buttefly on hand by apium
The top nature spots from a child’s point of view are the ones closest to where they spend their time. They are places they can visit through the seasons, spots they can hunt for bugs, flowers, rocks and seeds, and places they can truly feel connected to. What is your top nature spot? How close is nature to you? What is your answer?
I see it every day through my window without even going outside!
It’s a hop-skip-and-jump from my door.
I can get there within a few minutes walk.
It’s an expedition, outing, or a drive, away.
Nature? I saw that when I was on vacation – or maybe once when I was a kid.
In order to understand and connect with nature kids need to see it. So, if your answer is that it’s a few minutes walk away, bring it even closer. If you have to go on an outing or drive to get your kids in nature how can they have the chance to truly explore it and feel that it is part of their daily life? And if you only ever see nature during vacations or on TV you’re truly divorced from it and so are your kids.
Think about this, awareness comes before action. To care for the Earth we have to first love it. When we love it, we want to understand it. When we understand it, we know how to care for it.
Use community nature spots to inspire you, but don’t let them be nature for you. Find top nature spots at Green Hour Nature Finder
What is your top nature spot? Do you want to bring nature closer? What’s holding you back?
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Alison, it’s a very sad fact that most of us know more about plight of the polar bear, lions, tigers, and elephants in Africa, and Giant Pandas in China than we do about what’s happening to the nature and wildlife that is right outside our doors.Thanks for opening our eyes to the need to appreciate what is right in front of us.
“…most of us know more about plight of the polar bear…” Carole, you are so right. I would like to see more coverage of our wonderful native wildlife on TV. I’ve seen programs about dung beetles and meerkats in Africa, but not about burying beetles and prairie dogs in the USA. The more I learn, the more I realize how fascinating our own native wildlife is. It would be wonderful to raise that awareness in this country.
Wonderful article, as always! Thanks for the link to NWF’s Nature Event Finder. I found an event that we will be bringing the girls to next weekend!
Wendy, I’m so glad you found a nature event! What a wonderful resource the Green Hour nature finder is. And it’s such a gorgeous time of year to be out in nature