Gift giving is a great way to encourage outdoor play in little ones this holiday season – and it doesn’t (and shouldn’t) have to cost a lot of money. A new toy or tool holds interest and excitement; take it outside and it unlocks a whole new world of possibilities. With that in mind, here is my list of low-cost gift ideas for the budding nature explorer in your life. … [Read more...]
I’m Thankful for … My Lessons from Nature
Thanksgiving is a natural time to reflect on the most meaningful things in life. Having lost my dad earlier this year, I find myself wanting to honor his legacy this holiday season by giving thanks to some of the most important life lessons he taught me. As a nature lover, my dad shared a lot of his life’s wisdoms when we were out enjoying the natural world. Here are a few of … [Read more...]
Fun Friday: The Listening Game
Fun Friday activities are quick-and-simple ways to explore nature in your own backyard. I love this activity for its simplicity. Plus, it’s a great way to reconnect with the outside world in just a couple of minutes.I first explained the “rules” to the listening game to my 5-year-old son like this: “I’m going to count to 20 in my head while you close your eyes and just … [Read more...]
Celebrating Nature: My List of 5ives
This week I celebrate a birthday. I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, birthdays were treasures. You looked forward to them for weeks, got to spend time with all your friends, eat cake and open presents when the day finally arrived, then felt special for days after.In an effort to harness the joy of childhood birthdays, I’m sharing some of the things I’m most looking … [Read more...]
Fun Friday: Peanut Hunt
Fun Friday activities are quick-and-simple ways to explore nature in your own backyard. Why wait until Easter to go on an outdoor treasure hunt? Last summer, my friend Brian introduced a peanut hunt to our then 3-1/2 year old kids while on a visit to our cabin in Yosemite.He spent about five minutes hiding the shelled peanuts everywhere you might imagine – in tree bark, … [Read more...]