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!