Winter Nature Walks

So you are ready to take that nature hike and you don't know what to pack in your daypack. Here are a few tips that I can give to help you get started.

Must Haves for your nature journal:
1. Journal: I prefer smaller spiral-bound with heavy drawing paper, no lines
2. Small pencil box with assorted colored pencils. Watercolor colored pencils are a great choice
3. One or two sizes of paintbrushes and a small cup for water
4. Pencil sharpener
5. Ziplock bags for items you collect
6. Magnifying lens
7. Field guides if you are going to do your identifying on the trail otherwise leave them in the car for when you return
8. Snack if you are going to be gone for any length of time
9. Wet wipes in a small baggie for easy clean-ups
10. Small First aid kit
11. Map of area

Fun to have but not necessary:
1. Binoculars
2. Plant press
3. Net for insects
4. Digital camera
5. Small containers for catching critters

Necessary items to have at least in the car:
1. Bottles of water
2. Change of clothes, just in case (including shoes and socks)
3. Sunblock and/or insect repellant
4. Towels or blanket in case you need a place to sit or something to dry off with

Most importantly, take along a really good attitude and leave yourself open to whatever the experience brings. Allow your children to direct you to things they find interesting and then share in their excitement. A good nature walk is pleasurable for everyone and allows you and your children to develop a relationship with our Creator. The best times I can remember with my children are the times we just took it slow and easy, looking for the little things that most people pass by. Turn over a rock and see what's underneath. Look up in the branches of the trees and see if you can find any birds or other critters. Sit quietly by the edge of a pond or stream and see what comes along. Breathe the air and enjoy the day.

*Check the weather forecast.
*Know when to turn around if weather or terrain becomes unsafe.
*Always leave a planned itinerary (stick to it) with a family member or friend.
*Wear appropriate footwear and clothing. You should think about dressing in layers.

Here are some subjects to study while you are on your winter nature hike:
1. Trees-look at the shapes of the trunks and branches, notice which trees are evergreens and which are deciduous.
2. Birds-this time of year the birds are still active
3. Clouds or the weather-perfect time to learn about the various types of clouds
4. Mammals-tracks are visible in the mud and snow

Here are some of my own observations on nature study.

* It takes my children a long time to explore outdoors and they can do it very well without my interfering. I try to follow their lead and not rush them.
* I need to participate in the nature study myself. I try to model how to find a subject for my notebook and really observe the object.
* Drawing the object in the notebook is the last step in really "seeing" the object.
* There is no use in forcing a child to work in a nature journal. Regular exposure to the outdoor life will eventually lead to a desire to keep a record of what they see that interests them.
* Every nature journal is unique to the owner. I tend to record scenes in my journal. My daughter usually finds something pretty to draw. My boys find "things" to record in their journals like sticks, bugs, leaves, and seeds.
* Don't limit your journals to sketches. Sometimes we include photos in our journals. We have taken rubbings of bark or leaves. We have even taped small objects into our journals. Variety in our journals make them more interesting.

My suggestion: Study one tree, one bird, and one insect per school year.

Take it slowly.
Find one tree in your yard that you can study.

* Find out what kind of tree it is.
* Make rubbings of the leaves and bark.
* Does it drop its leaves or does it stay green year round?
* Does it have any birds in it? Any insect holes? Hollows for critters?
* Can you climb up into it and see what the view is?
* Can you lay under your tree and watch the branches move in the breeze?
* Does it have blossoms, fruit, cones, seeds, or other objects to study?
* Do you see a nest in the tree?
* Is the trunk straight, crooked, twisted, rough, or smooth?
* Do the leaves or needles smell good? How about the bark?

Watch and observe and narrate one thing at a time you will find that it is really not so hard. If you feel like recording the experience, put something on paper.

I don't look at outdoor time and nature study as one more subject I
need to plan and be ready for, I just let it unfold. If your children want to learn more about something they find while outdoors, gradually teach them to look things up for themselves in a good field guide or on your next trip to the library.

If you observe and identify one tree per year, over the course of your
child's education, you will have learned about 12 different trees...I
don't know about you but I have a hard time just listing 12 trees by name so if your child has become acquainted with 12 trees, they are far better off than many of us.

Slowly, gradually, gently....it works.

I thought I would share a quick little nature journal idea that we like to make for an outing or a special roadtrip.



Materials:

4 sheets of paper...any kind will do

hole punch

rubberband

twig



Fold the paper in half.



Punch two holes near the edge of the folded side of the paper.



Put the rubberband around the twig and then down through one of the holes.



Stretch the rubberband on the backside of the paper and up through the other hole.



Put the rubberband around the other end of the twig.

There you have it.



Add decoration to the cover if you wish.