Nature Study Packs

Today, was a fun day. We spent the day getting all our nature study supplies organized as we are getting ready to go on a camping trip, which means lots of hikes and discoveries from nature. Also with March just around the corner that means Springtime will soon be here so I really wanted to get a head start.

When we first started with our nature study walks four years ago, I chose to use one back pack to keep all our supplies with the intent that I could carry it on our walks for the kids. At that time I only had two school aged kids and one toddler, but what has ended up happening over the years is I have ended up carrying either a newborn in the snuggly or a toddler in the back carrier and not our official nature study back pack. As the family grew so did the supplies in our nature pack which then became too heavy for any of the kids to carry.

It only took four years but finally this year I wised up and got nature packs for everyone. This will free up the toddler carrier for just baby/toddler supplies and mom's nature supplies (which is not much). For each of the kids packs I kept many of the same supplies then used Macbeth's website for new ideas to upgrade my older children's packs now that they are in the upper elementary grades.

In the next month I will put up a book listing for our nature study basket. Here are the supplies you can find in each of the packs according to age. I have posted links to some of the supplies to help give a visual ....
MOM's...

• Sketch/Drawing Pad
• Prisma coloring pencils
• Prisma watercolor pencils
• Drawing/sketching pencils

MIDDLE - UPPER GRADES....

• Sketch/Drawing Pad and Drawing pencils
• Prisma coloring pencils
• Watercolor pencils
• Ruler
• Bug magnifiers
• Pocket microscope
• Swiss army knife set
• Dissecting kit
• Compass/map
• Binoculars
• Ziploc bags
• Peterson field guides
• **Flashlight**
• Bug cage
• Fish net / container (if there is a stream)
• Poncho

PRESCHOOL - LOWER GRADES...

• Sketch Book and pencils
• Crayola coloring pencils
• Watercolor pencils
• Ruler
• Bug container w/magnifying tops
• Magnifying glass
• Binoculars
• Ziploc bags
• Peterson field guides
• Mini-flashlight
• Bug cage
• Fish net / container (if there is a stream)
• Poncho

Taking Territorialism Seriously

Yesterday I posted about putting up the new bird feeders. While we were doing that I had Aravis take down the hummingbird feeder and put in fresh sugar water and attach our new 'bug-out' so those big black ants wouldn't be able to get into the feeder anymore. Nifty little gadget but seriously we could have probably made one ourselves out of the bottom of a 1 liter coke bottle for half the cost....

As many of you know hummingbirds can be very territorial, and this is usually towards other hummingbirds, but not our little 'Lady'. We have a female ruby throat that has taken ownership of our feeder and she has taken this territorialism to a whole new level. She really is something else, let me explain.

'Lady' got quite upset when Aravis took the feeder down and while we were getting it back up she literally sat on a branch less than 3-4 feet away chirping at us. Once we got it all set up she flew straight down and checked out every flower before taking a drink then she insisted on perching herself on a branch right above the feeder to keep watch.

If any of *us* would step near the porch railing (which is only a couple feet from the feeder) she would fly down and hover next to the feeder, chirping and warning us.... can you believe it? Cheeky little thing.

Here are some more pictures of our 'Lady' who takes her job a little too seriously. We are standing within 2-3 feet of the feeder.

The next morning Aravis sat on the porch and watched as 'Lady' was challenged by another hummingbird and they were literally clawing each other. Obviously 'Lady' won her battle as you see her here taking a long drink after her tiring fight.

Nature study at one of its best...

Our Square Foot Garden

In an effort for to take another step towards being healthier and going green (ecologically friendly) we started our own version of Square Foot Gardens last year. This year we still continue to enjoy reaping the benefits!!

We turned this into a wonderful school project! The children were responsible for completing a sun gride for each box from Spring until Fall. They also researched 'companion plants' and plotted their gardens on paper before we planted the seeds. Even though it was real sad that gummy stem rot attacked and destroyed Aravis's pumpkin plant it was a great learning experience!

While the plants grew they had to research visitors (good and bad) and find natural methods of repelling those critters that were not welcomed. It was a lot of work but SOOOO rewarding.

Summer 2009

Look what we found in our Hydrangea bush....














Absolutely beautiful!




Adorable (3 days later)

Honey Bee Farm Field Trip

We had the opportunity to organize an amazing field trip to a honey bee farm.

Nature's Springtime Surprises!

This afternoon was an "open" learning center day and the weather was so beautiful we decided to go on a nature walk.

Our first surprise -- Last year my good friend had told me that the Carolina House Wren could be very adaptable and resourceful. She warned me they would build their nests any where. Keeping that in mind just before going on our nature walk the kids noticed our cable box lid was sticking out. After further investigations I just had to chuckle at my friend's words.... not only will the House Wren build its nest any where but look at the shape of the nest when we pulled the cable box lid up.

Last year they built their nest in our empty hanging basket and it took the perfect shape of a sphere. This year as you can see their nest took the shape of a square
cube. They are geometric geniuses ;-) Well just on creativity alone I had to put an honorary picture of this amazing little bird before our nature and science center basket on the sidebar!

After taking a peek inside we were pleasantly surprised to find babies, four to be exact.... You can tell the nest has been there a while by the ages of the babies with those brilliant yellow lined beaks. I was wondering why I hadn't seen them in our hanging basket again this year?

Our second surprise -- While we were walking at the park we caught sight of some birds in an old dead pine tree. At the time we had no idea what they were. What was so exciting was they were busy going back and forth bringing nesting materials to their hole in the tree. This particular park has a lot of man-made nesting boxes, and many of those also had nests, but the ones these birds were building were 100% all natural. The pictures are not that great since our digital camera could only zoom in so far, but they will enlarge if you click on them... After we got home Aravis went to our favorite book 'Common Birds of Atlanta' and looked them up. They turned out to be Brown-Headed Nuthatches.



What a perfect ending to a wonderful school day!

Nature Friend Magazine

You know it is a good 'mail day' when the kids come shouting through the door "Nature Friend came in the mail today!" Over the years this has truly come to be one of our most favorite monthly nature magazines.

I must point out that the magazine is written from a creationist perspective (no evolution), so the magazine is always read with that theory in mind. We really enjoy how each issue has articles that honor one or two of God's beautiful creations in nature and you can guarantee there will always be some neat facts that will be learned as well.

What I like most about the magazine is how engaging it is with the children. I think it is quite Charlotte Mason friendly and there are always puzzles and other activities for the kids to think about and do. One of our favorite sections is the "pictures and poems". The older kids have entered several of their contests over the years and learned some wonderful drawing techniques. Jill actually had one of her drawings published a couple years back.

Well, we're off to enjoy this month's issue!