Nature’s Celebration

 

Found on: http://www.lushome.com/green-christmas-strategies-holiday-decorating/81

 

This week is all about Christmas as the culmination of the season hones in. We are all busy with holiday parties and shopping for gifts, but have you stopped to notice that we embrace nature more deeply during this festive season? Real Christmas trees can be found in almost every house, and wooden decorations topped with pine cones, red berries and coniferous leaves too. Mistletoe is a common greenery seen hanging in the doorway along with green pine wreaths. The candles smell of nutmeg and spices. These are the little reminders of the beauty we can find in nature. Wildlife was the first form of beauty positioned here on earth. It is timeless and wholesome. The colors we find are in the most pure form and the textures are mesmerizing. Appreciation for the beauty found in the outdoors has been celebrated for centuries and continues to blossom. Paintings, sketches, clay figurines, and photography are only a few of the different tools people use to celebrate the splendor of nature.

Gaining the appreciation for nature at a younger age is highly dependent on external influences. It’s no secret that children of the 2000s are experiencing less and less of the outdoors. They are bombarded with the latest gadgets and technology that keeps them perpetually huddled up inside. As the days are getting colder, now is the time to bundle up and explore the splendor of the changing season! Find your own unique way to celebrate nature’s beauty and encourage your little ones by example. Children will fill their parent’s shoes. Making it a priority to show them that nature needs to be celebrated, creates a life lasting connection for a more empathetic citizen.  

To get you started, try this engaging paint chip activity.  All you need are paint chip cards and a hunger for investigation! You could use earth colored cards or any color you like. Mother Nature may surprise you with her vast variety of hues! Match as many cards as you can to the things you find outside! Don’t forget to stop and soak in the brilliance that surrounds you.

                                                    Found on:  http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/08/paint-swatch-scavenger-hunt.html

 

 

 

Playing with Nature

Playing in nature is one of my favorite memories to look back on. The time spent creating worlds in the backyard woods are a particular highlight. While my sister and I were growing up we had a neighbor down the street with an extra lot by her house. These woods were where magical towns were built and the common exchange was precious stones and healing herbs. We “ate” sun flower stew and stick kabobs. We were in the safety and freedom of our imaginations. These formative years, developed a yearning to work with animals and to make a career out of exploring the outdoors.  Growing up with a love for nature has also made me keenly aware of the human impact on the environment. This appreciation for nature was key in my early progression towards becoming an empathetic citizen. Playing in nature is an important part of anyone’s childhood that should not be forgotten. As adults we are here to help guide our children to get curious and find the “magic”.

I recently made several sensory fall sensory jars to help spearhead kids’ curiosity.

 

 

 

 

These sensory jars are super easy to create at home!

 

 

 

 

All you need is several jars, water and anything you find interesting from outside. However, remember that we do not want to disturb nature and add to the environmental impact that humans often unknowingly cause. So if you are searching in your backyard look for things that have fallen from the trees. If you are in a park make sure you ask a ranger if it is ok to take your treasures home.  

I created mine with themes. One jar has acorn, the other has berries and then I created some with different sized leaves. Adding glitter or food coloring makes the jars even more magical. While having fun you could even give your kids a quick lesson about how the water and glass works together as a magnifier!

 

 

 

 

Fall For Fall

This season is the perfect time to see gravity in action. The gravity created by Earth pulls everything down. Look around and encourage your little one to explore the evidence of gravity. What objects have fallen from a higher place? Make a list of everything you find. Can you guess where it came from and how high? You may come across some acorns, which are very common to find laying on the ground this time of year. These nuts are an important part of the food chain for foraging animals. Animals forage and gather food in preparation for the colder weather ahead. As you forage for gravity’s evidence, compare your treasures. How many different shapes or colors did you find? Ask your child what might happen if gravity didn’t exist on Earth. How would it affect animals that rely on this food source?

Found on http://idahoptv.org/sciencetrek/topics/gravity/facts.cfm

 

 

 

 

Here are some good gravity points to think about:

·         The gravity from Earth keeps the moon from flying off into space.

·         The reason objects stay on the Earth’s surface is because of the gravitational pull towards Earth’s center. If there was no gravity anything not secured to earth would float away!

·         Gravity affects how much you weigh. Mars has a lower gravitational pull than Earth, a person weighing 200 pounds on Earth would only weigh 76 pounds on Mars.

·         The more mass that an object has, the more gravitational pull it will have, and the smaller the object’s mass the less gravitational pull it will have.

·         Gravity guides the growth of plants; stems grow away from the Earth’s center, toward the sun and roots grow towards the Earth’s center, away from the light.

Click here to learn about the affects of gravity on growing plants!

Found on http://leavingbio.net/plant%20responses.htm

 

 

 

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving last week! Gathering with family and pouring over recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation made me think of the ways food was prepared in holidays past. Our great grandparents used to plant, care for, and harvest the food before they even began to cook those delicious dishes. The size and type of harvest would depend greatly on seasons and weather. Now, times have drastically changed! Fully cooked dinners are ready for pick up at your local markets for convenience. Our younger generations cannot fathom that food wasn’t as easily accessible. However, nutrition is lost in today’s easy prep foods. High processed meat and weeks old vegetables do not contain the same vitamins and minerals as they once did. As we have begun to realize this deficiency, people are making efforts to grow more nutritious food. Growing your own vegetables can be less expensive and way more enjoyable! Have you ever thought about growing your own vegetables or herbs? It can have a great impact in your children’s lives. They learn patient, hard work and the care of a living organism. They learn the value of nature and can make a meaningful connection from the food they eat to the delicate environment outside.

There are many ways to grow food at home indoors and outdoors, all you need is an open mind and the will to do it. Starting indoors this time of the year is a good way to ease into sustainable growing. Here is a great article to get you started indoors: http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-To-Grow-Veggies-Herbs-Indoors-/10000000196832302/g.html?roken2=tf.pR3VpZGVz.bQ3JlYXRpdmUgR2FyZGVuaW5n.g.cpin.ap4c&pp=0   

Check out these inspiring indoor gardens found on Urban Way of Life: http://urbanwayoflife.com/10-stunning-indoor-gardens/

 

 

 

Winter is just around the corner! The days are getting shorter and the mornings are even colder. Outside, the foliage is turning mostly brown and those bright fall colors are fading. For those of us that relish in the beauty of fall, have no fear! Nature's fall magic doesn't need to stop just because we have come to a new season. While some of us dread the cold and try to hibernate with the rest of the woods, let's be innovate and resourceful! The outdoor adventures of fall only have a couple of weeks to go, but now is the time to plan our new ones for winter. A season on the rise brings the promise of new adventures and new discoveries. While fall may be folding its leaves and winding down to sleep, winter brings her own kind of beauty that shows Mother Nature's adaptations to all types of weather. Can you spot the ways that nature adapts to the cold?

When taking a walk in the woods, see what shrubs are still standing green. Bring back a specimen by taking a picture or even start your own field guide by sketching what you see. Discover what it is and how does it stay fresh and green in the shorter days? Most trees that stay green all winter are coniferous trees. They are commonly called evergreens and are characterized by their pine needles and cones. They are highly adapted to the cold and periods of low sunlight. Evergreens typically only grow above the 55th north parallel, or 55 degrees latitude. They keep their green pine needles all year around and only lose their oldest of leaves. Collect the ones that have fallen to the earth, see how many different categories that you can sort them into. Can you create garland or some holiday decorations with the fallen needles?

 

http://lifeofplant.blogspot.com/2011/05/conifers.html

 

http://elephantaday.blogspot.com/2011/11/elephant-no-57-pine-cones.html

The Palmetto trail winds all through South Carolina, it has many different levels of trails and hikes to explore. There are plenty of coniferous trees to see and identify. Click the link below to get started with planning your next hike.

http://palmettoconservation.org/palmetto-trail/map/

If you aren't from around the Carolinas or want to make a trip, maybe check out these hikes:

New Mexico:

http://alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/pine-tree-trail

Utah: http://www.nps.gov/brca/learn/nature/bristleconepine.htm

Colorado: http://alltrails.com/us/colorado/conifer



To help out with your field guide here is a link to a list of coniferous and deciduous trees you may find:

http://www.adducation.info/mankind-nature-general-knowledge/deciduous-or-coniferous-trees/

 

Hey folks!

So after sitting outside in nature and listening to all of her whispers, I began to notice not just her sounds but her other beauties too. This time of year brings those big bold fall leaves, but there are quieter colors too. Look for the dark green and fuzzy moss, or the white and cream mushrooms growing on the ash brown logs. Mother Nature uses colors in all forms, including our animal friends. Animals use their colors in protection, attraction and camouflage. Focusing on nature’s beauty is an important way to create a positive and empathy filled connection in early childhood. Recent studies have even shown that having contact with nature is as important for young children as proper diet and adequate sleep! So get those kids outdoors or bring nature inside to them!

I have recently done an activity that can help us to focus on nature’s beauty and bring it indoors. This craft is more creativity based and helps us to find our own paths to inspiration by nature. If you’re looking for an activity to bring indoors, give this a try!

 

                                  Headpiece craft

Look at some photos of animals or nature for some inspiration. Here are a few to get you started. The great part about this craft is that you can do it with anything that you want! Just gather any supplies that you might like. If you are having a rainy day brain and can’t think, take a look at this list to help you out.

Gather any fun nature-related material:

·         Fall leaves

·         Colorful feathers

·         Beads

·         Dried corn or pasta

·         Hemp string

Non-nature materials you might need:

·         Yarn

·         Pipe cleaners

·         Glue or tape

·         Coffee filters

Instructions: Maybe start off by having a talk about what you see in the photos. Notice the colors and different textures. Discuss with your child their thoughts on why these particular animals or plants are so colorful. Do they serve a purpose? Being able to reason and defend and argument is an important part to the classroom. (Remember arguments aren’t always yelling and screaming. In the classroom, it is a simple stamen that requires support.) Discuss why you think these animals have funky head pieces, especially birds. Then go for it! Create a head piece any way you like. Ask questions at the end; what inspired you and why did you pick certain materials to be in you headpiece?  Remember to have fun with it!

The goal of this activity is to help encourage children gain confidence in their own decisions and creativity. They get inspired by nature and make the positive connections to further their interest in the outdoors around them.

 

 

 

 

 

The Greenville Zoo nature club had a blast this past Saturday on our Bunched Arrowhead hike! The weather was perfect for hiking, not too cold and not too hot. We had a wonderful guide, Ms. Cat, who pointed out some awesome discoveries along our way. Bunched Arrowhead Preserve is a pocket of protected land, home to the endangered Arrowhead plant.

                                                              Arrowhead Plant

                                                         Bunched Arrowhead Preserve

  On our hike we first ran into a prehistoric plant called Lycopodium. This plant has been around since the age of dinosaurs! It has also been used traditionally in Austrian medicine. 

                                                                            Lycopodium

 

 

We also found a plant that kind of smells like fruit loops when crushed in your hand; sassafras. The roots of this plant make a great up of tea. We ran into a teeny tiny black rat snake and even saw a bat house! Ms. Cat also pointed out a plant called lamb’s ear, it is super fuzzy and soft. She told us how it was used as toilet paper long ago before toilet paper was invented.

I highly recommend this short hike to families who are looking for a quick and close by outdoor adventure. See if you can spot any of these species found in the preserve: http://www.clemson.edu/public/naturalist/2014_umnp/pdf/bahp_species_list_2014.pdf

Even if you don’t have a guide to lead your hike, you still get out there and explore!

 

Quiet Time

What to do in nature? Sometimes finding things to do outdoors can be distracting as to what nature has to offer. Even the added fluff of having to do an activity that is fun and also educational can be a bit stressful. We are a society that is constantly on the go and tends to forget to find some down time. Sitting in nature is an activity we commonly look over. However, just finding a quiet place outside to sit and maybe do some deep breathing can relieve a lot of added stress or anxiety. There is one thing that nature has that cannot be replaced; fresh air. Something as simple as deep breathing can drastically improve your health. Here's a link to some deep breathing exercises that can be done outside.

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-breathing-exercises-for-relaxation/

Maybe you have little ones who have a hard time sitting still? Making a game out of it could possibly focus their attention! Have them sit as quiet as they can and ask them what they can hear. Start with the easier sounds first: birds chirping, squirrels and dogs barking, footsteps on the crunchy leaves. Then as the game goes on, encourage them to listen for the more faint sounds in nature, Hear the wind tickle the branches. Can you hear a friend sigh as they become alert to the woods? What about a distant trickle of water? Even if it is a man-made fountain, it can be rejuvenating.
Is your should-be meditator still a wiggle worm? Don't give up on quiet time just yet! young children love to play pretend and doing so outside nourishes their connection to nature, making the woods come to life. Adding in made-up sounds can have them even more interested in the activity. Ask them what they hear and you might often get a chuckle from their answers, which can be a source of stress relief in itself! Here is a short list of different sounds you may be able to hear while sitting quietly:
 

Cars
Birds
Leaves Crunching
Twigs Breaking
Animal Noises (other than birds)
Wind in the trees
Acorns Falling
Fairy Whispers
Snake Slithering
People Walking

Feel free to add more to enhance the experience for you and your kids!

Rainy Day

 

I’m looking forward to our next Nature Play Club outing! It is on November 7^th and we will be doing a backpacking course with Sunrift Adventures. The experts from Sunrift will hold a mini workshop and hike through the Bunched Arrowhead Preserve. Here is your chance to get out into nature to see the changing leaves before it gets too cold!  If you are not a part of the Greenville Zoo Nature Club you can still sign up and RSVP your spot for the adventure.                                                                                                                

The next few days are looking a little rainy again, which can make it hard to get outside for some fresh air. I’ve heard a saying that I think is best suited for this situation: “There is never bad weather, only bad clothing.” So bundle up and get out there! I found that incorporating rain into your day is the best way to connect with it. Spending our days thinking rain is an inconvenience only encourages bad attitudes. This simple art project is fun for all ages and helps us to appreciate the beauty of rain.

 

 

 

 

You will need:

·         Watercolor paints

·         Paint brushes

·         A paper weight or stone

·         Sturdy paper (like art journal material; best for holding up against the rain)

To begin you will want to paint a design on your paper. You can make any design you like. You might want to experiment with different shapes and how far you space them out. Little ones will have a blast with painting and there is no real way to mess up! It is best to keep your paint wet. Then before it dries take you painting outside and let the rain do the rest. The paper weight or stone is used best for windy days to keep your paper in place. It’s fun to watch the rain change your painting into a natural masterpiece!