Category: Uncategorized
Kids Fall in Love With Nature for Life Before Age Six
The squeal of excitement as my child finds a slug. The exhilaration on her face as she splashes through a stream. The exuberance as she climbs a steep mountain at a sprint, loaded down with two backpacks. These are the memories I will hold…
Common Violet
Violet (Violaceae Viola spp.) is blooming early this year. I already saw some of the flowers yesterday. You can collect the flowers and eat them raw or if you can collect 5 – 6 cups of them, you may want to try making violet…
Animal Role Play
My kids love to pretend to be other animals. Playing a simple role-playing game with kids outside can be an excellent and easy way to teach them about wild animals. In fact, many hunter-gatherer cultures would dress up like, walk like, and dance like…
Tree Climbing
Tree climbing is another classic, outdoor activity that never will grow old! It’s a great activity for adults and kids alike and is an easy way to start getting your kids out of the house on their own. They’ll even get some exercise in the…
Take Your “Pet” for a Hike
One easy and fun activity my kids love is taking their “pets” out for a walk. In our case, that means bringing stuffed animals outside and it’s a great way to get them out the door. The world outside, especially in our forest, is a…
Jewelweed
Did you know that there is free, over-the-counter medicine waiting just outside your doorstep? Plants! We all probably learned that medicinal plants were used by people all over the world before modern medicine? Many of these herbs have fewer side affects than prescription pills…
12 Tips for Staying Warm This Winter
This year with the extreme temperatures, even the toughest nature-lovers and survivalists may find themselves devolving into winter hermits, huddling under a fleece blanket by the fire. Over a decade ago, I learned the hard way how to dress warmly for the cold. I…
Fruit of the Gods!
Have you ever had a persimmon? What about a North American persimmon, Diospyros virginia? These persimmons are similar to the Asian persimmons, but much smaller – only about an inch in diameter. This misunderstood Virginia-native fruit can turn even the most adventurous eater away,…
Tracking: An Activity for the Whole Family
One of my favorite activities that can be done year-round is tracking. Tracks are EVERYWHERE. However, it’s easiest to track in mud, sand, or snow. Kids love learning to read the earth and it’s also a great stepping stone to reading. Tracking, after all,…