change/brave

My posts are getting fewer and further between! (I see that I never posted about our learning year this fall. I might come back and remedy that at some point.) 

 

Every year since 2010, I have chosen a word for the year. Each year, mentally coming back to the word has been a helpful anchor. Except 2021. My word for 2021 was Thrive, but it was a Survive year. It has been a rough year with much growth and yet much to keep us stuck.

As always, a dictionary of words were options for 2022 - there are so many good words in multiple languages - but I think I have to choose the word Change. And this year, in choosing Change, I have to pair it with Brave, because change is really hard for me, hard for others in my family, but I feel deeply that we need to embrace it, currently, and that takes bravery.

What words, thoughts, goals, etc. are you striving for in 2022?

no little cabin in the woods

On this day last year, we packed up and headed home from our annual trip to the lake.

Two years ago, when it was time to schedule some time at the lake, we were told that there wasn't a time slot for us. After a little (probably a lot) of shifting and likely some sacrificing of days on the part of the growing (now multi-generational) family that owns the cabin, we got a week up there. We knew not to take it for granted.

This year, with the pandemic, the scheduling date came and went. We have had our own health concerns and uncertainty about travel, so when word came back that the family had filled the summer schedule due to no other travel plans, and there were no days for us, it was expected. But I turned off the computer and I cried.

This is the first summer that we don't get to spend time up there at the little house in the woods. This special place, accessible only by water, has been an annual get-away for my family since my older brother was an infant.  Every summer, since I began blogging, I have written about it, and I have to do so this year, even though I have no new moments to share, because a piece of me is missing. This place is my marker of time. It is where the cycle of my year is re-calibrated. Even now, typing this, seeing these images, posting links to past posts (below), I am emotional.

2020 is full of grieving, isn't it? So many lives lost. So much living lost. Racial, political, economic loss and tension. This is the year when nothing is the same. (And yet everything is the same, day after day, lost in sameness.)

There have been moments this summer, when I have been out for a hike or near water, and the splashing sound, or breeze through the trees, or the certain smell of the sun on the earth will spark a whole body feeling of being up there, and if I just close my eyes...

We have talked about taking a road trip up to the lake, just to hike or paddle. There is hesitation. "It's not the same." A few days in the cabin on the lake is the kind of sameness we need. We crave the celebratory anchors. We have known our time there might come to an end, but I will hold hope for next summer.

The last 4 years of posts from this particular blog.
2019
2018
2017
2016

learning period 3: 2019 - 2020

I am trying to capture each learning period as they happen, which, for our homeschooling arrangement, is a 2-month length of time, August through May. Learning period 3 covered December 2019 and January 2020. The idea of a learning period comes from the charter school that both my kids were in from 2013 onward and just Brown Mouse is part of now. Checking in every two months is doable for me and keeps me on track with both kids. Lala Bug is still homeschooling, but we are independently homeschooling now and she takes a couple classes at a private school, as a part-time student for hybrid-schooling.

Brown Mouse, grade 6:

Math: He is primarily using ALEKS and Key To workbooks for math. 6th grade is when I really backed off and made the year playful with math for his sister and I am keeping it short for him, currently, because I can feel a similar push-back and frustration.

Science: Science is one of his favorite subjects, so we do a lot of playing around with science. Recently, we have really enjoyed exploring science projects from the series of books from DK by Jack Challoner.

Language Arts/English: Brown Mouse is doing a loop of materials to work on different aspects of language arts in short bursts daily. He is using Typing Club, Handwriting Without Tears for Cursive, Editor in Chief, and speech-to-text to more fully get his thoughts in writing. He has also read and is now in a production of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Social studies/history: We are learning American History. Right now, we are in the Civil War time period. Just to be confusing, we are also re-exploring the Middle Ages and Brown Mouse is beginning to work on a research project to go with his Shakespeare class.

Other: 4-H (all outdoors projects this year; hiking, urban farming, and wilderness skills, for which he is the junior leader), karate (new for him), soccer (skills class and pick-up games with his rec team)

Lala Bug, grade 9:

Math: Algebra 1 at the school. She is doing really well in this, despite years of math-hating, but the homework is time and energy consuming for her, I won't lie.

Science: Biology, with lab, at the school. This is my background, but is definitely not a favorite for her. She is currently having to practice note-taking because of this class and that is a challenging skill for her differently wired brain.

Language Arts/English: This year we are covering Shakespeare - comedy and tragedy and also essay reading (and eventually a little more writing).

Social studies/history: American history with the intention of being ready for American Government next school year. Right now, we are in the Civil War time period. We have also been dipping in and out of current events, because so much has been going on politically.

World language: This is generally on hold, although she has been "playing" with DuoLingo for Italian.

Other: 4-H (all outdoors projects now; hiking, urban farming, and wilderness skills, for which she is the teen leader. Unfortunately, she had to drop a life skills project because her academic school class times changed), ballet, coding, fashion/design, knitting. (Soccer is on break for the season.)


What has your kids schooling and education looked like lately?

summer at the lake 2019

This summer has been somewhat different from previous summers. When asked at the end of the school year what our summer would look like, it seemed as though it would likely be some basic learning activities, punctuated at the beginning, middle, and end with travel. And that is what it has been, but it felt far more busy and lesson summer-like than I imagined. It also felt short, as I knew it would.

To launch our summer, we took a family road trip north to Portland and back. We camped our way home and, on the whole, had a really wonderful trip. The truth is that we deeply needed some time away, just the four of us, and that was quite restorative.

The middle of the summer took us to north Lake Tahoe. That trip was short and affected by kiddo high needs. While it was beautiful up there, it wasn't a relaxing break. We did enjoy family and the women's world cup soccer final and win!

And the end of the summer took us to the wilderness of the mountains again, to our special place we have been lucky enough to visit every year since before I was born. It is the anchor of my year and where I want my ashes scattered after I die. This year was a little different for a few reasons. There were some quirky things happening at the cabin that needed fixing, so we fixed those. Our kiddos, who were so kung-ho to hike hard before the trip, were rather subdued once there, and not quick to be overly motivated. We had multiple boot failures, most notably mine completely falling apart on a hot rocky trail, with about a 30 minute hike (without boots) left to return to the boats. (It took me longer, and some tears, to get back to the lake.) I never got to some favorite spots during our week away and found I had to grieve this a little. I also got very little quiet reading, writing, drawing time. A little, but not a lot. Regardless, it was soul soothing setting and felt so good. The photos are all from this trip, because I share some every year.

And in between, some language arts and math work for both kids and an incredibly successful coding class for our girl, complete with presentation and demonstration of their developed app at the end.

And summer? It is only early August, yet I must turn my attention to the school year ahead, since our beloved charter didn't get the memo that August is summer!

August 2019

In August, stone fruits are so sweet.

Peach pie makes a special treat. 

~Nicola

 

 

Well, hello. I have taken a couple months off from blogging and it was so busy it zipped by! We have had a couple of months that were very much of a mix of summer travel and full home time that was not at all summer-like. In fact, some of our usual summer anchors have been missed entirely. August will be a mix like that, too, with some summer activities, but some school related events happening, as well.

 

 

Dates of Interest:




Instead of specific dates this month, I will just say that, this month, we are celebrating a family birthday, have some new-to-us homeschool support school appointments to attend, school 'start' dates on the calendar, a week of day camp, and meteor showers to enjoy!

Homeschooling:







June and July had a homeschooling rhythm broken by trips. Both kids were working on math and language arts programs through the summer and Lala Bug just completed an intensive coding class. In August, the support schools that we homeschool under will begin, although we still have a certain amount of flexiblity. With Lala Bug having graduated our long time charter school, our new situation for her will be a learning curve and transition for us all.

Self-care:


The kids are in an outdoor camp for a week and that is my summer 'vacation.' That is my one week to tackle projects for me, take deep care of myself (massage, haircut, naps, etc.), schedule appointments, read, write, lesson plan, and whatever else fills my cup.

Parenting and Family:

During the next few weeks, I want make sure we get some good family connection as well as fuel each kid with some special time. We are hoping to re-establish the rhythm of a family hike on the weekends. I know the transitions and changes coming are likely to trigger anxieties and I want to prepare for that.

Home life:

I mentioned in my June/July post that we have some major house work to do this summer and it is underway now. It is a bit shocking how long some of these projects can take, even when hiring others to help do them!

I hope your August is lovely and joyous!

June and July 2019

 

June brings solstice summer sun

Warmth and light for everyone.

 

We spend July in mountains high.

Canoe, hike, and swim; The days fly by. 

~Nicola 

 

Dates of Interest:

June 16: Father's Day

June 21: Summer Solstice

July 4: United States' Independence Day


Homeschooling:

We wrapped up the year well. We didn't get to all at hoped to and planned for. Not even close. But we also had some important health care appointments series that interrupted our flow substantially.

We usually take the summertime off. This year, our summer break is shorter and we will be enjoying some space and time, but we will also be doing some intentional learning. Our summer is actually far more scheduled (not necessarily full, just mapped out) than usual.

Intentional learning includes some language arts and some math for both kids. In addition, Lala Bug has asked to learn some coding. This isn't something she is normally interested in, but she has idea in mind that this would help with. I love this for so very many reasons! Also, Shakespeare is much loved in this house and there are opportunities around to see local performances, which we plan to take advantage of.

And, of course, I need to spend some time planning. This coming year will look very different, but I don't quite know yet how it will be different. We continue to try and be mindful of where our kids are socially, emotionally, developmentally, and academically, regardless of their chronological age. We are trying to respect their desires, limits, and interests, while keeping the broader view of what they might need for college and beyond. All that feels a bit fuzzy for my planning right now.

Self-care:


Self-care this summer will mean me getting some time alone, clearing some of our spaces (this gives me greater inner calm), and reading some books. We will be adventuring and exploring this summer, which is something I deeply need. I need to "get away," even if we don't travel and this just means exploring new and much-loved places nearby.

Parenting:


Our kids need some down time, nature time, and one-on-one this summer! There are plans for them to get all of that. I continue to work on boundary setting and holding and we are being mindful to pour on more positive compliments and observations when appropriate. We have one kiddo who has a hard time accepting supportive criticism, corrections, and also compliments. All of these help us grow when when they are intended in a caring way.

Home life:

We have some major work to do this summer...decluttering, room shuffling, and we need a new roof (and ceiling repairs from where the roof leaked)!



I am combining June and July, because one way in which I am caring for myself this summer is not setting myself up to feel obliged to be online! Have a joyful summer.

learning period 3: 2018-2019

I have posted previously about how our charter follows learning periods. (Here is my post from learning period 2, which links to learning period 1 as well as other posts.) I shifted into posting monthly at the start of 2019, but since I was specific about subjects in these learning period posts and I started the school year this way, I am going to do both to finish the school year. (Note: I am writing this at the beginning of March, having forgotten to share about learning period 3, December 2018 and January 2019, so will back-date this to post it chronologically!)

December and January were what I would call heavy on learning but light on academics. We had a number of appointments lasting into December, the holidays, the move of the kids' beloved occupational therapist, high school applications, and some deep stresses and anxieties all affecting our homeschool. There was joy and learning (you cannot stop it, even if you try), but less documentation.

Social studies: We continued with our American Girl history project, had a fabulous hands-on field trip to a Native American history site, and during this learning period, we watched a number of documentaries that lead to a lot of big conversations. (I subscribed to Curiosity Stream when there was a $1 per month deal and we also really enjoyed the Netflix series Tales by Light.) Towards the end of this learning period, the kids began classes through our charter school. Both chose to participate in the Shakespeare class being offered. As part of this class, there are weekly homework assignments and a history research project.

Math: Teaching Textbooks for Brown Mouse, Khan Academy for Lala Bug, games, and Key To... series workbooks for both kids. We are more consistent with math this year, but it still seems to be slow going.

Language arts and Writing: This third learning period, both kids joined a weekly book group offered by one of our charter teachers. They read Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. This was a non-required precursor to the Shakespeare performance class I mentioned above. I used Brave Writer ideas as we read through Nine Gnome Nights by Sieglinde de Francesa of Teach Wonderment. Lala Bug is getting weekly support from a teacher at our charter school and Brown Mouse is still working through a reading and spelling support program called REWARDS, which he is having success with.

Science: During this learning period, much of the science we covered was through our nature studies; overwintering ladybug beetles, migrating birds, weather, earthquake exploration, and some chemistry.

Onward into learning period 4 already!

learning period 2 of 2018-2019

I really haven't been blogging much and when I have, it has been more of a documentation and sharing of our homeschooling than anything else creative or economical. I shared learning period 1 and "our 168" (hours per week) in October and didn't post in November at all!

I am back to share a little about learning period 2, which was October and November. Here we are in December and time is zipping by always more quickly than I would like.

October and November were filled with numerous atypical appointments. December, in addition to all the celebrations, will have its fair share of appointments too.  I love the winter holidays, but I am slow to get into them right now, because I am dragging a bit and worn from our inconsistent rhythm. I need to create something to look forward to in January, when appointments are done, new rhythm can be made, and that helps ease the bleakness I tend to feel after the holidays.

Can you tell we did a block on chocolate? I had intended for this to be more of a math block and began with Marsha Johnson's History of Chocolate guide, but one book lead to another, which lead to maps (we love Map of the Month) and history and science. So we did a little math, but we learned more about the history of the Americas, how chocolate was made originally, how it is made now, how it spread in popularity, and we taste tested various chocolates. We even made chocolate. This was a wonderful block!

Social studies: We studied the history and geography of chocolate. We studied early U.S. history a little more through various avenues...our American Girl 4-H project, reading Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, and through the Constitution class Lala Bug took through our charter school. The class had them exploring different parts of the Constitution, choosing a topic, writing a paper, and giving a speech, as well as multiple quizzes. Between her love of history and 4-H speaking experiences, Lala rocked the class.

Math: Teaching Textbooks for Brown Mouse, Khan Academy for Lala Bug, games, and Key To... series workbooks for both kids. We are more consistent with math right now and all I can hope is that it is enough. Brown Mouse took a math class through our charter, where they covered a lot about ratios and fractions and Lala Bug, of course, knit a lot and continued writing knitting patterns.

Language arts and Writing: We are loving Brave Writer for language arts and writing. This second learning period we read and worked through the Arrow guide for Frindle by Andrew Clements (just a fun book) and we are working through Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes right now. The Constitution class Lala Bug was in gave her the extra writing work she needed and for Brown Mouse, we are working through a reading and spelling support program called REWARDS, which he is having success with.

 

Science: Lala Bug took a personal interest, deep dive into the history of the U.S. exploration of space, particularly the moon, which, of course, covered a lot of science, as well. The interested began with the book Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon by Suzanne Slade, which was excellent. We also explored science during our chocolate block and Brown Mouse took a Nature Detectives class through our charter. He really enjoyed that and because of our weekly nature studies, he really got a chance to shine, sharing some of his knowledge with his friends and teachers.

Nature plays a big role in our homeschool, with time spent weekly exploring and monthly at the farm with 4-H. This past month, our state was heavily hit with devastating wildfires. The smoke from the fires blew our way and settled to stay for a couple of weeks. It affected our ability to be outside and made for some interested observations, recordings, and conversations.

Moving into December and the new year, I need to take some time to re-evaluate where we are and where we need to shift. We have toured several schools now and I have also attended more discussion groups about homeschooling high school. It is time for us to begin putting in applications for high schools and our family to sit down and discuss wants, needs, goals, and plans. Lots ahead of us!

learning period 1 of 2018-2019

The year before last (how was that so long ago?!), I shared about our homeschool year, one learning period at a time. We homeschool under the branches of a charter school that we love, and the charter follows us in two-month chunks, called learning periods. Learning period 1 was August and September. Here is a little snapshot of the launch of our year!

Nature study weekly; I had planned for Fridays to be our nature study and library day, but several weeks in, although desired and beautiful, it wasn't so smooth. Walking alongside me one week, my wise little guy says to me, "Mamma, what do you think if we do our nature walks on Monday mornings? Maybe they would be better for starting the week." And he was right! It doesn't matter what school or work we human beings head into each week, MOANday mornings tend to be hard. Nature walk has been a much gentler start to the week and we have cherished slower home rhythm on Fridays.

I am realizing that, while I am deeply inspired by Waldorf as my home teaching and parenting foundation, our best flowing "us-school" days are perhaps a little more unit study-like. (That term makes me cringe. I don't know why.) This year, I am using Brave Writer Arrow and Boomerang guides for writing mechanics and grammar, something with which we needed to become a little more consistent. I chose to start us with Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, the 1956 Newbery award winning biographical novel of Nathaniel Bowditch, written by Jean Lee Latham.

I could never have imagined the journey Nat would take us on. We were gripped by his story ("Just one more chapter, Mamma!") and how he quietly, yet deeply affected history. We were then hurled through time, backward from Nat to Galileo and forward from Nat and onto the west coast for The Coast Mappers and a tour of a modern ship, the one my brother works on. This one chapter book had us eagerly chasing math, science, history, writing, and language arts, and had the kids making connections and expressing curiosity and excitement with what they were learning. This is fuel for the homeschooling mama soul.

 Along with our read alouds and all-things-Nat, the kids did regular math lessons, another subject we had become inconsistent with. Brown Mouse is very happily engaged with Teaching Textbooks now. He worked his way through the free trial and into a full membership for the year. Lala Bug has been doing Khan Academy, supplemented with Key To... series practice booklets (which our charter school provides). It feels good to have math anchors without push back. I do think the year that I backed off and made math more about play and living experiences made a huge positive difference in math attitude now.

So much cooking and baking, below. Lala Bug got interested in and immediately skilled in baking cakes in the spring, and we always meal plan and meal prep for the week, so a lot of cooking and baking has been happening around here, particularly with September being full of birthdays.The praise "this is the best cake I have ever had!" is positive feedback Lala Bug has loved hearing, and since we are gluten-free bakers, that was encouraging to me.

Soccer is successfully and joyfully underway, 4-H projects and charter classes are beginning this week, and probably the most meaningful things we are doing right now is going through a series of appointments for the unique needs of one kiddo and health-related challenges I have been having. For this reason, alone, the success of our basic weekly rhythm has been so encouraging to me. We are now moving onward into learning period 2. We are studying chocolate and its origins, the constitution and natural history (both through our charter classes), and excited about the playful learning of 4-H.

I hope your learning year is starting smoothly and joyfully!

lake life 2018

We are home again from a week at the lake. Immediately back to reality, which carried on without us, glad to have home to come home to, but clutching memories of 'home' in the wild.

This year, the trip almost didn't happen (we are add-ons to the growing family that owns that cabin) and we are so deeply grateful, never taking for granted the gift of the time, place, and tradition that this trip holds for all of us. (Here is last year's post. And one from 2016.) This place holds so many memories, so much growth made visible each year, and I am seeing more and more, a sense of place. ownership, and predictability for the kids (and me).

While the kids have gone fishing before, Brown Mouse caught his first real fish this year. Doing so was a powerful learning experience, unexpected and emotional. Both kids were deeply upset by it. Brown Mouse desperately wanted to bring a fish back to Grandma at the cabin, but was horrified at actually killing, cleaning, and carrying a fish, and Lala Bug was deeply upset at the inhumanity of harming an animal. We released the fish and, as the kids are not vegan or vegetarian, this prompted deep discussions. 

This year we were later in the summer than the past two years, so no wildflowers. It was incredibly dry due to lower than normal snow pack last winter, as well. We had M with us the entire week, the first time in a few years, which was such a gift to all of us.

 

We hiked a tremendous amount this year, exploring two new-to-the-kids lakes. This, of course, gave M and me the chance to share more stories and memories of these beautiful places.

 

 

Some of us snuck in some reading time, too. The kids blew through enough books that they both started in on Kindles. Kindles in hand, Lala Bug read at least two books from the Five Little Peppers series and Brown Mouse read several books from the Math Inspectors series. 

I finished How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott Sampson while enjoying this view (below), a gluten free beer, and leftover homemade (by my brother) enchilada casserole with a pile of tomatoes and guacamole. Perfect. And this really was the perfect setting in which to finish that book. It was such validation that M and I are raising wild children; children who know where they fit in, in nature, the importance of it, the appeal of it, how to care for it, and how to learn from it. We have children who seek it out.

 

The lake was so low this year, these two were able to wade from one swim rock to the other (to take photos of something...an Osprey?) And below, such competent paddlers now, more confident having practiced capsizing. There is something so special about watching your children and your parents paddle off, enjoying being active together.

 

And with that, the summer season swings closed and I reluctantly turn toward all that comes next.

nature (study) - a peek into what it looks like for us

I cannot remember a time when I have felt a disconnection from nature. My parents are "outdoors" people. In fact, they met in a church backpacking group, were among the earliest members of REI Co-op, summited a couple of California's major peaks, and even went backpacking (with diapers and a birthing manual) when a couple weeks shy of delivering my older brother.  (I was explicitly told "do not do that!" when I was pregnant.) As kids, there wasn't a ton of money, but a strong sense of adventure and I saw a lot of the U.S. from campsite to campsite. Today, still, my parents are hikers, bikers, birders, travelers, and continue to share their love of the outdoors with us and with my children. My kids' knowledge of birds comes from my parents sharing their love of birds. The kids, in turn, share it with me.

My brother and I inherited (absorbed?) this love for the outdoors in different ways. My brother, S, is definitely a careful, but more extreme adventurer than I am, having spent over a decade researching in Antarctica and having completed quite a few 'hard core' through-hikes and peak summits. M is also a lover of the outdoors. Both brother and husband were Boy Scouts (different troops) and M's troop spent weeks every summer adventuring wildly, with little adult supervision and direction, in Desolation Wilderness. M's love of the outdoors is playful and exuberant and he knows far more about survival, equipment, and fires than I do. (Incidentally, S and M met working at REI (they had the knowledge and liked the discounts), became fast friends, and that is how I met M, my husband!)

I have taken it all in in a gentler way. My degree is in biology, but I have a strong interest in plants and environmental science. When I grow up (i.e., I am no longer homeschool parenting), one of my considerations is to deepen my nature knowledge and/or pursue becoming a naturalist. (I could do this through higher education or even participating in some of the classes Jon Young founded here or here.) There is something about nature that soothes my highly sensitive soul, brings me peace and order when anxiety kicks in, and leaves me feeling like there is hope for the future and a connection to the past. While I am a hiker, swimmer, and paddler, too, I also like to slow down and pay attention to what is around me in nature.

And all of these experiences have filtered down to our kids. Our shared stories become part of their story, their history, and their experience.

I have shared quite a few posts about our nature study because it has been one of our greatest intentional successes this year. Because of who I am and who M is and our shared love of the outdoors, our kids have grown up camping, hiking, and loving nature. In fact, as I sit here and write about nature, our kids are in a day camp that has one of them herb foraging and crafting and the other exploring forest crafts. They are loving it. 

I want to share a little more in this post because I have been reading a book called How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott D. Sampson. I had never heard of this book before, but the hosts of one of my favorite podcasts, Homeschool Unrefined, are reading it and podcasting about it, book club style, during the summer. Since the topic is right up my ally, I borrowed the book from the library to join in. 

I am in the middle of chapter 3 and, it turns out, the author is speaking right to me. It could be, in part, because at least part of this book was written when he lived in the part of California in which I live, but so much of what he says resonates and validates my family's approach with nature, which, as a homeschooling mamma, isn't a feeling I experience or allow myself often enough. He talks about cultivating a love of and connection to nature in our children from an early age by providing consistent time in nature and an engaged adult (a mentor) with whom to share those experiences. He discusses the importance of a sense of place and taking the time to observe, ask questions, and being attentive to how the children in front of you learn best. Stories, hands-on activities, individually, in groups? Much of what he has covered, so far, is applicable beyond just the consideration of nature study and the cultivation of interest in nature. Those questions and approaches resonate deeply with my Waldorf roots and apply to other aspects of homeschooling and learning in general.

While I don't want to turn this post into a review of that individual book, I do think it (and likely others, such as Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv) offer powerful food for thought on how humanity is and is not interacting with nature and how the idea of nature has changed in recent generations. 

Other guides that have supported our family's experiences with nature are general guidebooks for where we live. (Some of ours are in a photo below. Some have been gifts, but many have been purchased used in local book sales.) Guides that have greatly shaped my mentoring of nature with my own kids and as a 4-H leader are Exploring Nature With Children by Lynn Seddon and Nature Journaling Curriculum (for use with children) by John Muir Laws. (An updated version of this is coming soon and as a beta tester, I am excited for it! He is local to me, so the kids and I have even gone to some of his free workshops, but he has lots of free videos.) And stories. Stories of all sorts, set in nature or featuring nature, have inspired curiosity, whether they are fables, The Burgess Bird Book, James Herriot stories, stories about pioneering naturalists like Girls Who Looked Under Rocks, and so many, many more.

A quick mention here about gear and food; Having shoes, jackets, hats, and pants that fit well and repel water well makes outside time in wet weather more bearable. The same holds true for warm gear in cold weather as well as proper sun protection in hot, sunny weather. One piece of gear that our kids have, which I don't know if I would have invested in, are CamelBak backpacks. When our kids were 2 and 5, my parents bought them each the smallest size available. To this day, they still wear the packs and for many hikes, those packs were the deal-maker. They loved having their own packs and so from a very early age, they have carried their own water and their own snacks. Now, older, they often have a sitting pad, first aid kit, sunblock, and Swiss Army knife in their packs as well. When they were young, they loved the control and we loved not having to carry so much weight. And snacks...with kids, especially if you have kids who are highly sensitive, everything goes better with food. Pick portable, filling snacks that appeal to your kids and pack extras!

From the time the kids were very little, they have brought nature home with them. We have a nature table that changes with the seasons. Usually, it becomes full and we clean it all up and start over, with a few favorites that stay for awhile. We talk about what we collect here and the phrase "leave only footprints and take home only pictures." We try and find appropriate balance between leaving nature in its own ecosystem and wanting and needing a little bit of it in ours.

Closer to home, interaction with natures has meant bird watching from the deck, growing a garden, taking walks around the neighborhood and seeing what is in bloom and when, raising chickens, and watching the phases of the moon change with each passing day.

M made 'pocket' flower presses for the kids. They were a hit!

One of our greatest homeschool successes this year has been a dedicated nature study day each week. Each week, depending on what is going on, we enjoy nature in our own back yard (like the week we participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count), at a nearby lake (seasonally, so we can see the changes from season to season), we take a little field trip, or, most commonly, head to our favorite nearby park. (By park, I don't mean playground. We are blessed, for as urban as it is where we live, the area has a tremendous number of large regional and state parks.) Annually, we spend time up at the lake, off-grid with the environment as our playground. For our weekly nature time, we often have something to focus on (buds, bugs, trees, weather, etc.), but always need free play, too. I always try to capture it in some way in my nature journal (some pages of mine shown here) and the kids often do, as well. Looking back on the year's worth of journal pages has brought a sense of awe and accomplishment.

Camping, hiking, observing, foraging, identifying, growing, and protecting are all ways in which we are connecting with the natural world around us. How do you connect with nature?