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Weir Farm National Historic Site – Tips and Images

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut Tips and Images @handbookofnaturestudyWhat a surprise it was to find Weir Farm National Historic Site so near to where we were staying in Connecticut! My daughter was on a quest to find something for us all to enjoy one morning during our trip and she happened upon Weir Farm while searching the internet. At first we thought it were all a little skeptical because we weren’t sure about making time for a “farm” but in the end…it was a perfect fit for our family because it combined a beautiful setting with some art history.

Make sure to check the website before your visit for hours of operation and events: Weir Farm National Historic Site.

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut  (4)Weir Farm belonged to Julian Alden Weir, a foremost American Impressionist painter. In the Visitor’s Center you can view many paintings that have been done right on the property. (Yes, that is my son with his hoodie on, taking in the paintings at the farm.) Originally the farm was the painting retreat for Weir and many of his family and friends. Weir Farm is the only national historic site specifically dedicated to the history of American painting. He used the farm’s simple domestic scenes as the subject of his artwork.

Make sure to pick up a brochure as you leave the Visitor’s Center: Park Brochures.

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut  (5)This is a place of such beauty, with winding stone walls and several different developed gardens. We visited in October so we had an autumn color palette but I imagine that in the summer this garden is alive with a vibrant blossoming flower garden.

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut  (6)There are nice pathways going between the Visitor’s Center, the buildings, the gardens, barns, and art studios. We enjoyed the atmosphere and practically had the place to ourselves on this weekday morning.

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut  (8)My youngest son was very interested in the construction of the stone walls at the farm. He is currently working in the masonry field so I can see he was appreciating the skills involved in creating this functional but beautiful barrier here at the farm.

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut  (9)Each day at the farm, they provide art supplies to borrow so you can actually create some art during your visit. The day we were there the featured art supplies were colored pencils and pastels. Use the supplies and then bring them back at the end of your day. Yes please!

Harmony-Art-Mom-October-Creative-Mom-1We wished we could stay longer….the colors of the trees and the landscape were truly inspiring.

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut  (12)The day we were at the farm there were docents in every building. Because we were the only ones there, we were treated to extra special tours of the two artist studios. This was the painting studio and you could really imagine standing at the windows and being inspired to paint. The other studio was the sculpture studio of Mahonri Young (related to Brigham Young).

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut  (17)This is the Secret Garden and we spent a bit of time here sketching and enjoying the autumn Connecticut sunshine.

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut  (18)I had to include this one of my two boys…I don’t get to see them together very often and this image makes me smile.

Weir Farm National Historic Site Connecticut  (19)Weir Pond was constructed as a place for fishing, painting, boating, swimming, and picnics. It was also used to harvest ice in the winter. This day it was a picture perfect scene and we walked all the way around it.

IMG_0109If you visit Weir Farm, take the extra time to visit the pond. So pretty!

IMG_0119Our family enjoyed our morning at Weir Farm and had planned to eat a picnic lunch right there. But, someone forgot to actually put the picnic bag in the car and left it on the kitchen table..oops. No worries. We just went into town and found a place to grab a bite to eat. We combined our day with a trip to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT. This was a huge success as well and I highly recommend it if you are in the area.

More Tips

  • There is no fee for parking or entrance to this historic site.
  • There is a small parking lot and it does not accommodate RVs or trailers.
  • Allow at least a few hours for your visit.
  • This is a place that will appeal to children if they enjoy creating artwork or are learning about Impressionism.
  • There is a tour of the Weir House during the months of May through October.
  • The Visitor’s Center and buildings are open May through October. In the off season you can pick up a brochure for a self-guided tour of the grounds on the porch of the Visitor’s Center.
  • There is a Junior Ranger program offered.
  • There is an artist-in-residence program at this historic site.
  • Located about 60 miles from New York City…not an easy drive. It was about 15 miles from where we were staying in Danbury, CT.

You can read more of my national park entries by following these links:

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge – Chickens

Outdoor Hour Challenge Bird Study Chickens @handbookofnaturestudyOutdoor Hour Challenge

Bird Study – Chickens

“The purpose of all these lessons on the hen are: (a) To induce the child to make continued and sympathetic observations on the habits of the domestic birds. (b) To cause him involuntarily to compare the domestic with the wild birds. (c)To induce him to think for himself how the shape of the body, wings, head, beak, feet, legs, and feathers are adapted in each species to protect the bird and assist it in getting its living.”  Handbook of Nature Study

Inside Preparation Work:

  • Read in the Handbook of Nature Study pages 27-31, 38, 40-42, and 47-50 (Lessons 1, 4, 6, and 8). Create a list of suggested observations from each lesson.  There is a lot of information in these lessons on the chicken so pick the most interesting or relevant topics to cover one at a time with your children if needed.
  • Youtube videos: Breeds of Chickens and Backyard Chickens (I found these one very peaceful to watch).
  • Advanced study:  Plan on creating a comparison of the chicken and the duck using Lessons 5 and 6 in the Handbook of Nature Study. Read through pages 39-42 and use the suggestions in the lessons to observe the differences and similarities of the chicken and the duck.  There is a notebook page in the ebook to record some of your results.

Outdoor Hour Time:

  • Use your outdoor time this week to observe a chicken up close if possible. Make sure to note the main parts of each lesson you prepared from the Handbook of Nature Study.
  • Basic Observations Ideas:

Observe the feather’s three parts as illustrated in the Handbook.
Make sure to look closely at the chicken’s eyes.
Look for the scales on the legs and feet.
Note the ways a chicken uses its beak.

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Create a nature journal page or two for the chicken and include any information you found interesting, your observations if possible, and a sketch of the hen.
  • If you collected some chicken feathers, look at them closely using a microscope. Sketch the three parts of the feather in your nature journal.
  • Advanced study: Create a nature journal entry that explains and illustrates how a hen oils her feathers.

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Library
If you want to purchase the Autumn Nature Study 2015 ebook so you can follow along with all the notebooking pages, coloring pages, and subject images, you can join the Ultimate or Journey Membership Levels. See the Join Us page for complete information. Also, you can view the Autumn Nature Study 2015 announcement page for more details.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

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Outdoor Mom’s Journal – November Edition

Ramapo Valley County Reservation Mahwah NJ

October was a BIG month for getting outdoors for our family. My husband and I flew across the country to not only see the fall colors of the East Coast but to spend quality family time with three of our children. I realized that all five of us needed to do some exploring out in the fresh air and sunshine. We couldn’t have timed our trip better and this entry will share a few of the highlights as I compose this Outdoor Mom’s Journal for this month.

Above is the first of our autumn strolls. This one at Ramapo Valley County Reservation in Mahwah, New Jersey. Yes, New Jersey. I have one son living not far from this gem of a park and one evening we took a walk around the shore of the small lake there right at the golden time of the day. This is a photo I snapped as we rounded a corner…it was like a tunnel of light. Amazing.

Kent Falls CT
Kent Falls, CT

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You have no idea how happy this image makes me. To have five of us together, on the trail, almost perfect (just missing one child).

Appalachian Trail Housatonic Kent
We hiked along the Appalachian Trail near the Housatonic River and the town of Kent, CT one afternoon. It was like a dream. W

IMG_1794

The trail was flat and covered in fallen leaves which were so crunchy under our feet. The trail meanders alongside the river for miles and miles but we didn’t go but maybe a couple miles before we turned around and headed back.

Appalachian Trail near Kent, CT

The leaves were so interesting and my husband and daughter wanted a photo with some of the rather large leaves that we found along one portion of the trail.

Candlewood Lake Connecticut Beach
We were staying at gorgeous Candlewood Lake near Danbury, CT. This was the perfect launching spot for our trip and it was central to everything we wanted to do.

IMG_1743

Candlewood Lake in Connecticut created a memory for our family and this little cabin we rented through AirBNB could not have been any better.

Lake Waramaug State Park in CT

Here is a photo I would like to share: Lake Waramaug State Park in Connecticut

Outdoor Moms Journal @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Mom’s Journal

Whether your family spends a few minutes a week outside or hours at a time, share what is going on in your world. I hope you have enjoyed your October nature adventures.

How Do You Join?

Answer all or just one of the prompts in a blog entry on your own blog or right here on my blog in a comment. If you answer on your blog, make sure to leave me a link in a comment so that I can pop over and read your responses.

  • During our outdoor time this week we went….
  • The most inspiring thing we experienced was…
  • Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)…
  • In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting….
  • I added nature journal pages about….
  • I am reading…
  • I am dreaming about…
  • A photo I would like to share…

I will be posting my Outdoor Mom’s Journal entry once a month. Look for it during the first week of the month each month.

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Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter – November 2015 Mammals

Handbook-of-Nature-Study-Newsletter-November-2015-button-

Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter

November 2015 – Mammals

 

 

Please read the following explanation outlining how to get this month’s newsletter.

The newsletter link is not in this email but will come separately. There may be a delay in your receiving the email so please don’t email me until the second day of the month if you haven’t received the link on the first. For some reason, some email providers take longer to receive the newsletter email.

If you don’t receive the separate email with the download link, you probably aren’t subscribed to the blog yet. This will take less than a minute to do if you follow the steps below.

If you are a subscriber and you haven’t received your newsletter email yet, check your SPAM inbox. Some subscribers have found the email buried in SPAM inbox.

If you need to subscribe:

  • You will need to go to the Handbook of Nature Study, look to the top right corner for the box to type in your preferred email address, and then confirm the email that comes to your email inbox.
  • Once you subscribe, you will receive a thank you email from me with the download link.

This month’s newsletter link will be available only during the month of November so be sure to download it before 11/30/15.

Remember! All of the archived and current newsletters are available as part of the Ultimate Naturalist Library…every level!

Contents of this edition of the newsletter include:

  • Mammal nature study tips and resources in the form of links to the Handbook of Nature Study website, printables, and Pinterest.
  • November Nature Study Planning Page printable.
  • I have written an article entitled, Wild Mammal Study For Your Family with suggestions for creating an opportunity to observe a wild animal in your neighborhood.
  • Mammal Study Notebook Page and a Big Grid Study – These two printable pages will provide the basis for all kinds of mammal nature study whether this is your first time or you are a veteran outdoor family.

Members: You may also wish to download the November 2012. You will find additional articles, printables, and links to support your mammal nature study. Note: All levels of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study include all back issues of the newsletter.
HNS+Newsletter+Nov+2012+Cover+button.jpg

Resources for your Nature Library: I have started to build a nature library store on Amazon that will feature by category my favorite nature study books and resources. Take a look and see if there is anything you would like to put on your wish list for your family’s nature study library: Handbook of Nature Study Nature Library Suggestions on Amazon.com. Note this is my affiliate store to items I personally recommend and have read or seen in person.

Outdoor Hour Challenge November 2015 Monthly Printables for Members @handbookofnaturestudy

Please note that Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level members have access to members only printables each month in addition to the newsletter printables. You will need to log into your account and then go to the “Other Releases” section. You are going to find two new printables this month.

  • Mammal Nature Journal Ideas with a printable card
  • Fungi Up Close for a more in-depth fungi study (perhaps with the hedgehog fungi challenge that will take place in November).

Getting Started FAQ Button
Need help getting started with your nature study using the Handbook of Nature Study? Check out the fresh “Getting Started” page here on the website!

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge – Calcite, Limestone, and Marble

Outdoor Hour Challenge Rock Study Marble Calcite Limestone @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Hour Challenge
Rock Study- Calcite, Marble, and Limestone

Inside Preparation Work:

  • Read pages 748-750 (Lesson #210) in the Handbook of Nature Study.  Make sure to highlight some of the main points to share with your child.
  • If you have samples of limestone, marble, and/or chalk, have those on your nature table during the week of your study.
  • Additional information: calcite, limestone, and marble.
  • Videos: Simple limestone video and excellent detailed video about calcium carbonate.
  • Advanced study: Limestone is sedimentary and marble is metamorphic. Research how they both are formed and create a nature journal page recording your information.

Outdoor Hour Time:

  • There are a couple of ways of handling this nature study topic. The first is to research ahead of time a place in your local area that has limestone or marble to look at in its natural state. The second is to have on hand some samples of these rocks for your family to observe up close.
  • Go on a rock hunt with your kids! Take your outdoor time this week and go exploring for rocks. Use the Rock Activity page in this ebook for additional observations.
  • There are many places in the United States that have limestone caves. Plan a trip to visit one in the near future. Mammoth Cave National Park and Carlsbad Caverns  National Park both feature limestone caves!
  • Are there buildings in your town built of limestone? This may be an interesting way to learn about the usefulness of limestone.

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Follow up your outdoor time with a simple nature journal page where you write a detailed description of a rock. This can be any rock your child finds during their nature walk.
  • Advanced study: Research limestone caves, stalactites, stalagmites, and sink holes. (This is question #6 in the lesson.)

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Library
If you want to purchase the Autumn Nature Study 2015 ebook so you can follow along with all the notebooking pages, coloring pages, and subject images, you can join the Ultimate or Journey Membership Levels. See the Join Us page for complete information. Also, you can view the Autumn Nature Study 2015 announcement page for more details.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

 

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Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park – Tips and Images

Sugar Pine Point State Park Tips and Images @handbookofnaturestudy

Sugar Pine Point State Park in Northern California is situated on the western shores of Lake Tahoe. This 2,ooo acre park was once the estate of the Ehrman family and features their turn of the century summer home, lake front views, and many year round accessible trails for hiking and snow shoeing. Oh yes, there are the trees too! Sugar pine, fir, aspen, and cedars are all found within easy hiking of the parking lot and campground.

I have lived in California all my life and it always amazes me when I find a place that I have never visited before. My husband and I were camping at near-by Fallen Leaf Lake last September when we decided to make the short (and gorgeous) drive past Emerald Bay and onto Sugar Pine Point. We had packed a picnic lunch and made a day of it…we could have stayed longer and may sometime next year visit again with our kids. It might even be a winter trip to snowshoe among the trees if we can manage to get over the mountain. An interesting fact about this park is that it was the site of some of the Nordic events in the 1960 Olympics.

sugar Pine Point aug 2015 (2)

There was plenty of visitor parking and if you just wanted to stop and have a lovely picnic under the tall trees it would very easy and convenient. There are restrooms and picnic tables that are even handicap accessible. You can reach all of the trails from the parking lot, including the 6.5 mile long General Creek Trail.

sugar Pine Point aug 2015 (5)

There is a small nature center and gift shop located in the park. We took a quick look through the exhibits…nothing outstanding but still valuable if you are new to the area and habitat. It will give you some general ideas of what you can see in the park. sugar Pine Point aug 2015 (11)

This was my favorite part of the park….the view of the lake! There is a large beach and you can rent kayaks if you want to actually get out on the water. There is an interpretive trail that follows the shoreline that tells about the history of this area and is about a quarter mile long. If you are short on time, this is probably the short hike you want to take with your children. sugar Pine Point aug 2015 (12)

This is the original home that was finished in 1903 and is built in the “Shingle Style California Craftsman” style using native materials. I could only imagine sitting on this porch on a hot summer day overlooking the lake. It must have been amazing. You can take a tour of the house if you come between Memorial Day and the end of September (extra fee). sugar Pine Point aug 2015 (13)

Lake Tahoe is one of my favorite spots in the whole world. Sugar Pine Point State Park has beach access for families and we saw plenty of young ones enjoying a good romp in the sand on this sunny day. The water is fairly cold but here on this stretch of beach where it isn’t too deep, the water is warmer and there were people swimming. You can’t beat this view!sugar Pine Point aug 2015 (18)

The sugar pine creates these monster cones. We have seen much larger ones but I didn’t think to snap a photo. We were on the Dolder Nature Trail where it merges with the Edwin L. Z’berg Natural Preserve. I highly recommend this 1.5 mile trail through the forest because it will get you out and away from other visitors. This allows for the best chances for viewing wildlife, including birds, deer, and reptiles too. sugar Pine Point aug 2015 (35) garter snake

Yes, this is where we saw the garter snake. He was a big guy and was crossing the trail right when we came upon him. I want to say right here that this is a perfect example of where preparation in nature study comes in. Our family has in the past taken a look at all of the native snakes that we might encounter on our hikes. This advance preparation gave us the confidence to identify this harmless snake and to allow us to actually enjoy stumbling across him on this day when we were out and about. I admit at first I was surprised and did a little squealing when we say him. But, after calming down and seeing that he was a garter snake, we took a few minutes (as long as he allowed) to observe his beauty. Then we were all on our way again….him to find his next meal and we enjoyed the rest of the trail. sugar Pine Point aug 2015 (34) jay feather

The most visible bird we saw on this day was the Steller’s jay. This noisy bold bird makes himself known with his familiar “shook shook shook” sound and his swooping in over the picnic lunch to see if we are going to share something. The Steller’s jay is much darker in color than the Blue jay found in the eastern United States and he has a prominent crest which sets him apart from the Western scrub jay. sugar Pine Point aug 2015 (25)

I’m sharing this photo because it makes me laugh. We saw on the trail map and on a sign that there was a “lighthouse” in this state park. We were curious to see this lighthouse and hiked down the side trail to view it. Turns out it is a beacon light with its claim to fame being the “world’s highest in elevation operating maritime navigational light”. I guess that’s something. We enjoyed the view of the lake from this spot and the interesting rocks.

Sugar Pine Point State Park Aug 2015 @handbookofnaturestudy

This started off as a way to achieve a nature study goal for the year...visit one new state park. But, it turned out to be an amazing day with many memories being made and the desire to visit again in all the seasons. Since it is very near to my home (about 90 minutes), this may be added to next year’s nature study goals. This is a place that families who visit the Lake Tahoe area should make a point to visit. It would make a wonderful stop on a drive from South Lake Tahoe, through Emerald Bay, and on to Tahoe City. You will not see more breathtaking views than along this shoreline drive.

Thanks for letting me share my day with you!

Other Tips

  • There is a charge to enter the park, currently $10 per vehicle.
  • The nature center and gift shop are open daily from June through August and on weekends in September.
  • Tours of the mansion are conducted in season and are currently $10 per adult.
  • There is a Junior Ranger program available.
  • There are bears in this area so never leave food out after your picnic or overnight in your car.
  • You can download a park brochure ahead of time for more information: Sugar Pine Point State Park Brochure.
  • The West Shore Bike Trail passes right at the entrance to this state park. There are trails within the park that you are allowed to mountain bike.
  • There are 175 campsites that are open year round. We drove through the campground and it looks like a decent place to stay even though it is noted that many of the sites are very close together.

You can read my national park entries by following these links:

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge – Catbird

Outdoor Hour Challenge Bird Nature Study Catbird @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Hour Challenge
Catbird Study

Inside Preparation Work:

  • Read pages 95-97 (Lesson #24) in the Handbook of Nature Study.  I really love the narrative part of this lesson and I would encourage you to read it and highlight some interesting sections to share with your children before you go outside this week.
  • Look up the range map on All About Birds to see if you have catbirds in your area. Here in California we don’t have catbirds but an alternate study could be the cowbird or the mockingbird.
  • Listen the catbird song and call on All About Birds: Catbird.
  • View a video of the catbird: All About Birds-Catbird. Here are two more really interesting videos: Catbird in Florida and Catbird in California.

Outdoor Hour Time:

  • For this challenge, use your sense of hearing to listen for bird sounds. This can be done just about anywhere, even your own backyard. Teaching your children to listen carefully is a huge part of a successful nature study program so use birds as a way of practicing this life skill.
  • Look for catbirds but make note of any birds that you see during your outdoor time. Have your child use as many descriptive words as possible if you happen to observe a bird. If they are new to bird study, make sure to give them some vocabulary like beak, tail, wing, feathers, etc.

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Create a nature journal entry for the catbird or any other bird you studied this week. Have your child recall the sound of the catbird (use the link in the preparation section if necessary). Have them describe the catbird’s song and call. Do they think it sounds like a cat?
  • If your family can provide a birdbath, set one up within sight of a window for observation. Keep the birdbath filled and then watch to see if you get any visitors like the catbird. Keep a list of birds you observe in your birdbath.
  • Advanced study: Compare the catbird with the mockingbird.

 

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Library
If you want to purchase the Autumn Nature Study 2015 ebook so you can follow along with all the notebooking pages, coloring pages, and subject images, you can join the Ultimate or Journey Membership Levels. See the Join Us page for complete information. Also, you can view the Autumn Nature Study 2015 announcement page for more details.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

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Planning Monthly Nature Study

Planning Monthly Nature Study for Your Family @handbookofnaturestudy

Last month I shared how to plan a nature study course for a year. This time I want to show you how to use the monthly ideas shared in the Handbook of Nature Study newsletter and each Friday here on the blog and make a monthly nature study plan. If you are a member here on the Handbook of Nature Study, there is a set of planning pages available in the printables section of your membership.

Planning Monthly Nature Study planning page @handbookofnaturestudy

Customize Your Monthly Nature Study Plans

Think of all the ideas as ingredients. There are many options for your nature study recipe. Pick the ones that suit your family and your taste. Add them to the planner page and use that as a way to remind you of your options for the month. Don’t feel like you need to complete all the things you list on the planner page….I don’t. But, creating the list will make it more likely I will accomplish something during the month. Celebrate the things you are able to share with your family and look at this as a life long journey, taking one month at a time.

  • Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter – Download and print the newsletter each month. Read through the ideas presented and pick a few to put on your monthly planning page. Make sure to look on the planning page for nature photo ideas, nature table suggestions, and nature journal topics to jot down on your monthly planning page.
  • Ebooks- If you are following along with the Friday posts, pick one or two to include on your monthly planning page. (The month’s Friday topics are found on the planning page in the newsletter.)
  • Archives– You are welcome to pick an ebook from the library and pull challenges from there. Write the ebook title and the challenge title on your planning page.
  • Seasonal ideas- Use the seasonal ideas from the tab at the top of the website to find one or two seasonal ideas to pick from for your family.
  • Once a Month Nature Journal Idea – use the idea in the post to create a nature journal page for any of the items listed above.
  • Printables- If you are a member here on the Handbook of Nature Study, check out the printables in your library for additional ideas to include on your monthly planner.

 

Does that overwhelm you? Here is an alternative that will be simple to try!

Planning a year of nature study using the Handbook of Nature Study and the Outdoor Hour Challenge. Printables and examples for you to view and use.

As an alternative, download the newsletter planning page and print the planning page out (usually it is the second page of the newsletter). Add ideas to the page that you would like to include for your monthly nature study time. Again, don’t feel like you need to do everything but use the planning page as a way to stimulate some nature study during your month.

Any more questions!

I hope this helps answer the frequently asked question about nature study planning for your family. Let me know if you have any other questions that I can answer in future posts!

 

Ambleside Online Approved @handbookofnaturestudy

 

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Outdoor Hour Challenge – Field Horsetail

Outdoor Hour Challenge Field Horsetail @handbookofnaturestudy

Outdoor Hour Challenge
Field Horsetail

Inside Preparation Work:

  • Read pages 706-709 (Lesson #196) in the Handbook of Nature Study.  Make sure to read the lesson information for the fertile and the sterile plants.
  • Look at this link for a distribution map to see if you have field horsetail in your are: USDA.  I also recommend this concise description and the clear images on this page: Field Horsetail.
  • Advanced study: Read about the uses of this plant: Field Horsetail—Herbal Uses. Please note I do not recommend eating any plants. I am sharing the link for information only.

Outdoor Hour Time:

  • During your outdoor time, look for the field horsetail which this time of year is very different than in the spring. Take note of any patches of field horsetail you find so you can look for its emergence in the spring along with the spores and green stems instead of leaves.
  • For this challenge, use the field horsetail to complete the lesson ideas for the “sterile plant” as found in the Handbook of Nature Study. This is the perfect time to study the plant’s sterile branches along with its roots if possible.
  • If you don’t have any field horsetail to observe, find another autumn weed to take note of along with its seeds. You can use this time to compare the way some plants use seeds to reproduce and some plants grow from the rootstock.

Follow-Up Activity:

  • Create a nature journal entry for the field horsetail or any other plant you found interesting. Make sure to include a short caption that explains how the field horsetail reproduces and is different than a seed bearing plant.
  • Advanced Study: Draw the complete life cycle of the field horsetail plant, labeling the plant’s parts and the time of year.

 

Handbook of Nature Study Ultimate Naturalist Library
If you want to purchase the Autumn Nature Study 2015 ebook so you can follow along with all the notebooking pages, coloring pages, and subject images, you can join the Ultimate or Journey Membership Levels. See the Join Us page for complete information. Also, you can view the Autumn Nature Study 2015 announcement page for more details.

Handbook of Nature Study Autumn Nature Study 2015 Cover Image

 

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Nature Goals 2015 – 3rd Quarter Update

Nature Study Goals 2015 @handbookofnaturestudy

Another quarter has come and gone….a few more of my nature study goals have been met. The summer season is my favorite season for getting outside and exploring but now that autumn has arrived I really need to get busy with the remaining goals on my list. I think this is the beauty of having a goal list since it reminds you of your intentions and keeps them fresh in your mind. I have my goal list in my planning binder and now I have some items penciled in on my calendar.

You can read my original post here: Nature Study Goals 2015

Goals Update

1. Yosemite Photo Project: This was a big fail. I took two trips to Yosemite during this quarter and I did NOT manage to take the book with me that outlined my plans for the project. It is a very good thing that I can roll this over into next year.

Sugar Pine Point State Park Lake Tahoe CA

2. Visit one new state park: Accomplished this one!!! We visited Sugar Pine Point State Park and had a picnic and did some hiking. I just realized I have never created an entry about this trip…it is now on the schedule for an up-coming post.

3. Visit one new national park: Accomplished during the second quarter – Zion  National Park.

4. Visit a bird refuge: This is going to happen in this last quarter of the year so stay tuned!

5. Take one new hike: We have picked a hike and now that it is autumn we will give it a try. (#37 in the book-Codfish Falls on the American River).

6. Read ten nature-related books this year: So far so good with nine books read and one more to go!

7. Rock project: We had plans to work on this one but we had to cancel our trip due to the wildfires here in California.

8. Create one nature journal entry each month: Yes! Using the Once a Month Nature Journal ideas I have been able to create at least one page a month.

How are your nature study goals coming along for 2015? Do you need to create a list?

You might like to read the Planning Nature Study for the Year post from last month for some ideas to get you started.

Planning a Year of Nature Study @handbookofnaturestudy