We are very excited to announce that our first Outdoor Hour Challenge eBook is ready for purchase. We have finished writing and polishing the first ten challenges into a great resource for families.
Here is an excerpt from the introductory pages:
It is a quiet revolution going on in families all over the country. Children are spending more time outdoors with their families as they explore their own backyards and neighborhoods. The Outdoor Hour Challenges have provided the needed push for more people to get outside and spend just a few minutes each week learning about the plants and animals they encounter as they venture out their own back doors.
The Outdoor Hour Challenges have become a favorite activity among homeschoolers and now with the ease of having the first ten challenges gathered into one convenient eBook, more families can enjoy the benefits of nature study each week with their children. The challenges encourage each family to spend fifteen to twenty minutes each week focusing on nature study close to home in their own backyards, neighborhoods, or local parks. No fancy equipment is necessary and the challenges help families make the small steps needed to get started. Families from all over the world are participating and learning just how many benefits there are to sharing in nature study.
If you haven’t started with the challenges yet or you would like to have the very first ten challenges in one easy to use eBook format, you can now purchase them along with some exciting new features.
Here is what you get with the purchase of this eBook.
- The first ten Outdoor Hour Challenges simply explained and illustrated.
- Examples from my own family that I have shared on the blog, grouped with the appropriate challenge.
- Links to the Challenges on the Handbook of Nature Study Blog.
- A notebook page specifically designed for each challenge as well as twelve more generic pages to use with any nature study.
- Lots of photos and examples from our nature journals.
- Additional materials and resources in the Appendix.
- Links to various types of nature study information that will help you complete the challenges.
- Suggestions for field guides to use with beginners.
- Tips and ideas from the Handbook of Nature Study blog.
- You can see and download a sample challenge and notebook pages: OHC Getting Started Ebook Sample.
Please note that the challenges in the eBook are exactly the same challenges that are offered here on the blog.
Your ebook is BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for compiling everything and making the format so clear and easy to follow. I am so excited to have this as a resource for our home school.
-Kim (who did a challenge or two way back when, but who is now even more determined and inspired to start again and keep going! 🙂 )
I was so excited, I came to post a comment before I even saw the notebooking pages! (LOL) They are terrific!!!!! THANK YOU again for all of your work! 🙂
Thanks Kim! We worked hard to make it easy to use and also enjoyable to read…..sounds like we accomplished what we set out to do!
Thanks for the great comments.
Barb
we have just found your blog. we need a little push to get outside so thanks for your ideas. i bought some notebooks so now we can get started. thanks for taking the time to share.
I love your blog, Barb. Thank you for all the wonderful ideas and encouragement. You make it look so easy!
http://jodiesamatteroftime.blogspot.com/2009/02/im-excited-to-see-this-lovely-organized.html
Hi
I am a friend of Tina’s and am so excited to see the finished product. You two worked together so well. Awesome job. I have posted to two of our local Yahoo groups (Homeschoolers in Kitsap, and First Class Kitsap County) as well as First Class Homeschool Ministries Leader group. I hope it generates some excitement. And congrats on the beautiful work you all have done. What an accomplishment.
EXCELLENT!!! I look forward to buying it after the dentist is done this month!!!
I’m still excited to have re-found your wonderful blog. We’ve just seen a hare and bats, so I’ll be going back to those challenges, once we finish with squirrels. 🙂
I love the idea of having the book. I would love to be entered into your contest even though I will be buying at least one copy for myself.
Here is the link I have set up on one of my blogs.
http://erdkinder.blogspot.com/
Can I enter a second time if I add it to my other blog(s)?
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into all you do.
I know that I am not the only one who appreciates it.
Kathleen
Barb, I stopped blogging months ago but decided to start a new blog for sharing our nature study finds.
Your website is lovely, and I so appreciate the hours you devote to your passion for nature. Both the website and your passion are inspiring.
I just moved into my blog and haven’t posted about your new eBook but I will soon. Of course, it isn’t exactly swamped with traffic but I will be happy to put up a post. I’ll return to let you know when I do so.
Thanks everyone for helping spread the word about the eBook.
I truly appreciate your help.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
Love it, Love it, Love it!!!
I posted about it on both my blogs plus it’s on my sidebar.
http://aahnature.blogspot.com/2009/02/awesome-nature-study-resource.html
Hi Barb
I think this is such a great idea! Thank you so much for compiling it! And here is my link to my blog http://himintheeveryday.blogspot.com/2009/02/outdoor-hour-challenge-ebook.html
Has anyone posted this at the Ambleside Online Group? I will check that it is ok to post this sort of thing there and if no- one else has done so- I will post it there. They suggest the use of the Handbook of Nature Study so this might be a very handy resource!!!
Thanks again
Here is the link http://athomescience.blogspot.com/2009/01/science-saturday-challenge-1.html to my second blog where I also posted about your book. Youll also find it in the sidebar.Thanks for putting this together and so many will be able to benefit from it!!
Ok I have also posted at Ambleside Online but I did ask them to remove it if I was going against their policies!
Thanks again!!!
Hi, I have also posted about your book on 4 yahoo./HS groups I am a member of, since they are private I don’t know how you would verify it. If you need their yahoo address just let me know-Be Blessed
Angie in GA
I posted about this to our CM book. Great idea!
This is a wonderful resource. Thanks so much. It will be a blessing to homeschoolers everywhere. I posted it on our homeschool website and forums at wingsgroup.org. It is under the great books forum.
Again thanks so much.
I am just like tolle lege….as soon as i heard about this, i ran to the comments page (well, as fast as dial-up will allow me!). This challenge has been a blessing for my oldest daughter (8) and I, as much for the outdoor experiences as it has been for time together, just the two of us (the 5 yo and 2 yo are happy to play and generally leave us be). This time has been of such value to us — thank yoU!!!!!!
Barb, the new ebook looks great! I posted about it here.
http://sweatpea6797.typepad.com/my_thoughtful_spot/2009/02/new-nature-ebook-and-random-drawing.html
I look forward to getting it.
posted to my Charlotte Mason email group. THanks.
Oh this is wonderful! What a lovely addition for all nature’s lovers or nature lover wanna bees. Thank you so much for sharing your endeavors with everyone in blog land. God Bless!
I just reposted your ebooklink on my latest entry.
I love what you did with the book and plan on taking the file to Kinkos to have it printed and spiral bound.
Thank you and your co-authors so much for your time and hard work.
Kathleen
Barbara, I have also added the link for this book to my Homeschool Blog, http://inspire-a-child.blogspot.com/.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you for inspiring me to spend more time really looking at what my eyes see.
Kathleen
RE there any samples of this ebook?
Samples can be found on the Lulu.com page:
http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/outdoor-hour-challenges-getting-started-challenges-1-10/6059459
Plus all of the challenges are listed on the right sidebar of this blog. 🙂
Barb-Harmony Art Mom