Fun Friday activities are quick-and-simple ways to explore nature in your own backyard. THE IDEA Search for flowers – be they wild or planted – throughout the neighborhood. What better way to welcome in spring than by searching for nature’s newest blooms? OUR NOTES FROM THE FIELD We headed out the door for one of our routine neighborhood walks. To liven things up a … [Read more...]
Finding Nature in the City
Last week, I read a great article from the National Wildlife Federation about how to experience nature in the city. I think the piece struck a chord for me because on most typical days, Los Angeles feels like it’s about a million miles away from anything remotely natural.I admit that I have often complained that there’s no nature in the city; that the only way to truly get in … [Read more...]
Caterpillar Adoptions (and More!) at Kidspace Children’s Museum
Our Sunday visit to Kidspace Children’s Museum was prompted by an idea I had to adopt caterpillars so the boys could watch them grow into butterflies, then set them free. (From March 17 through April 17, you too can adopt a caterpillar at Kidspace for $5 a piece.) The added bonus of our visit was getting to spend a couple of hours exploring some 2.2 acres of outdoor learning … [Read more...]
Fun Friday: Backyard Wildlife Watching
Fun Friday activities are quick-and-simple ways to explore nature in your own backyard. THE IDEALook for wildlife – and signs of wildlife – in our very urban backyard.This week is National Wildlife Week – a signature event of National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There™ campaign. To celebrate, I thought it might be fun for the kids to see what type of wildlife lives in … [Read more...]
10 Easter Gift Ideas for Little Nature Explorers
The post I wrote on gift ideas for little nature explorers during the holidays last year was a big hit. With Easter right around the corner, I thought you might enjoy a few more ideas – this time with an eye for encouraging spring outdoor fun. As always, I’ve tried to include low-cost (less than $20) items that will set your little one’s imagination and sense of wonder free. … [Read more...]