Loving Nature's Garden » Outdoor Kids

Wild Boys

Alison Kerr — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:16:22 +0000

“One of the great changes in American life – and one barely noticed at the time – took place early in this century (20th century). There was a radical revision in the concept of boyhood.” “Before about 1915, boyhood was seen by most grown-ups as a state of natural savagery.” ” Boys were little savages, yes… but like Rousseau’s savages, they were also noble.” “And best of all they were free…”

“‘Savage’… derives from Latin silvaticus, ‘pertaining to the woods.” “…all day long, if they could manage it, they were paddling on the river or up tree houses, living happily at the food-gatherer level, as savages do.”

Foreword to The American Boys Handy Book, Centennial Edition, David R Godine, Publisher, Inc, 1983

First Garden With Kids

Alison Kerr — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:27:12 +0000

Kids Planting Seeds by Debi Huang

Today’s guest post is by Debi Huang of Go Explore Nature.

If you had told me eight months ago that I’d have a garden this spring, I’d have thought you were crazy. I’ve never successfully grown anything out of the ground – except those radishes back in junior high, but I had help with that.

And yet here I am, writing a post about my first experience with the garden my kids and I have started together.

I owe Alison here at Loving Nature’s Garden thanks. It was her Step-by-Step Gardening Club that gave me the confidence I needed to finally go for it. I feel now that we’re friends. Before that I was bogged down by gardening information overload, unsure of which way to go and too afraid of failing to try anything.

Kids Watering Garden by Debi Huang

Getting Started Gardening

Along with help from my 5-½ year old son (aka the Big Explorer), I chose kid-friendly plant seeds – sunflowers, carrots, radishes and tomatoes. The thought was that these were easy to grow and should make an appearance quick enough to keep the kids interested.

Planting itself was of course half, if not more, of the fun. Both my Big Explorer and the little one (2 years old) accompanied me to the nursery. We picked seed packets for the sunflowers, carrots and radishes and two different types of tomato plants.

We opted to plant in containers, not for lack of space but for lack of experience. This was a key decision because we’re watching and learning which items do best in which parts of the backyard. I’ve already moved some of the containers around to adjust for sunlight, so I’m thankful to have had the flexibility.

The kids were almost too eager to help me fill each of the containers with the organic potting soil we purchased. What kid doesn’t love playing in dirt? All but the carrot seeds were simple enough to plant. Carrot seeds are so small that I’m convinced we planted a dozen in each spot reserved for only one!

Kids Growing Sunflowers by Debi Huang

Garden Progress Report

It’s been about a month since we planted and so far, so good. The sunflowers are looking great. All four we planted are now making their way out of the soil. What excitement and pride we all felt to see our first sprout! There are a few carrot and radish greens poking out of the dirt, too, giving us hope that the others we planted will soon appear.

Best of all, our tomato plants are producing buds! When we first spotted them, Big Explorer explained the tomato’s lifecycle to me so I would understand how long it might be before we see tomatoes. Too cute!

Tomato on Plant by Debi Huang

Gardening Lessons Learned

It’ll come as no surprise to those of you with more seasoned green thumbs that I’ve learned a ton about gardening already. Like just how much water a garden needs! This explains why so many past attempts at growing flowers have failed; I’ve planted and forgotten them; somehow I thought they’d just care for themselves.

I’ve also realized that a garden needs nurturing. Big Explorer has this one covered. He excitedly looks in on the progress of the garden daily. He checks to see if it needs watering and is eager to pass on his observations of new growth, bug-eaten leaves, ladybugs and the like. His enthusiasm is contagious, making it that much easier for me to care for the space, too.

I’ll be honest, folks. I’m hooked on gardening. I’m already dreaming of next year’s adventures and we haven’t even enjoyed the bounty from this one! There will be new things to plant, seedlings to start in the winter, so we’ll have a jump on things come spring, and learning a way to make regular watering a little easier.

I know there are all kinds of things left to learn. But instead of being overwhelmed by all I don’t know, I’m digging in and learning as we go. The kids are my reminder that there’s no such thing as failure. We’re just trying new things to see what works. And that’s much more fun! Thanks Alison for getting me started.

Debi Huang is a Los Angeles-based wife, mom and adventure guide for two young boys. Her blog at Go Explore Nature is all about getting kids and families outdoors and connected to nature. You can follow her on Twitter @goexplorenature and Go Explore Nature on Facebook.

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Fun With Sticks – Build a Shelter

Alison Kerr — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:06:16 +0000

There’s something both primitive and comforting about knowing how to build an emergency shelter out of sticks and leaves. It’s kind of like a squirrel, bird, or possum building a nest, except yours is on the ground.

What could be more fun for outdoor kids to learn in the woods? My kids used to try to build shelters when they were younger. I wish I’d shown them this video so they knew how – it’s not hard. You did keep some of those fall leaves didn’t you? Stay in there quietly and you’re bound to have squirrels scampering over you and birds totally ignoring you as they hop about their business.

After searching around the web, I selected the following video which shows how. I like this one for it’s simple explanation without a bunch of discussion of when and why you might want to survive in the woods. For a real emergency pay a good deal of attention to the part on keeping warm and attracting attention; for a fun shelter still make sure you don’t build on top of ant nests, snake holes, etc.

Wilderness Survival – Building a Shelter – More amazing video clips are a click away

I’m not ready to camp out in one of these yet, but the kid in me thinks it would be really fun to build and play in. What do you say?

5 Ways to Winter Bird Watch with Kids

Alison Kerr — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:28:27 +0000

binoculars by plindberg

Winter is a great time to bird watch with kids in your nature garden and beyond. In winter, with the leaves off the trees, birds are more visible. Also, some birds may be winter visitors to your area – winter will be the only time to see them.

Watch Birds from Indoors or Outdoors, with Kids

#1 – Watch Through a Window – probably the first idea that springs to mind for winter bird watching. Use black sunflower seeds and suet blocks to attract the biggest variety of birds. Place the feeders where you can see them through a kitchen window or some other place where kids will be spending time.

#2 – Walk Your Neighborhood – you can learn a lot about which birds live near you simply by exploring your neighborhood. A regular walk to school, store, or just for exercise will help you keep an eye and ear out for birds. Watch for flocks of American robins and listen for woodpeckers. You may well find some birds you’ve not seen in your own garden.

#3 – Hike a Wild Wood – in cold winter weather it’s best to be moving, but once you’ve warmed up you can stop for a quiet rest and find birds in the woods. Be sure to listen – birds searching in leaves make a fair amount of noise. It seems to me that birds get more active toward dusk – just put your detective ears on, or learn to call curious birds closer. You might be surprised at what you find.

#4 – Stop off at Wide Water – lakes and shores are great places to see birds in winter as well as summer. Flocks of larger birds such as gulls and swans are easy to spot. Bald eagles travel south along the Missouri river and can be seen in the hundreds if you know when and where to look. Try to go on a sunny day when there is more light contrast for a better view through scopes and binoculars. If you are driving for the holidays check your route for birding spots and take a break there, stop and get some much-needed outdoor time.

#5 – Wait in a Hide, if you have the patience to sit still. I admit I’m not much good at sitting and waiting, and most kids aren’t either, but if you have a kid who can sit still a hide is a great way to get among birds. Set up your own camouflaged hide, or visit one on a bird reserve.

What’s your favorite way to watch birds in winter?

Ten Tricks to Get Kids Outdoors

Alison Kerr — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:53:48 +0000

Mudkid1 by Peekature Studios

Much has been written about the reasons kids need to get outdoors to play, to get involved in nature, and away from the couch and big, bad, evils of TV and video screens. But what actually gets kids playing outdoors? Do kids need to go to nature camp, or plant an elaborate garden to be nature kids? Or is there something simpler for getting kids outside in nature, running, walking, climbing, learning and exploring?

Here are 10 tricks which got me playing outdoors when I was a kid, and maybe even still do. Shhhh… don’t tell. I’m a nature kid at heart.

#10 – Let’s Eat Outside

I simply can’t resist a picnic, even if it’s just a hunk of unsliced bread and a bottle of water. Mmmm… it just tastes better outside. Grab some food, ask me to come, I’m there!

#9 – There’s Treasure There

What could be more fun than finding something? I don’t care if it’s a new flower in bloom, a worm on the sidewalk, a sparkly rock, or a yellow or red, fall leaf. Let’s go find it!

#8 – Let’s Chuck It

Carrying and throwing suitably weighty items seems like fun to me. Invite me to toss rocks into a pond and watch the ripples, chuck logs around, or throw leaves in a stream/creek and watch them float away. Snowballs and a tree target are good too. My arm is ready!

#7 – Cooking in the Dirt

I have my matches and I’m ready to strike. As an adult I prefer a campfire to a mud pie, barbecue to leaf stew, but all were good when I was a kid. Nothing beats real, live flames. Show me how to build a campfire which starts first time, or let me mess around and learn for myself (with you nearby). We could build a rocket stove. Fire is so primitive, satisfying, and even safe (if proper precautions are taken). I have the matchbox here!

#6 – Something to Climb On

Here’s your shoes, let’s climb that rock. How do I get up there? How do I balance? I don’t want smooth plastic or metal. Give me something from nature, with nooks and crannies, texture, lichen even. I love rock walls, stream banks, tree trunks, grassy hills. I’m behind you.

#5 – I’ll Hide Behind

Critters like shelter, wood piles, bushy shrubs, giant prairie grasses, secret places. I do to. Hide and Seek is a favorite game. Clearings between shrubs make a den, or hide-out – much nicer than a custom-built playhouse. You might hear me, but I won’t see you.

#4 – See Water Sparkle

Sunshine and water are a winning combination. A watering can, a hose, a bucket, a bowl, an old basin or pan, cups, ladles, feet, hands, creeks, rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, boats, floats, fountains, waterfalls, I touch and watch them all.

#3 – Watch that Critter

What kind of critter is that? What does he eat? Where does he live? How fast can he climb, walk, crawl or run?

#2 – You Can’t Catch Me

Maybe I can run like the wind through that park, field or prairie, fly a kite, watch a bird soaring, find shapes in the clouds and wish I could touch them.

#1 – I Want to Be With You

Open the door and go outside. I want to be with you – I’ll follow. Who’s that special person I want to be with? Or am I the person others want to be with? Give me a choice – chores or outdoors. Suddenly I found my shoes!

What gets you outdoors? Do you potter in your garden, walk to school, watch the birds, hike, swim, forage, take care of the chickens, rake the leaves, or sit out on the deck for lunch? What got you outdoors when you were a kid?

Photo – Mudkid1 by Peekature Studios – reproduced under Creative Commons License.

10 Things to Keep You Walking to School

Alison Kerr — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:57:30 +0000

Giraffes Worn Voluntarily (for now) by woodleywonderworks

Do you have what it takes to walk to school and keep walking now that Walk to School Day is past?

Here are 10 things you need to keep you walking to (and from) school.

#10 – Rain Boots
It’s bound to rain sometime and rain boots are so much fun! Who can resist jumping in a puddle or putting their foot in a stream of water and watching what happens? And adults can have fun with rain boots too

#9 – Curiosity
Which trees are changing color? What birds live between home and school? What kind of flowers are blooming now? Curiosity makes the walk short.

#8 – A Good Alarm Clock
Most people need extra time to walk to school. Unless you’re up with the larks, or your kids are, a good alarm clock will be essential.

#7 – Resolve
There’s no escaping it. Driving to school is the easy option. Getting up and out on time to walk to school needs some resolve. The next item also helps.

#6 – A Plan
To stick to a plan requires having one. Are you going to walk to school every day? Are you going to walk home ever day? What about when it rains? And if you have after school activities or a sick kid who isn’t going to school will you still walk another child? Think it through and you have a plan.

#5 – Weather-proofing for Walkers
You’ll need jackets, hats, gloves and a weather-proof stroller for younger siblings who can’t be relied on to keep up the pace. Fair weather walkers can skip some of this, but you’ll still need to dress for the seasons.

#4 – A Place to Hang Your Hat
Wet jackets need a place to hang at both home and school. Does your school provide what is needed? Do you have the storage space you’ll need for boots, gloves, hats, jackets etc?

#3 – Good Neighbors
A safe neighborhood is one where people know each other and engage. Walkers meet neighbors and get to know their neighborhoods, but they also depend on neighbors. Safe Routes to School depend on communities.

#2 – Safe Backpacks
Backpack and contents should weigh no more than 10-15% of a child’s body weight. For walking in wet weather you need a waterproof pack. For walking on dim or dark days choose a pack with reflective strips.

#1 – Good Friends/Good Fun
Everything goes better with a friend – jumping in leaves along the way, laughing over your day – there is no substitute for a good friend and a sense of fun.

What do you say? Do you get out and walk every day? Did you walk to school when you were a kid? Do kids in your neighborhood walk to school? Do you have any additional tips?

Top Nature Spots

Alison Kerr — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:37:43 +0000

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?

Growing Green Teens

Alison Kerr — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:42:42 +0000

33/365 - Glass Eyes by AJoelle_xo

What gets teens going, what gets them interested in being green? Is adolescence a time when kids must by default turn into rebellious teenagers? Not everyone thinks so – there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence too from homeschooled teens that rejection of adult society, and of parental authority, is not a necessary part of growing up. Dr Maria Montessori studied every aspect of child development; she had some interesting things to say about the teen years. I think her ideas contain some clues to growing green teens.

Montessori likened the years from twelve to fifteen to the first three years of life from birth to age three. “Very special consideration must be given. Again, a new creation is taking place, this time an adult.” (1). Believe this and you’ll have a big clue to why adolescence is such a time of turmoil. Perhaps it’s parental expectations that are out of alignment with reality. We don’t after all expect much in the way of obedience and sense from infants and toddlers. I’ve also heard the early teen changes likened to what happens inside a cocoon when a butterfly is forming (2). Apparently there is a lot of chaos going on before something sensible emerges; while that metamorphosis is happening the undeveloped creature inside is very vulnerable.

The good news is that teens are seeking to understand society and their place in it. Adolescence is a time when the right opportunities can turn a teen green and socially conscious. Often-times though parents don’t turn out to be the best mentors. In seeking to understand ourselves in the teen years we need to go outside the family. Perhaps only by figuring out what we have in common with and what we reject in our parents can we realize who we are. I certainly remember the vulnerability and the excitement of the teen transition as well as the need to distance myself.

According to Dr Montessori, active and full participation in society during the teen years is necessary to develop as a good citizen. Developing teens have much to give when their own needs are being met. The biggest gift we can give them is acceptance, support, respect, and patience. Throw in boundaries too – teens just don’t always think straight! Teen ideas usually go beyond teen abilities. They need to understand that failure is part of learning and they need to learn to laugh at their mistakes while keeping trying. Who will be their role models? What can we do to make teen contributions important? Dr Montessori had much more to say on teen needs. I’d like to hear what you have to say.

Were you an involved teen? What do you wish someone had done for you? Who was your mentor or role model? Do you, or would you like to, work with teens?

Find books by Paula Polk Lillard and David H. Albert at Amazon.com
(1) Montessori Today – A Comprehensive Approach to Education from Birth to Adulthood, Paula Polk Lillard, 1996
(2) David H. Albert, L.E.A.R.N. Unschooling Conference

Going Local

Alison Kerr — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:05:34 +0000

Best Friends by szlea

What are you doing to go local? What does going local mean to you? Outdoor kids, and adults, know their neighborhoods. There are many aspects to going local. Overall though it involves relying on businesses and services which are as close to home as possible. Why not get on your walking shoes and get out to explore? What can you discover as you play and walk the paths? What did you miss seeing when you drove past? Take your kids along, let them be in charge, make it a game, give them a dollar to spend at the gas station or neighborhood store.

It’s all too easy to hop in a car and drive to the businesses we’re already aware of. But what if our cars disappeared tomorrow? Do I really know which businesses and services are within easy reach of my suburban home – could I survive going local? What about you? It’s all too easy to put my foot on the gas pedal and drive for 10 or 15 minutes when maybe there is an alternative close enough for me to walk to.

So, be determined to find out just what is within walking distance. How many things could I do if I was only prepared to walk for 10 minutes to get there? What about you? What if you walked for 20 minutes? Driving is such a way of life in suburban America and there are no end of excuses – little kids in tow and 90F plus heat on a regular basis spring to immediate mind. Is there a better time though to walk – don’t let it pass you by.

I’d have been ashamed not to know what was within walking distance of my home where I lived in Scotland. It’s time I found out here. What about you, do you already know the businesses, services, natural features, and plants and animals close to your home? Will you join me in finding out? Grab a map and let’s get walking!

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Teen Green Community

Alison Kerr — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:02:04 +0000

Cell phone teens by K. Kendall

How about a little Teen Green? Teens these days seem to be more attached to their computers and cell phones than to our wonderful Earth and to nature.

Who is harnessing the great energy and ability to question authority that comes along with adolescence? Is there teen green going on? Are young people engaged, and thinking about the environment? How can we get them involved?

It’s a question tackled by organizations including the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Cell Phones Connecting to Nature

One answer is to use cell phones to connect teens and young adults to nature and the environment. This is what the site known as Connect to Earth, or Connect2Earth.org is all about. As part of the effort to get the word out about Connect2Earth.org, I was asked to write a review and sent a really nice give away (which I’m keeping a secret for now, but I think anyone with a cell phone would love one of these).

Teen Greens and Under 25’s

The target audience of Connect2Earth.org is teens and adults under 25 years old. Um, I don’t quite fit in this demographic, I’m fast earning my grey hairs! So, being an old fuddy duddy who doesn’t even have a camera on my cellphone, I asked the teens in my family to take a look at Connect 2 Earth and tell me what they think.

My Daughter Says

“Connect2earth looks like a fun, intelligent community. One could spend hours browsing the videos and pictures alone! The only thing I would’ve liked is to be able to see what people were saying in the discussion threads; if I can see the discussions without joining up, then I wasn’t able to find them. I think many teens and young adults will love this site, especially if they frequent their cell phone or computer.”

My Son Says

“They’re giving out mobile phone solar chargers which is currently very useless to me since I don’t have a mobile phone.”

“I found a video called Zeitgeist. I watched 24 minutes out of the 1 hour and 56 minutes. I thought it was a good video, if very conspiracy theory like. It was kind of amusing.”

There you have it. Connect2Earth.org is a place designed to bring together young people and the realities of the environment using current technology and visual media. I’m not sure it’s a place for turning teens green, so much as a place for teens who are already interested and concerned to learn more, to connect with others, and to have their voice heard.

If there are teens, or young adults, in your family I hope they’ll take a look at Connect2Earth.org.

In exchange for taking a look at Connect 2 Earth I was given a solar cell phone recharger which I will be giving away once I have established this blog.