Star Gazing

Fall is a perfect time to get lost in the night sky. The cool fall evenings make a great time to cuddle up under a blanket with hot chocolate as you search the skies for familiar constellations. This Friday night, instead of plopping in front of the TV, grab some buddies for a night time scavenger hunt. See if you can spot the Big Dipper, or mighty Hercules. Can you make any of your own constellations?

Visit eNature.com for a sky guide that will help you to traverse the galaxy!

Nature's Concoctions

When I was a kid, one of my favorite activities with my friends was to make potions or perfumes. This was a mesmerizing activity that unleashed magical powers to create anything we wanted. We used leaves, flowers, berries, and any other tantalizing scents. Putting these ingredients in a bowl we mashed them up, releasing their aromas. Naturally, we had to share their smells with everyone and gave our parents and sisters the pleasure of smelling like our perfume for the day. On other days we would trick the invisible troll that lived down by the creek into letting us pass as we offered him a drink of our potion.

Using nature to unlock this activity offered us hours of fun in the outdoors. It also got us familiar with the natural flora. Mom would be so impressed with our perfumes that she would show us the flowers that gave off the most fragrant smells, like the roses and wild honeysuckle. While Dad, knowing that we were good fairies that didn't want to truly poison the troll but only make him fall asleep, showed us which berries might truly be poisonous and taught us to stay away from them. 

Encourage your little ones to explore the nature around your house and express their creativity by gathering the things they like. Together you can learn about the nature that excites them. Check out the National Wildlife Federation's Kids page for some fun ideas, and even learn how to make a Fall Perfume with your little ones. 

Fantasy

     I remember a time in my youth when my life was full of fantasy. I spent hours looking for fairies in the woods. Building forts with my sister so that we could hide from pirates and bandits was a weekly routine. I had the fortune of my best friend being my twin sister, so we were always together...always. Our play never ended! We would go to bed planning our adventures for the next day and pick up right where we left off in the world of make-believe. But how "make-believe" was it? Studies show that play and make-believe are actually valuable parts of a child's development. A child being able to express their creativity is a portal that builds confidence, social and cognitive development, and problem solving skills.
    Playing make believe in nature is even more enriching to children. This is where they develop an empathy for the natural world. While they concoct kingdoms, superheroes, dragons, and explorations, children are forming their own relationship that will forge their path for the future. Think about it...all of us that love nature now, more often that not, spent a lot of time in it as a child. Not just being outside but in nature! the experiences we had in nature as a child helped to establish our morals, ideals, and ambitions as an adults. It is called our ecological identity.
    This week, talk to the pixie that used to run through the fields. Go find the princess that was the ruler of the woods. Challenge the pirates down by the creek, or the troll under the bridge. Encourage you little one's imagination and help it to grow! Building a digital world on a computer game has limitations and boundaries. Not so in the world of make-believe. allow your child to fully embrace their imagination and you will watch it grow over time and remember that it is OK to be swept back into a time of fantasy.


Need some inspiration? Check out Forest Fairy Tales by the Forest Commission: England. Or find out how on Pinterest how to build your own fairy house in your backyard, porch, or even potted plant! Who said you needed woods to play make-believe?

Greenville Zoo Nature Play: A Natural Club for Families

It’s finally here! The Greenville Zoo is proud to introduce a club for families that want to be more in tuned to nature. Maybe you just don’t know where to start? Or perhaps you don’t live near a natural space? Well we are here to help! This club is free to join and will offer seasonal hikes to get your family started. Hikes will be in local parks and natural spaces and lead by various nature enthusiasts. Our first hike will be in Cleveland Park and lead by Master Naturalist Polly Powell on Saturday, September 20^th. Visit the Greenville Zoo’s website to register for the Greenville Zoo Nature Play Club.   

Meet Polly!

“I am a retired teacher having taught science and gifted students for 38 years.  I am the mother of 3 sons and the grandmother of 6 - 5 that live above the Mason-Dixon Line. This makes it imperative that I travel.... a lot!  I became a Master Gardener and a Master Naturalist after I retired and enjoy volunteering for both organizations.  I am married to Allen Powell, Executive Director of the National Technical Honor Society.” 

Being a Natural Teacher

Now that our young ones are headed off to school, I worry that they are not getting enough time outdoors or exploring the natural qualities of the world. Studies show that increased time outdoors helps to lower stress and other symptoms of high anxiety. So if keeping children indoors all day is putting our children’s mental health at risk, what can we do about it? Recently I read an article that gives ways a teacher can become a natural teacher. The article titled THE NATURAL TEACHER, BACKTO SCHOOL: 10 Ways You Can Add Vitamin “N” to the Classroom & Beyond discusses how to use nature in all aspects while teaching, even if you are stuck indoors. I would encourage you to read this article by Richard Louv and even pass it on to the teachers at your school.

Involving schools in nature is important but we can’t expect our teachers to do all the work for us. When your student gets home do you help to foster that love of nature? Invite them to play outside until dinner, or even do their homework under the shade of a tree. Learning does not solely take place between the four walls of a school. Every home is a school, what are you teaching?