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Posted on September 5, 2017 by Barb — 54 Comments

Autumn 2017 Nature Schedule and a Giveaway

I’m hoping there will be many of you who will be joining us for the up-coming autumn season of nature study. I’m all geared up to jump into an ebook from the archives with fresh eyes in a new location.

I am by nature a planner, and I know many of you are likewise, so here’s the plan for the next few months here on the Handbook of Nature Study.

The majority of the challenges from October through December will be coming from the ebook shown above: Nature Study with the Outdoor Hour Challenges – Autumn 2010. This ebook is found in the Ultimate Naturalist Library membership. See below for a chance to win a copy of this ebook!

October 6 – Signs of Autumn

October 13 – Nature Journal – How to Get Started

October 20 – Geese and Ducks

October 27 – Horse (and dog)

November 3 – Apples

November 10 – Seasonal Tree – Leaves

November 17 – Year Long Study – Queen Anne’s Lace

November 24 – November World

December 1 – Seasonal Weather

December 8 – Pine Cones

December 15 – Trout and Salmon

December 22 – December Mini Challenge

If you want to see the complete plan for the next year, you can pop over to this entry to see what will be covered: Plans for October 2017 to August 2018.

I’m giving away 5 copies of the Autumn 2010 ebook!

Would you like a chance to win the Nature Study with the Outdoor Hour Challenge – Autumn 2010 ebook? Here you go! Enter by leaving me a comment and then using the Rafflecopter gadget to make your official entry. The giveaway will end on Friday, September 8, 2017 at midnight. You can enter once a day until then!

I will be choosing 5 winners at random!

The giveaway runs until Friday, September 8, 2017 at midnight so enter now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Use the discount code NATURE5 to receive $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership!

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Barb — 1 Comment

Where is the Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter?

Change is good! I know many of you are disappointed with my decision to stop creating a monthly newsletter. Please read the rest of this entry to understand a bit more about my decision to make some changes here with the Outdoor Hour Challenge and memberships at the Handbook of Nature Study. (You can read my previous entry here: Plans for October 2017 to August 2018.)

New Beginnings

Here we are at the beginning of a new month and a new school year. My fellow nature-lovers have long enjoyed the monthly newsletters here at the Handbook of Nature Study but now the time has come to make a change. With 76 issues in the archives, I’ve helped to create quite a library of ideas and encouragement along with my amazing contributors.

Over the last year I became increasingly aware that the newsletter has had a good run but it was time to go in a different direction. So, instead of creating a newsletter each month to encourage nature study, I will be back to writing encouraging blog entries on a regular basis that subscribers will receive in their email inbox.

I Will Still Be Creating New Resources for Nature Study

In addition to those blog entries, there will be new things like printables and ebooks shared via the Member’s Library. (Remember Ultimate and Journey level members get all the new printables and ebooks for the year of their subscription.)

How to Get More Out of the Newsletter Archives

All 76 of the past newsletters are included in every paid membership level here at the Handbook of Nature Study (Ultimate, Journey, and Discovery levels).

To help you see what is actually available with your membership, which includes the 76 newsletters, I am going to do two things: give everyone access to several complete newsletters as samples and create a printable list of the topics and contents of each issue.

Would you like a sample newsletter?

October 2014 – Fall Trees Newsletter

April 2015 – Nature Journal Fun Newsletter

Download the two newsletter and you will get a really good idea of what is included in each issue.

Would you like to print a list of newsletter topics and contents?

Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter Index

The newsletter index will be helpful in making the decision to purchase a membership. It will also be a quick guide for all members here on the Handbook of Nature Study to find resources to supplement your nature study.

Remember, every level of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study includes the 76 archived newsletters!

It’s the beginning of a new chapter here on the Handbook of Nature Study and I hope you will stick around to see all of the amazing things I have planned this year.

If you haven’t subscribed to my blog yet, I encourage you to give it a try and see if it encourages you and your family to get outside and learn together, to explore together, and to get to know the amazing things right outside your door! Subscribe here: Email subscription to the Handbook of Nature Study blog.

Be encouraged! Be inspired! Get outdoors!

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Barb — 3 Comments

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Asters, Daisies, and Black Eyed Susans

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Asters, Daisies, and Black-Eyed Susans

From the Archives and the More Nature Study – Summer ebook

Here in Central Oregon we have many asters and daisies to observe. This week’s challenge takes us into the Handbook of Nature Study lessons on daisies and asters. Look for these flowers in your garden and yard. If you can’t find any flowers to observe in person during your outdoor time, you can usually find these flowers in the floral department at your local grocery store.

Make this a fun and enjoyable study by following up with some watercolor paintings in your nature journal. I am always inspired to be creative when I take my paints outside and your children may just be the same way.

Make sure to watch the videos in the original challenge to inspire even the most flower study reluctant boys. They might want to look for the patterns and the Fibonacci sequence in the challenge flowers after learning more about this fascinating aspect of nature.

You can also follow up by pressing flowers for your nature journal or allowing time for your children to arrange a beautiful bouquet of flowers for your kitchen table.

Above all, get outside and enjoy your family time!

My current nature themed read is Vitamin N by Richard Louv. I am gleaning so many new and original nature study ideas from his writings. I know many of you have read his other book, Last Child in the Woods, but Vitamin N takes his ideas one step further by providing specific and practical ideas for enjoying nature with your family. I highly recommend this book! Look for it at your public library.

Looking for the autumn plan for the Outdoor Hour Challenge? Here is a link!

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Posted on August 31, 2017 by Barb — 3 Comments

Summer Weather 2017 – Oregon Style

Summer Weather 2017

Observations from our new place in Central Oregon

I had every intention of keeping thorough weather records for the month of August. I printed out my weather chart and kept it right on the kitchen counter next to my nature notebook. My usual routine is to get up each morning and make a few notes in the notebook about any nature observation of interest. I note any animal activity, keep a list of the birds I see, and any general thoughts about the changing landscape. It makes me happy to look back over the notes and then many times I create a formal nature journal page based on those notes.

It became clear from the beginning of August that my weather chart was not a good fit for what I wanted to keep track of here in Oregon. The column headings and spaces were too confining. I started to envision a new chart in my mind. I am working on creating it now and soon it will be found in the Member’s Library…probably the first week in September.

In the meantime, August was not a big weather month and the skies were mostly filled with smoke from the wildfires burning locally and all the way from British Columbia! There were a few slightly less smoky days but we rarely saw Mt. Bachelor or Paulina Peak.

The last week of August was the week of the hottest daytime temperatures but there developed a pattern of cooling off in the evenings and the nights were actually quite chilly. If I fell asleep with my bedroom window open, I would wake up super cold!

There was no measurable rain this month but there were several afternoons with thunder in the distance. We know that the lightning started several fires. Everything is so dry here in the summer!

I’m going to try to do better keeping records in the month of September. I am told by locals here that we go straight to winter once summer has faded early next month. Autumn is not my favorite season so I don’t think I’ll miss it much, although I’ve been thinking about “autumny” things like pumpkin spice lattes and wearing sweaters or flannel. With the aspens in our neighborhood, I’m thinking we may get some autumn color. Perhaps we will take a drive up over the Cascades to see some maples and visit the Willamette Valley during the next few months.

If your children learn to weather watch, they will begin to see your weather patterns, knowing what the signs of autumn are in your location. Such knowledge is valuable and a skill that many people are lacking in the modern world.

Become a weather watcher! You can find many weather related Outdoor Hour Challenges under the Misc/Seasonal tab at the top of the website.

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Posted on August 30, 2017 by Barb — 2 Comments

Nature Journal Examples – August 2017

Weekly Nature Journal Project
August 2017

Every day this week I have felt more and more like summer is coming to an end. The days are shorter, the nights are chilly, and the landscape is turning a golden brown as the grasses dry up in the sun. We have had lots of smoky days from wildfires in our area which make the light different and the view not as pretty.

I created a page at the beginning of August to document a few of my summer observations and a few favorite things. I used watercolor pencils to create the background and then a ZIG pen to do my journaling. I like the way it turned out!

During our trip to California, we fit in a hike up on the Tahoe Rim Trail. We made it to Round Lake and sat by the water’s edge for a long time watching the clouds and birds. There was some drama as an osprey caught a fish and then an eagle tried to take it away! Then, the eagle flew right over our heads so we got a very close view of him…what a magnificent bird he was!

The newsletter this month featured some ideas for mammal study and I took that idea and created a mammal page for my nature journal. I featured some of our smaller mammals that I have seen this summer in our area. Can you believe we saw a badger?

Of course, I had to document the total eclipse that occurred here in Oregon. We were at 98% totality so it was a dramatic experience as we sat in our own backyard. Our town has been full of visitors and people passing through even since the eclipse so I added a little mention of that part of the impact on us locally.

Hopefully you have been adding to your journal this month. Don’t forget to keep your pages simple and create something that fits your style and experience. You will never regret taking the time to document your nature adventures.

Some of the page ideas this month can be found on my Once a Month Nature Journal Project Pinterest Board. Pop over and get some inspiration!

Don’t forget that I am sharing a nature journal page each week on my Instagram account if you want to see the pages as they unfold. Follow me here: Instagram – outdoorhourchallenge. And, if you want to create a page and share it on your Instagram for me to see, use the hashtag #OHCnaturejournal

Please note that I am an affiliate for NotebookingPages.com. I have used these pages with my own family over many years. They are truly a simple way to get those nature journal pages done!

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Posted on August 25, 2017 by Barb — 1 Comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Mammal Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Mammal Study – Your Choice!

From the Archives

Use the link in this post or the mammal tab at the top of the Handbook of Nature Study website for the list of mammal study options to choose from for this week’s Outdoor Hour Challenge. We have been observing lots of mammals this summer and I’m anxious to do my own mammal study using the Handbook of Nature Study.

Many of the Outdoor Hour Challenges listed on the mammal study page include resource links, videos, and printables.

Do you have a pet dog, cat, mouse, or rat? Do you have a neighbor that has a dog or cat they will let you observe? How about a relative? How about visiting a pet store? Be creative.

If you are a Charlotte Mason homeschooler, please make a note of the mammal nature study page here on the Handbook of Nature Study. The Ambleside Online nature study topic for the upcoming winter season is mammals and you may want to refer to this list when you plan your winter mammal study!

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Posted on August 21, 2017 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Mom – July Part 3

Outdoor Mom July: Part 3 – Travels

This is Part 3 of my Outdoor Mom entry. You can read Part 1 here: Outdoor Mom Part 1 – My Own Backyard and Part 2 here: Outdoor Mom Part 2-Wildlife Sightings

I keep reminding myself that the perfect summer weather is only here for a few short months in Central Oregon. It could get cold and wet as soon as September or early October so we need to be outdoors as much as we can right now. We made lots of time for kayaking and exploring in July, both close to home and during a trip to New York. Here are a few of the highlights.

Our youngest son was home for a few days at the beginning of the month so that gave us an opportunity to get out on the lake in the kayaks. We were there fairly early and it was fantastic weather for exploring this crystal clear lake up on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. We paddled across the lake, through a canal of sorts, and then over to the other part of the lake. We had the dog with us and she is such a good passenger, even if she gets excited when we see ducks and geese. The yellow water lilies were blooming and the damselflies were out in force, landing on our arms and legs if we stopped paddling.

We had some young people come and stay with us for a week and one thing we did was kayak up on Sparks Lake. I love this lake! The view of the mountains, the relaxed paddling around the lake’s edge, and the beautiful wildflowers all contributed to the enjoyment of the day.

One of the most amazing parts of living where we do now is the ability to drag our kayaks straight from the backyard down to the river. We had left the truck down at the pull-out earlier in the day so all we had to do was jump on the water and go. We went further than normal and it ended up being a four hour paddle/float down the Little Deschutes. The girls were really good sports about the unexpected length of the trip. My husband made up for it with a delicious dinner when we got back home.

I had the opportunity to spend some time in New York and Ontario with my kids during July. We were driving right through Niagara Falls so we made the stop and took the Hornblower cruise from the Canada side. All I can say is that it was WAY better than I expected and it was overwhelmingly beautiful. The power of the falls is awe inspiring.

We took one day while the girls were here to make the trip to Crater Lake National Park. We stopped and viewed the lake from two different viewing points, hiked the Castle Crest trail to see the wildflowers, and then hiked to Plaikni Falls. I will be writing up our entire trip in a separate entry.

This is a peak in our area that you can actually drive up to in a car. Let’s just say we’ll be driving up there probably every summer to take in the splendid view atop a volcanic mountain. It is breathtaking!

I hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse into our July travels and adventures. It was fun to have some young people to share the experiences with us.

This is Part 3 of my Outdoor Mom entry. You can read Part 1 here: Outdoor Mom Part 1 – My Own Backyard and Part 2 – Wildlife Viewings

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Barb — Leave a comment

Outdoor Hour Challenge – Chicory Flower Study

Outdoor Hour Challenge

Chicory Nature Study (from the Wildflower Set #2)

Inside Preparation:

Check to see if you have chicory (cichorium intybus) in your area by looking at this range map: USDA.
Use this website to get to know a little about chicory and what it looks like: Chicory.
Advanced study: Research how the roots of this plant have been historically used as a substitute for coffee! Here is a website to get you started: What is Chicory?
Use the chart in the ebook to look up chicory in the suggested resources.

Outdoor Hour Time:

Look for chicory in the full sun and in a dry habitat. They prefer to be near hot rocks or other debris in soil like at a roadside. They can also grow in pastures and other unmowed grassy areas. Often times chicory grows alongside Queen Anne’s Lace. Look for this pretty blue flower from early summer to early fall.

Use the suggested observations in the ebook to make a careful study of this interesting plant.

Follow-Up Activity:

Create a nature journal page featuring chicory, noting any observations you have made using the suggestions in this challenge. There is a notebook page for you to use in the ebook. There is also a coloring page for chicory in the ebook.
Start or continue an aster family plant page by listing the pattern of the aster family and then create a list of aster flowers you have seen in real life. Add to your page as needed.

How do you get the new Wildflower Nature Study ebook?

Members of the Ultimate Naturalist and Journey levels have access to the new ebook in their library. You need to click the “Members Area” button at the top of the website, sign into your account, and the ebook is there to download and save for your family to use when desired. If you don’t have a membership yet, I am offering a $5 off discount code that will be good towards your Ultimate Naturalist membership.

Discount Code: Wildflower5

If you are looking for a variety of wildflower, weed, and garden flower notebooking pages to use in your nature journal, I highly recommend this set from NotebookingPages.com. I have used them with my own family in the past and love them. Please note I am an affiliate for NotebookingPages.com and I will receive a small commission if you eventually purchase any of their products after clicking the link above.

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Barb — 2 Comments

Crater Lake National Park – July 2017

Crater Lake National Park

Revisited in July 2017

We took the short drive from our new home down to Crater Lake bright and early on a Monday. We were hoping this would be a good time to see the park without the crowds. It worked out! We arrived at the North entrance and headed straight to Watchman Overlook. They were working on the parking lot but we were able to park alongside the road.

The view was spectacular! There were still patches of snow along the road, on the edge of the lake, and in shady spots in among the trees throughout the park. The water was a deep aqua blue as it shimmered in the morning sunshine.

Lichen on rocks at Crater Lake — Such beautiful lichen on the rocks

We then went over to the Sinnott Memorial Overlook right behind the Rim Village Visitor Center. There were a few more people here but still very enjoyable to take the walk out to the overlook and see the lake in all its glory.

After that, we drove down to the Steel Visitor Center so we could watch the movie about Crater Lake and how it was formed. We all really enjoyed this and learned a lot about the natural history of this amazing spot on Earth.

Wildflowers were next on the list of things to see in the park and we headed to the Castle Crest Wildflower Trail which was a short drive from the visitor center. Overwhelmingly beautiful!

There were so many flowers in bloom of all shapes and colors. There is a creek running down the hillside which provided the background soundtrack of babbling and rushing water. There were many, many insects including a hummingbird moth that we observed for some time.

I was super excited to discover a “new to me” wildflower growing in abundance along the trail. The White Bog Orchid was so delicate and beautiful! I’m hoping to add it to my nature journal soon.

Our last stop before heading back home was Plaikni Falls. This is on the east side of the lake and it’s a very easy two mile round trip hike on a fairly flat trail. The falls themselves are a cascading series of falls that you can hike to the base of and then look up to the top. We sat on some rocks and let the cooling mist get us a bit damp. People were taking off their boots and soaking their feet in the icy water. I was glad we had saved this for the rather hot afternoon.

I know we’ll be making more trips here in the future since it is an easy hour’s drive from home.

You can read my previous entry for Crater Lake Here: Crater Lake National Park Tips and Images

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Barb — 2 Comments

Outdoor Mom – July Part 2 Wildlife Viewings

Outdoor Mom July: Part 2 – Wildlife Viewings

This is Part 2 of my Outdoor Mom entry. You can read Part 1 here: Outdoor Mom Part 1 – My Own Backyard

I saw my first ever badger in real life! I was driving and it was crossing the road in front of me. At first my mind was trying to figure out what it was; too big to be a possum and not quite like a raccoon. As I approached, I saw the face and realized it was indeed a badger! Here is a link to what he looked like: American badger.

We have seen two adult raccoons in our yard (and trees) plus two adorable and entertaining young raccoons.

One evening they were playing in our front yard and were just as curious about us as we were about them.

My husband has been telling me about the river otters that live right near our house but I didn’t see them until this past week. They are really good swimmers so I didn’t get to see them for very long because they swam upstream from where we were kayaking.

We regularly have deer and fawns in our yard. There was a mama and two little ones that made an appearance at my birdfeeders. I’m sure they’re the ones that keep tipping the seed out.

Or, it may be one of the many squirrels that scurry around from tree to tree. We have several kinds of squirrels here but the most prominent one is the gray squirrel.

We have lots and lots of little frogs in our yard! Every time I go out to water I have to be careful not to squish them when walking in the grass.

The most interesting insect sighting has been the hundreds of California tortoiseshell butterflies that made an appearance all at once in our area. They’ve been seen flying in mass over the roads. We felt bad as we ran into so many of them on our way to a hike. Then, the next few days they were all over our yard. I definitely need to do more research into their lifecycle.

This nature loving mama is having a fantastic summer of wildlife viewing right in my own yard and then my neighborhood.

You may be interested in reading the other parts in this series:

Part 1 – My Own Backyard

Part 3 – Travels

Be encouraged! Be inspired! Get outdoors!

Looking for the autumn plan for the Outdoor Hour Challenge? Here is a link!

Outdoor Hour Challenges for families since 2008!