Backyard Nature Investigations
Small Moments of Great Wonder: A guide for big and little people to explore -together- the universe in their own backyard.
"Follow your children. Together you will learn or relearn how to pay attention; how to kneel down in the grass; how to be idle and blessed; how to stroll through the field (or your backyard); how to lead a wild and precious life".
-Mary Oliver
We will explore the natural world with your child this summer at The Nature Place and we encourage you and your family to bring nature into your life. Go out, get to know the world and season immediately around you and connect with your son or daughter in some very special, discovering ways.
We at The Nature Place have always believed that there is wonder, discovery, fun and connection (with the earth and with our children) in the outdoors, just beyond our doorstep. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says that "the beyond is not what is infinitely remote, but what is nearest at hand." Time and time again I have experienced the concept that what we most need is very close by, readily available to us. And in these stressful times we see a need for parents to: de-stress; get away from cell phones, computers, TV; breathe; be out in nature and reconnect with the earth and its seasons; get a little exercise; be with our children in an organic, simple and meaningful way; to live life 'in the now;' to revitalize our own sense of wonder and to know again what is really important. Our children and nature can certainly help lead us down the right path. The activities to be found within this section can be used as a guideline. They are simple, open-ended, leave room for further exploration, can be done in any amount of time you have available and, generally, will not mean having to leave your backyard.
Backyard Nature Investigations is an extraordinary way to bring parent and child together, in an innovative, 'organic' and simple approach, by suggesting activities which will say 'hello' to winter, spring, summer and fall in your own backyard and neighborhood.
Instructions:
Dress for the weather; go outside for 2 minutes or 2 hours; follow some of our suggestions below; explore; laugh; don't get in the way with too many words, let nature be the guide; don't expect action sequences a la the Nature Channel; think small; go slow; go slow; go slow; take your time, take your time; take your time; open your mind and say "Ah".
Results:
Will vary, but do expect fun, questions, discoveries, fresh air, a little exercise, a special time together and learning some "cool" things about YOUR world.
We're not really going to tell you what you will discover after doing some of these things. We can take a guess but we really can't be sure. And if we tell you what to expect you might not look for the unexpected. Remember, "Open your mind and say 'Ah' means doing and experiencing first. Who knows, you might even discover something that nobody else knows about or has even thought about!
FALL INTO THE CRACKS
Go out to your driveway, the sidewalk or a nearby parking lot, and peer into the cracks. Walk along the longer cracks, from crack to crack. You may find pieces of fall that have fallen into and been 'collected' by the cracks. This is actually worth doing at any time of year. After four season of crack-walking, you and your child may be able to tell the season just by seeing what the cracks have 'caught'.
CROP CIRCLES OF THE LEAFY KIND
When the leaves have blanketed the ground, and before you gather them or the leaf-blowers come to blow them away, rake them (or use your feet) to form mazes, spirals, trails and designs. Your yard has become a canvas, one you can rework again and again (the wind will probably help) - and you can take pictures of the transformations. Follow the trails. Keep them clear. Get a bird's eye view from your porch or upstairs window or (if you or your child are so inclined) from up in the tree itself.
I HEARD IT!
On a day when most of the leaves are already on the ground, carefully watch a tree or trees that are slowly, quietly losing their leaves one by one. Follow - really, really focus on just that one - a leaf as it falls to the ground. You'll be able to hear it touch down no matter how far away it is! To help you hear it try making "Big Ears": cup your hands behind your ears and bend them forward a bit so that your ears and hands together become like satellite dishes. You might feel a little silly (and look it), but you'll be amazed at the delicate sounds you can hear with your newly enhanced "receivers."
