin, Joy lights every path.
3. Snow hums through the pines, Lanterns wait for morning light, Christmas trails begin. —By Ranger Jack, December 14-16, 2025, written just for you!
(Send your own haiku and you might see it here in the next Trail Roundup Newsletter! Yay!!)
☃️
🏮 From the Trail at Station WIL🕯️
As the year’s final lanterns glow, we pause to honor the stories shared, the treasures found, and the trails yet to come.
From snowy scavenger hunts to holiday lights, from haiku patches to winter dispatches, your footsteps have joined ours in weaving a season of wonder.
"Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year 2026"
— from all of us at Station WIL.
Don't forget your furry friend's happy holiday, too!
🐾Don't forget to walk your dog! Your furry friend is counting on you — even in wintery weather! ...and, yes, furry-friend photos are always welcome here in the TRU Newsletter!!
📬
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Don't forget your compass...
and you'll always know
What It's Like to Find Your Way!
Hello, New Year! Our next Ranger Station WIL Trail Roundup Newsletter will arrive in January 2026.
And, not-to-worry, you can find any past editions of the TRU Newsletter by clicking here...
We’ll meet you back here in the New Year! New stories, fresh adventures, and quiet updates from the trail will be waiting. Until then, we wish you a very Happy Holiday Season. And may you read with wonder, explore with joy, learn with curiosity, and wander through the pages of our books—and the world beyond—with heart and delight.
Goodbye for now!
(With gratitude to Copilot Jack, Pixabay artists, and the lens work of Michael McBride & Ranger Jill.)
Teo & Patty, sibling rangers at Station WIL, share stories, scribble haiku, and send monthly trail whispers. They ask, “What’s it like?”—and find the voices who know "What it's like."
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for updates on the adventures!
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