Unschool girls in woods.
What better teacher exists
than Mother Nature?
Develop Nature Fluency - Leave No Child Inside
In the push for reading and math fluency, children in America are missing an important part of growing up: nature fluency. Nature-deficit disorder, as some call it, is implicated in the obesity epidemic, rise of electronic media consumption, decline of ocean and atmospheric health, and general disconnect with the world beyond humans. What's the solution to all the deficiencies? A re-education in nature.
Nature fluency is witnessing the cycles of nature, being able to name creatures by the seasons, and appreciating our place in the natural world. It can't be taught inside. It must be experienced outdoors.
Today is No Child Left Inside Day. If you have a child, take them outside. If you don't, spend some time in nature yourself and encourage others to do the same. While you are outside, keep in mind the following pillars of nature fluency.
Developing Nature Fluency
Learn To Be Outside - This sounds like an easy one, right? Just walk out the back door. It can be as simple as that, but observing a few rules about nature makes the experience better for other people and the environment. Namely:
- Respect property lines and trails
- Take only pictures, not rock, plant, or shell souvenirs
- Keep it quiet - other people who might be silently observing wildlife
- Learn what is edible and inedible - and only eat with permission
- Respect wildlife and give them space if a trail crosses their path
Observe, Name, and Record - Develop a working vocabulary of the things around you to better describe what you see and track changes from year to year, place to place.
- Watch for what interests you - rocks, flowers, trees, birds, insects, or weather
- Learn the common and scientific names of what you see
- Use a field guide or walk with nature enthusiasts to confirm identifications
- Consider keeping a field log that tracks date, weather, location, and species seen
- Note the season changes in light of your preferred creatures
Appreciate - When confronted with the vast wildness that is observable even in city parks, humans begin to see that we are not alone. Our choices have consequences on the environment. We belong in the circle of life. Sometimes it's nice to appreciate nature with action:
- Become a member of a society that protects species or land, such as Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy or Duck Hunters Unlimited
- Participate in a clean-up hosted by a local park or watershed group
- Make a drawing, song, or story about what you see in nature
- Advocate for nature education in your schools and community
- Make spending time in nature part of your family routine
- Find ways to include outdoor play and exercise every day
How will you observe No Child Left Indoors day? Alex and Lil will be pressing cider while I am milking a cow on the Ohio dairy tour.
Lenten Rose in December {Wordless Wednesday}
This little hellebore from our deadly garden is blooming about four months ahead of time. Perhaps it has the religious holiday seasons mixed up, as hellebore typically blooms when Lent begins, not during Advent.
Cedar Bog Nature Preserve
We visited Cedar Bog Nature Preserve as part of our day trip to Urbana Ohio. Click the preceding link to read about all of our stops.
Cedar Bog Nature Preserve is a large and rare fen, preserved by the Ohio Historical Society and the the Cedar Bog Association. It is fifty miles from central Ohio, accessible by driving west on 70 and north on 29 to just south of Urbana Ohio.
Visitors can view the unique habitat from a mile-long boardwalk that winds over the fen and through boreal forest. Engaging signage explains the natural features and some of the creatures expected at stops along the way. Though I have hiked all over the state of Ohio, I was delighted to learn about this new-to-me environment.
With stops for observation and discussion, walking the trail took Lil, exchange student Anna, and I about one hour. We witnessed many species of birds, several kinds of dragon and damsel flies, land snails, a salamander, and a baby northern brown snake. There was a light breeze during our hike; the trail is likely very buggy on days without such air flow.
The newly opened eco-friendly nature center offers accessible and clean restrooms, well designed exhibits, classroom space, and a small gift shop. The staff person there when we visited was extremely knowledgeable, helping to identify the snake based on our description and view screen on the camera. He offered us a program of their upcoming activities including nature walks, lectures, and a family Boo-in-the-Bog on October 14 and 15.
Admission to the park is $5 for adults, $4 for children 6-12 and free for children five and under and Ohio Historical Society members. The boardwalk is open during daylight hours. The center is open 10 am - 4 pm Wednesday - Sunday.
If you go:
- Bring a water bottle and perhaps a snack. There is no food service.
- Wear light long sleeved clothing and pants or bug spray to prevent mosquito and black fly bites.
- Leave your pet at home.
- Bring your camera to capture the beauty of the diverse species that inhabit Cedar Bog.
- Call ahead to schedule a tour for your school or civic group.
- Consider bringing your bike; the bog is adjacent to the Simon Kenton Bike Trail.
Cedar Bog Nature Preserve 980 Woodburn Road Urbana, OH 43078-9417 Phone Number: 937-484-3744
Additional Urbana, Ohio Field Trip Destinations: Ohio Fish Farm Johnny Appleseed Museum