Concluding Thoughts
Overall I think I did pretty good this year in reaching my nature study goals. A few areas I could have done a better job but those goals can rollover into 2015. We were able to do some amazing traveling during 2014 which was very unexpected and exciting. So, what started out as a rather wacky idea to make nature study goals way back at the beginning of 2013 has actually been just what I needed to push me in creating the opportunity to grow and learn as a person deeply interested in discovering and then learning more about what I see in my natural surroundings.
December 2014 Final Results
#1- Visit two new national parks in 2014. Complete.
#2- Identify and journal three new birds. Complete.
Completed the Bewick’s Wren, the Clark’s Nutcracker, and now the Killdeer.
#3- Identify and journal three new rocks. Completed only one but will continue on again in 2015.
#4- Three new hikes. Complete!
#5 Visit a new-to-me nature center. Complete.
#6- Post a nature photo of the week for the entire year. I came really close to accomplishing this goal! I did 48 of the 52 prompts. If you are interested in seeing the Pinterest board with all of the images from the year, you can pop over to Nature Photo of the Week 2014.
#7- Camping in all four seasons.
We made summer and autumn camping trips easily. After much thought and discussion with my husband, we decided we really don’t have any desire to go camping in the winter. Call it wimping out or whatever you want but we would rather go camping when the conditions are warmer and the days are longer. Our spring camping trip will happen in 2015!
I will be posting my 2015 after the new year rolls in and I get them down on paper.
You’ve inspired me to set nature study goals for 2015! I’m going to be taking a trip this spring to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas and looked at the wildlife refuges, state parks, and national parks in those states. Am looking forward to seeing birds and wildlife that are not seen here in Minnesota. Will you be doing a nature photo of the week for 2015? If so, I’d be interested in participating.
Great! I have found that just having them in mind when we are doing our planning for day trips, weekend camping, or longer road trips helps to keep me pushing myself to learn new things. The experiences we have enjoyed are worth the effort to sit and write a few goals down.
I am not doing a nature photo of the week in 2015, just too hard to keep it up. I am going to be starting a new once a month journal idea to keep our journals moving along with our own personal goals.
That’s a great point regarding planning for trips. I know it has and will help me in 2015 when I go to LA, MS, and AR in March. I’m already looking for wildlife refuges as well as state and national parks to visit.
Thanks for letting me know about the nature photo of the week in 2015. I’ll use the list you had from 2014 and do a personal nature photo challenge. Also will look forward to your once-a-month journal idea. Sounds like it will be a good one!
Here are the goals I came up with for 2015 along with some pictures of our family’s outdoor time and nature exploration: http://harvestmoonbyhand.blogspot.com/2014/12/15-nature-study-goals-for-2015.html . Again, thank you so much for the inspiration!
You are very welcome.