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!

 

 

Autumn is in full swing! The leaves of the trees have begun their color show.  Peak season is right around the corner for the upstate.  The change of colors starts at the highest elevation, then works its way down. Colder weather speeds up the process and warmer weather prolongs it.  I know the weather has been getting colder this week and all we want to do to cuddle up inside.  However, now is the perfect time to see nature flaunt its stuff! Just going outside for a short hike or heading up to a state park can be extra rewarding for curious eyes.  For additional motivation look at these recent pictures of Asheville, NC: http://www.romanticasheville.com/fall-color-report

Maybe hiking up a mountain is too much of a hassle with your young family, that doesn’t mean they’ll have to miss the beauty of the season. Trying an autumn cork painting to engage your toddler to appreciate what fall brings. All you will need is paper, some corks, and fall colored paint. You start off with the blank paper and draw your tree without leaves. Then, have your little one dip the cork into the paint and press it onto the paper to create the changing leaves. You could even have your child go out and search for real leaves to use instead of the corks. The real leaves engage their sense of touch and creates a genuine connection to nature.

 

Hello fellow Nature Play community! I’m new to the blog and super excited to be sharing some fun ideas with you all! So I thought I would start off by introducing myself. My name is Kaitlyn and I am an intern here at the Greenville Zoo. I am currently in charge of our Nature Play department. I was thrilled to be offered this position and become a part of the Zoo’s family!

As I’ve been outdoors tidying up our nature nook playground, I noticed some new friends that have come out to enjoy the recent rainy weather here in South Carolina. You’ve probably seen them yourself growing in your own backyard. Mushrooms!! I love mushrooms, at least the ones we can eat; button mushrooms, shitake and even Chinese black mushrooms. However there are hundreds more type of mushrooms. But the ones we see in our yards may not be for eating! Here is an online guide I found for mushrooms: http://www.mushroommountain.com/mushroom_hunting/index.asp

It even tells you if it is edible, but I’m sure they need to be cooked first, so leave that to the chefs! As you are out and exploring in this fall weather, make a game to see who can spot the most mushrooms and guess what kind they are. Learning is always more fun when you make a game out of it.

Sending positive vibes to all the explorers!