Take A Nature Walk
Today’s Giveaway: A set of (6) nature books from Jane Kirkland’s “Talk A Walk” series (valued at $100!!). Enter here.
Green Parent Rebecca Cohen puts her best foot forward everyday as she aims to honor and care for the earth. And more often than not, that leads her on a nature walk.
A mom to 2 boys (ages 4 and 6), Rebecca strives to teach her children about their connection to the environment by letting them feel that connection firsthand…outdoors. Why does she strive to go green?
“Each of us has an obligation to look at the impact of our actions and consistently raise the bar in changing our behavior if we want to try to repair the damaged planet that we’re leaving to future generations. By showing families more simple ways of enjoying the outdoors together, my intent is connecting people more to each other and to nature. That outside connection, I think, is the first step in raising many families’ awareness of what they can do to better their health and the health of the planet,” says Rebecca
Here’s how Green Parent Rebecca Cohen helps her boys learn about and enjoy the outdoors…
Take a Nature Walk
by Rebecca P. Cohen
I am a gardening coach who believes that time outside transforms our lives for the better, and as a parent, I’m blogging more about outdoor ideas for families with young children. The inspiration for this blog was the recent 4th birthday party for my son, Warner. The “Outdoor Adventure” party was the most low-key and wildly successful of the at-home birthday parties we’ve had in my six years as a parent (my older son, Harmond, is six-and-a-half). We started with a nature walk, then had an educational animal show, followed by lunch, and water play.
The theme for the birthday party stemmed from one of our favorite activities as a family, the “nature walk.” Much more inspiring to a child than just “walking,” on a nature walk, I help the boys notice so much more about the plants, animals, and insects around them. I ensure they are safe, and allow them to climb trees, cross creeks, and “off road” to find a new way home. This tradition started at our last house, where there weren’t too many large trees around due to the new construction. So, we’d go find them, and walk to and through a nearby patch of forest, where we found a foot path beyond the paved path and a stream to cross. At our current home, the boys consistently ask to go on nature walks, and I have taken their play dates on our nature walks with us. So, I thought that our little guests and their parents would enjoy a nature walk for a birthday party too.
We started the nature walk at 10:30a.m. in order to avoid the impending heat of the summer day. Upon arrival, each child’s parent received a brightly colored sheet of paper with an itinerary on the front and instructions on the back, which read “[Child's Name]‘s Outdoor Adventure.” There were three destinations on the walk, which began on a mulched path at the end of our street: a footbridge over a creek, a picnic shelter, and a campfire. At the footbridge, children had to answer a multiple-choice question about the animals that Warner has seen in the woods around his house. At the picnic shelter, the children colored a picture of a bald eagle printed from the internet, which also had a few facts about bald eagles (there happens to be a bald eagle’s nest on the lake near our home). At the campfire, their colorful picture of the eagle got them a marshmallow to roast on an open fire. Yes, it was only around 11:00a.m. and yes, the s’mores were a huge hit with kids and parents!
In hindsight, the specific activities weren’t needed on the walk. The kids had just as much fun noticing the spider webs, animal tracks, and places where animals may live, as we do with any walk when it’s just our family. If you don’t have the location for a campfire, but do have a microwave, the kids can walk back home and pretend to make a campfire with sticks they’ve collected on the way while you pop some marshmallows and chocolate between two graham crackers in the microwave for a few seconds. We do this for our nature walk play dates. To the kids, it tastes just as good as one around a campfire!
The consistent, impromptu compliments about the party and our ease during the party told me that there was something different about this celebration, not only for myself, but also for others. There was something about a meaningful activity for the kids and parents that brought everyone together, and it’s something that I’ll look to repeat, not only for parties or play dates, but also in everyday life.
About Rebecca Plants LLC
Rebecca P. Cohen believes that time outside transforms our lives for the better. As a garden designer and gardening coach, Rebecca’s simple gardening and outdoor ideas inspire families to spend more time outside. You can find out more about Rebecca’s company and read her blog at http://www.rebeccaplants.com. Rebecca can also be reached by email at rebeccapcohen@mac.com.
/images/ads/120.jpg)
I love going different from other parents for my kids’ birthdays. No jumpees. No actors portraying popular characters. Just age appropriate fun.
I’ve had the occasional shocked comments from other moms, but the kids have always loved it. Saves me a ton of money too.
Great post !!!
Heya thank you for the content, I was searching for your Facebook profile so I may like it. Will you guys be adding facebook connect anytime soon?
Useful site, where did you come up with the information in this article? Im happy I found it though, ill be checking back soon to see what other articles you have.
Now i know, thanks for the info, I value your opinion alot more.:)
My coder is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on numerous websites for about a year and am anxious about switching to another platform. I have heard very good things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into it? Any help would be really appreciated!
I saw something similar on another blog… interesting.
Hello! I just stump upon your page via Google. What a wonderful blog you have! I love it very much! Now you got this fantastic blog, why not turn it into monthly cash? Thank you for providing such precious service to the whole internet landscape!
It’s very good, I like it. Thanks very much. wholesale nhl jerseys.
Wow, didn’t realize you could get this on the web now.
A great interesting piece of writing which does make you imagine about the bigger picture here. I concur with the above opinion and even though I would consider myself somewhat less advanced in terms of awareness on the subject matter he obviously understands precisely what he is talking about as do you.
What would happen if someone posted a false pic of miley cyrus naked on the internet?
Awesome post this will help me! http://www.tsaperalaod.info/electronics/how-to-get-far-more-out-of-your-video-marketing/
What a story. Good writing skills:)
Hello, i learn your blog to and that i own a at near no means ritual and i occupied to be decent wondering if you conceivability to d俶arche a domain of spam feedback? In that event how do you intercept it, any plugin or something you may advocate? I’m getting a sweepstake recently it’s driving me natural so any unburden is immense much appreciated. Anyway, in my creole, there spirit not be a catch apropos modify like this.
Also, MMA is a sport. What goes on the ring is not the reality of self defense, even today.
Hey I like your post ! http://www.hostelbridge.com/
Hello, i learn your blog form and that i own a infrequently agreed-upon and i toughened to be goal wondering if you misread to entrap a information of spam feedback? In that prototype how do you interfere with it, any plugin or something you may advocate? I’m getting a design recently it’s driving me rattle-brained so any crap-shooter is absolutely much appreciated. Anyway, in my sanctimony, there intercession not be a fall suitable cede like this.
“You might be lying,” said the Rajah.