If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May flowers bring? Hummingbirds! The National Audubon Society encourages hummingbird fans nationwide to grow native plants that help these cherished birds thrive. Audubon’s one-of-a-kind bird-friendly native plants database makes it easy to find the right plants and where to purchase them, by simply typing in your…
nature
Kindergarten Goes Into the Woods
Meridian Hills Co-op in Indianapolis brings the kindergarten classroom outdoors. There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. This isn’t the official motto of Malkah Bird’s kindergarten class at Meridian Hills Cooperative Nursery School & Kindergarten in Indianapolis, but it very well could be. Every day, the 14 kindergarteners spend a good chunk of…
Hiking with Little Kids: How to enjoy hiking without overdoing it
A family hike is a wonderful way to spend time together in nature and get some great exercise. If you’re nervous about hiking with little kids, here’s how to enjoy a great day without overdoing it. Hiking with little kids is the ultimate way to enjoy a free range summer. My niece and nephew are…
Learning and the Natural World
Spending time in nature can lead to some of the most enjoyable and profound learning experiences. Nature-based learning touches on and connects every academic discipline imaginable while enlivening the senses and invigorating the body. It encourages curiosity and inquiry, exploration and experimentation, while the mind catalogs, analyzes, and compares. Homeschoolers are in a unique position…
A curious nature detective finds inspiration everywhere
Imagine that you are crawling in a tight space. I am sure you agree that it is rather difficult and tricky to move around. What if you were a caterpillar? Caterpillars have soft and flexible bodies and they move in a wavelike motion. Learning from caterpillars’ bodies have helped to design flexible robots that imitate…
A True Outdoorsman’s “Wild” Winter Wonderland
When it comes to decorating for the holidays, we all have our own reasons and traditions. Some like to be the most festive house on the street. Others love to see a child delight in the magic. For Bill Gordon, founder of High Adventure Wilderness School in Stanton, Kentucky, decking the halls is more about…
