Tricia shared a link that relates to the Summer Series of Outdoor Hour Challenges. Thanks Tricia!
Here is another opportunity to participate in a nature study related science project. Easy and fun…too bad we don’t have fireflies here to observe. 🙁
Lisa shared this link to some macro photos of mosquitoes being hatched:
Mosquitoes Emerging
Fascinating!
Enjoy the links.
As a follow-up to my post on summer hiking and finding places that are an hour from your home, I wanted to give some tips to finding places to go close to your home. My local area is unique but so is yours and perhaps you need some help finding those interesting places that will inspire you to take a few hikes with your family. Arm yourself with some information.
I did some research on Amazon and found that if you type in some particular words you can find some great ideas for books for your family just about anywhere you live.
Type in the search box on Amazon.com:
Easy Day Hikes _______ (with your state instead of the blank)
Best Day Hikes ________ (with your state instead of the blank)
Day Hike ____________(with your closest National Park instead of the blank)
Fodor’s __________(with your state or region of the the US like Southwest or Northwest)
Moon Handbooks ____________(with your state, region, or national park instead of the blank)
Hiking ___________(with your state, region, or national park…this one will get you a lot more choices and can be overwhelming)
Another tip that I will pass on is to go to Barnes and Noble and look for their travel guide section. Browse and pick out a guide book to your own state and/or local area. Be like a tourist and read the guide book to discover more about your own locality. I actually keep the California Fodor’s book in the pocket of the door in my car. I refer to it when we are looking for local attractions for day trips and to know times and prices of places we are interested in visiting.
Of course, you can just look things up on the internet, although when I am out and about it is reassuring to have a map and some directions in my pack as a back up. I do lots of research online, but I feel better having a book describing the hikes when we head out the door. At the very least, we carry a map of the area where we are hiking. I could write a whole post about bad maps and books and trail markers but I will save that for another time. 🙂
You can look up your state in this index of national forests:
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/state_list.shtml
Using a Google search you can also type “national forest ______”, replacing the blank with your state.
I sincerely hope these tips help you find some interesting places to go with your family.
We have been working on this challenge for a couple of weeks. What an amazing way to learn more about the summer season! We have never taken the time to actually note where the sun sets at different times of the year. We are now more keenly aware of the direction and the making of a landmark to keep track from week to week.
We are not able to see the horizon in any direction from our house. We live on a hill, there are too many trees, and even though it is not a crowded neighborhood, we do have near-by houses that obstruct the view. We decided we could still pick a spot on the front deck to observe the sunrises and a different spot on the back deck to observe the sunsets.
This challenge made us more aware of the everyday event that happens outside our door…far too early at this time of the year. The sunrise is much more north than I thought it should be. We have all watched the spot and agree that it is not where we expected it to be. We had to get up rather early a few times to discover the landmark but now we have it fixed. This morning there were beautiful clouds that made the day a little cooler to start off with. There were actually a few light sprinkles of rain early in the morning. By noon though, it was hot and humid, granted not a Texas humid but a California humid.
The sunsets are so wonderful from our deck now that we have a few trees missing. Although we can not see the horizon from where we are located, we noted from a particular spot on the deck where the sun goes down. It sets just to the left of our back shop’s peak.
The other weather related “project” we have been working on this summer is to note the build up of thunderheads over the Sierra in the afternoons. Many times we can look out about noon and see the beginnings of a cloud bank and then by mid afternoon we notice the spectacular clouds in the distance. Most of the time we don’t experience anything from the clouds because they are so far away. We did have a little sheet lightning the other evening which is always interesting to watch.
I took this photo last night when we were out for a sunset drive. This is facing east so the pink sunset is reflecting in the thunderheads. Sure wish all those utility lines were not in the photo.
One last observation to share:
Sunrise: 64 degrees and 47% humidity.
Noon: 96 degrees and 46% humidity.
Sunset: 83 degrees and 38% humidity.
Tulip Tree or Yellow Poplar Tree
We have been observing the tulip tree very closely and I shared the blossoms a few weeks ago when we had the complete tree covered in blooms. Now it is mostly big yellow-green leaves that provide abundant shade on the front of our house.
There is a mockingbird that frequents the tree early in the morning to sing us a song. It is a nice way to wake up, with the leaves silhouetted on the window blinds and the sound of bird song in the air.
My son noticed that the bark has some moss on it still even in the heat. There were ants on the trunk as well. There were no bees visible, but we know when the tree is blooming it is alive with bees.
Here are our nature journals which this time we decided to use photos instead of drawing. It makes a quick and easy journal that looks really nice.
I opted to add a photo to my nature journal from last month when the tree was blooming.
My son’s journal has a photo of the tree as well. He made a list of his observations and then added a photo to make a very easy nature journal entry.
This entry completes our full circle for the year:
It hardly seems possible that we have gone all through the seasons with our tree already. This is such a great way to learn more about what is right in our own yard. We have started to think about what tree we will observe next….oh the possibilities!
I really mean to post our Outdoor Hour Challenges but somehow I just keep getting distracted. I am avoiding too much work this week because it feels like the summer sort of thing to do.
Hiking is our activity of choice these days when we have family time. The boys are old enough now that we can take some fairly decent day hikes and enjoy some awesome Sierra landscapes. Wake up, pack a lunch, and lace on your hiking shoes….out the door.
Last week we took the one hour trip over the mountain to the Cascade Falls trailhead. We had two choices…the falls or Desolation Wilderness. Since this was a day hike we opted for the easy mile and a half, out and back trail to the falls.
You actually hike to the top of the falls and look down over Lake Tahoe.
It was not too hot so we decided to find a place and just enjoy the scenery. The sound of the falls, the blue Sierra sky, and the warm air is so refreshing and worth the effort to get there.
It always amazes me that anything can grow on these giant slabs of granite. They seem to find little cracks and spaces to hold fast to like this wildflower at the top of the falls. In the top right of the photo you can catch a glimpse of the lake and how high we are up on the waterfall.
This past weekend we took another one hour drive in a different direction and ended up at Woods Lake. A short, short hike around the lake takes you to a small but pleasant waterfall.
We let the boys blaze the trail back and at some points there was a lot of scurrying over rocks. They always assure me that it is “easy”. They forget that I am getting a little old to scramble over rocks and to jump down from logs.
Yes, that is snow. There were actually still numerous spots around this high altitude lake that still had snow.
The rest of the afternoon my husband and I were planted firmly in chairs on the side of this gorgeous lake. I did some watercoloring in my nature journal and he took a little snooze. Perfect.
The boys didn’t sit still very long and they were lured around the opposite side of the lake for a little more exploring. Let’s just say that shoes got wet on this little outing. 🙂
We found a long time ago that we can explore so many different places by using a simple idea. Take a map and place a big dot on your home town. Now determine an hour’s distance from your home and draw a circle around your home at that distance. Make a list of all the places you can go that are within that hour’s distance and then start one by one giving them a try. We have been following this concept for over a decade and it always amazes us what we can find to do that is within that short distance range.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
“Indeed, research suggests that children, when left to their own devices, are drawn to the rough edges of such parks, the ravines and rocky inclines, the natural vegetation. A park may be neatly trimmed and landscaped, but the natural corners and edges where children once played can be lost in translation.”
Last Child in the Woods, page 117
This important book is on my summer reading list again. It is an easy read and each time I glean a few more points to apply to our family and refine my thinking about getting outdoors. Reaffirming my belief that all children need to be outdoors every day keeps me actively working on the Outdoor Hour Challenges and other related projects.
We are in the middle of planning a big front yard makeover and I have decided that for our family we will incorporate native plants, some rocky outcrops, and more shelter and food for the local wildlife. My boys are more interested in watching birds and animals than they are with a large expanse of grass. Our wild side has taught us this spring that we enjoyed observing the insects, flowers, and grasses more than we ever enjoyed the well manicured lawn.
I once read a post written by a mom who had little by little converted her suburban backyard into a wild place for her children. She brought in some rocks for lizards and insects to take shelter in. She included a big log so the kids could watch the decomposition and the living creatures that lived in, under, and on the log. She made a sand pile for digging with pails and shovels at the ready. There were places to play in the hose and make mud. It has always stuck with me that with a little effort on her part she offered a place with interesting and attractive edges even in a small backyard.
When my boys were young, we planted herbs, edible things like berries, and each child had their own garden box. We kept tree stumps for child size tables. We planted trees for climbing and swinging. On hot summer days we spread out blankets underneath the trees in the shade.
Our butterfly garden with its colorful flowers and bushes shelters not only insects but hummingbirds. Allowing some room for exploring in our backyard has given us endless nature study opportunities as well as a place for the children to wander during their own time, to dream and play and wonder.
This time outdoors is essential to our child’s development. The effort you put into creating space for unstructured play will be seen in your child’s happy face and heart. It is an investment in their mental and physical health.
Look at the edges…..see if you can make some changes today.
Edit to add: I received a comment and some email about becoming a National Wildlife Federation Certified Habitat. We did that for our backyard some years ago and that is really what brought this sort of idea to my head in the very beginning. Now I am anxious to get started in the front yard.
After we left the Oregon coast and the wonderful tidepools, we headed south back down into California and to the redwood forests. We stayed two days near Redwood National Park and then inland to Humboldt Redwoods. Both places were refreshing and awe inspiring. I know that many of you dream of seeing the big trees and I hope you get to in real life someday. It is worth the effort and the dreaming.
In the meantime, I will give a little glimpse into our few days there this time around.
The majesty of these trees has inspired many before us. I spent some time this trip meditating on the men and women who dedicated parts of their lives to saving these forests and their ancient giants. Many of these trees have been alive since at least the time of Christ….that gives you something to think about as you walk alongside these living things so tall they make your neck hurt to look up at them.
One person that I learned about on this trip was John D. Rockefeller. He played a huge part in saving thousands of acres of these trees at a time that it was crucial. These trees were being cut down for a growing nation’s hunger for timber. He was invited to visit these groves of trees early in the 20th century and he immediately jumped in with a million dollars to purchase great forests of the redwood trees. He donated another million later on and saved many more. Today you can walk through the Rockefeller Redwood Forest and see many of these ancient giants up close because of efforts of the Save the Redwoods League and others.
I prayed a silent prayer first to our Grand Creator thanking him for these unique and special trees. Noting their qualities and their beauty and how they so wonderfully tell us of God’s qualities and beauty. Then a prayer of thanks to having created us with the ability to appreciate these trees and forests. Lastly for those that have appreciated and loved the forests before us, keeping them safe for our families to enjoy.
These forests just seem to make you want to seek a little solitude as you hike, even my energetic teens are struck with their awesomeness.
But boys will be boys and they tend to want to climb up on the fallen trees to get a new perspective on the scene.
Hiking in the redwoods is quiet because the trails are softened with “duff” which makes a matted forest floor. It is spongy and easy to walk on with little dust. I find it very enjoyable and your eyes are free to take in the contrasts of light and dark of the forest. The sky is bright above but under the canopy of the trees it is sometimes quite dark. This is the stuff that storybooks are filled with…lots of interesting sounds, smells, and curious sights.
We took a drive one of our days to a place that we had never ventured to before…the Lost Coast of California. What a day!
Leaving the dense forest and heading down into the coastal valleys was an awesome experience. The road was crazy with potholes, narrow sections, crazy curves, steep ups and downs, and wild drivers.
We stopped at several spots along the way to take in the view and snap a few photos. Here is my oldest son setting up his photo with the redwoods, the rolling hills, and the ocean in the distance.
Here is one of his photos from the day’s trip along the Lost Coast. Amazing color in the water. We spent the whole day exploring and taking in this unique place in California…..a little off the beaten path. We had a picnic lunch along and stopped in a little town called Petrolia to sit at a picnic table and enjoy our afternoon.
There is so much to write about but at the sake of turning this into a travel journal, I will finish here. If you have any questions about anything I have shared in this post, please feel free to email me for more details.
I hope this gives you a glimpse into our time in the redwoods and along the redwood coast. Keep dreaming your redwood dreams.
More info on the Lost Coast Drive
Our family is greatly enjoying the focus on using all our senses and the effort to get outdoors in the evening.
I would like to thank all of you for your contributions to the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. I sincerely hope that you have continued success with your nature study activities this summer.
Summer Series #1 Mosquitoes and the World of Smell
Amy from Together For A Reason completed an evening study starting with mosquitoes and ending with lightning bugs.
Angie and her boys did an amazing study of mosquitoes and she share their entry Blood Sucking Zombie Minions and their Dog/Dragon. She took some macro photos of the larvae that you don’t want to miss.
Tricia and her children completed a mosquito study in their own backyard. What started out as a reluctant study turned out great!
K from All Creation Cries Out shares their families mosquito jar and some wonderful photos too.
Spring Series #3 Spring Bird Study
Angie from The One Thing had some baby chicks. She and her sons learned more about their chickens and they share their study as well as their journal entries.
Spring Series #5 Seasonal Cattail Study
Amy and her crew ventured outdoors with a new baby to complete their Spring Cattail Study. This looks like a lovely spring outing and they found their cattails.
Spring Series #6 Apple Tree
Amy from Together for a Reason also completed another challenge, adapting it to their particular area. Instead of apples they studied raspberries. Once again with a new baby in the sling, they did a great job of getting outdoors.
Spring Series #7 Cats
Kelsey from Mud Puddles shares their cat study. Kelsey completed the study with her kids even though she is allergic to cats. I am impressed.
Spring Series #8 Snakes
Phyllis and her children from All Things Beautiful share their snake study with carnival readers. I think that Phyllis approached this study of snakes with a wonderful attitude. I too want to equip my family to know which snakes are dangerous and which ones are not. Knowledge is powerful.
Kelsey from Mud Puddles also contributed their snake study blog entry which included a trip to see snakes at the pet shop.
Angie in GA is one brave mama. She shares their snake story complete with photos! Don’t miss their entry into the carnival on The One Thing.
Spring Series #9 Earthworms
Alex from Serendipity Home School shares their earthworm study with carnival readers. Lots of great photos and a wonderful nature journal sample are included in their entry.
Angie from Petra School shares their earthworm study. Their family constructed an earthworm jar and then invited some friends over to study earthworms up-close.
Kelsey from Mud Puddles and her children also made a worm jar and then observed worms on the sidewalk. Love the photos in this entry.
Phyllis from All Things Beautiful had a very interesting earthworm post…at least to me. She shares information on her daughter’s compost bin where she uses worms. I learned a lot. You will want to see their nature journals as well.
Spring Series #10 Ants
Kelsey from Mud Puddles shares a large variety of ants that they observed as part of this challenge. Great journal entries too!
Angie from Petra School and her boys completed a very thorough study of ants. Love their words, photos, and journals in this entry!
One more ant challenge entry was submitted from Tricia and her children who remembered just where to look for an ant hill. Check out their entry on Homeschool Highlights.
Outdoor Hour Challenge #2 Using Your Words
Yahkheena at Seeking the Narrow Way completed OHC #2 with her family and they share their entry with words, photos, and journals. This is a lovely entry.
Outdoor Hour Challenge #9 One Small Square
How about a beach square? Tricia and her family completed a wonderful one small square study at the beach. See their complete entry on Homeschool Highlights.
Outdoor Hour Challenge #13 Practicing the Flower Parts
Andi from Declared Unto Him shares their family study of the iris. Truly beautiful photos accent this entry as well as her daughter’s watercolor painting.
Outdoor Hour Challenge #16 Sunflowers
Sometimes it is hard to remember that in Australia they are experiencing the opposite seasons from those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Pauline from Giggly HQ shares their sunflower study with some great photos of cockatoos in the sunflowers.
Signs of Spring
Angie from GA shares their nature walk with lots of signs of spring. Pop over to The One Thing and see what they found interesting.
Alex from Serendipity Home School shares some lovely butterfly and bees on thistle photos in her entry to the blog carnival. Looks like a great nature walk! She also shares some colorful wildflowers on another casual nature study day.
Suzanne from Little Kisses from God found some unexpected subjects during their Outdoor Hour time. Check out her entry, Unexpected Discoveries.
I really enjoyed reading all the entries to the carnival and I hope you take a few minutes to check them out as well. I look forward to seeing all your July entries this month and I hope to learn something new.
Please consider submitting your Outdoor Hour Challenge entries and your Spring Series and Summer Series entries to the next carnival. Deadline for submissions will be July 31st, 2010 and all entries from July are eligible. Here is the link for submissions: LINK.
Thanks again,
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
Our report for the Summer Series Outdoor Hour Challenge #1 World of Smell and Mosquitoes.
Our family has been spending just about every evening outdoors enjoying the sunset and evening air. Our neighbor had a tree fall last winter and then he cut another one down that was precarious. We now have a beautiful view of the western sky and many a beautiful sunset.
Our list of summer smells is growing and the most predominant evening smell of note is the smell of skunks. The second fragrance that we detect in the evenings is the smell of star jasmine along the fence. This year the flowers are abundant and after a long hot summer day, the sweet spicy smell of the jasmine is intoxicating. The boys always say they smell woodsmoke and grass when I ask. If you asked us during the daylight hours, the most frequent smell in the air is hot oak leaves. There is something about that particular fragrance that is calming to me and it always signals to me that it is summer. This is a wonderful exercise for older children since they can usually detect and identify many smells that we adults perhaps don’t notice anymore. 🙂
Our mosquito study has been limited this year. We did try to find some wigglers to observe but so far we have not been successful. We have collected some water but with no results. This will continue to be something we look for the opportunity to do all summer. We did have some direct observations of mosquitoes though and the most fascinating thing to me is the way mosquitoes seem to choose certain people out of the group to target. I have one son that attracts them like a magnet. I can be sitting right next to him and they will buzz around me but not land on me. They will bite him multiple times and he is then miserable with itching hot bites.
We looked up the information on mosquitoes and learned a little bit more about how the mosquito fits into our local web of life. We have bats in our yard in the evenings and now we realize that the mosquitoes are actually part of their food web. I think our Creator has made such a wonderful world that is in balance and is just right if man does not interfere.
This is from one evening on our camping trip to Oregon…look at that moon.
The section on in Discover Nature at Sundown was also interesting and we learned more about categories of smells. We know have some new vocabulary to use when we describe a smell. Our summer has been full of informal nature study so far in addition to the official Outdoor Hour Challenges and it warms my heart when the boys bring something up and we can research it to learn more.
The garden has sprung to life in the last few weeks. These are some new Zinnia Pixie Sunshine plants that I received free in a seed order. I planted them in a pot on the deck and they are going to be a fantastic choice for a container.
Vegetables are growing like crazy.
Flowers are blooming in all corners in many shapes and sizes. These day lilies are amazingly beautiful in real life.
The colors of summer are amazing and I can’t get enough of my day lilies this year.
Even the weeds are so very pretty. This self-heal is growing up along my fence line among some wild grapes that have planted themselves. I’m not sure where they came from but they are nice and green so they will stay.
The first round of herbs are ready to be harvested. Pesto anyone?
There are surprising new varieties of plants like this coleus.
And what garden post would be complete without a photo of my cat?
Water always tastes better out of the bird bath in the rose garden….at least that is what Miss Cocoa tells me anyway. This was during another one of my early morning walks outside in the cool air. Miss Cocoa decided to accompany me as I wandered through the garden and observed the nuthatches and woodpeckers.
Hope you enjoyed my garden update. Next week, I will share some more from my butterfly garden.
