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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 7:32am | IP Logged
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I'm trying to think of a way to include lots of nature study goodies in our Easter Baskets this year. (We're trying to stay away from candy.) I really love these nature study backpacks and was tempted to just order 4 of them, one for each of my younger kids. But ... they're about $100 and we don't really need 4 of the same bird field guide, or insect field guide. So, I think I would like to put together my own. I'm just wondering what you would include in something like this? And, where would you purchase such items? I'm looking for inexpensive, but not cheap  . I know, I want the world.
So far, this is what I'm thinking -
backpack
water bottle
bug net
some sort of tweezer to pick up bugs
magnification jar
binoculars
sketch book / pencil
colored pencils?
field guide - a different one for each child - birds, insects, wildflowers, trees
Would you add anything else? (I might take one too and include a small first aide kid - Band Aides, Neosporin, etc.)
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Becky
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 8:57am | IP Logged
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Oh, this is a great idea, Becky! I'll tell you one thing I DON'T recommend -- an inexpensive bug vacuum. Frustrates my son to no end that it's not powerful enough. Next time I'll pay a little extra for more sucking power.
In my mind I thought there was a discussion and nice little lists of nature study backpack ideas. But I couldn't find the "visual" list I was thinking. Maybe on CCM or maybe I'm not searching for the right words.
MacBeth's suggestions (bottom of page)
MacBeth's Field Guide ideas
Some suggestions here
and here
and here
Dawn's Nature Study Meeting
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 9:51am | IP Logged
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Don't forget a journel to write in.. not just a sketchpad.
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 10:55am | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
| Don't forget a journel to write in.. not just a sketchpad. |
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Or the journal/sketchpad split page notebooks, which we love.
Other items to potentially include:
-small ruler (or mini tape measure)
-compass
-flower press
-zip lock baggies for holding specimens
-flashlight (or headlamp)
-small shovel
You mentioned a bug net, but you might also consider a sweeping net for water. The big ones are really nice, but a more affordable option is a small one like this or even a handheld kitchen strainer.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 11:00am | IP Logged
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Don't forget to keep the kit useable.. too much stuff jumbled together might mean that it's too much of a bother to find and use it.
Lots of pockets so that you can keep things seperated.. you could clip things like the nets to the outside of the pack.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 12:14pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the great ideas!
Jodie, good point about keeping it usable. I could see things getting to be a jumbled mess. Pockets and rings would be a nice way to keep things organized. Any suggestions for a bag? I see several different styles out there. I would probably buy them locally, but I did a search at Amazon just to get an idea and there are quite a few. I was orginally thinking of the standard backpack but they also have the one strap, over the shoulder type bag.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 12:16pm | IP Logged
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The other thought that just occurred to me is that all the kids don't need everything. I mean, since we always go as a family, maybe I should get 1 bug net, 1 flower press, 1 bug jar, etc. Each child could carry something different in their pack. The same would be for the field guides: 1 for birds, 1 for bugs, 1 for wild flowers, etc.
Any thoughts or experiences with that sort of thing?
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Becky
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 12:24pm | IP Logged
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I never even knew there was such a thing as a bug vacuum!
To think, all this time, I thought that a jar and a piece of cardboard was the way to go.
In tenth grade, I did a bug collection with 50 specimen. Oh, how that would have come in handy!!!
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 1:16pm | IP Logged
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Becky Parker wrote:
The other thought that just occurred to me is that all the kids don't need everything. I mean, since we always go as a family, maybe I should get 1 bug net, 1 flower press, 1 bug jar, etc. Each child could carry something different in their pack. The same would be for the field guides: 1 for birds, 1 for bugs, 1 for wild flowers, etc.
Any thoughts or experiences with that sort of thing? |
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That actually was my thought as well - though I didn't say so earlier. That way you can get higher quality equipment than if you were trying to get one for everyone. For example a nice pair of binoculars instead of cheaper "kids" pair, a sturdy long handled bug net (though I still recommend multiple nets - so no fighting ofer those occurs ). If you went with that approach you could also get some equipment that I didn't include because it wouldn't be cost effective or practical to get multiples - like a rock pick, large aqua net, UV light, other fun extras like that...
I also tend to think of these these as science backpacks, more than just the traditional view and sketch living things approach of the CM variety.
So you could add weather things like a cloud guide, thermometer. Geology things like rock pick and UV light I already mentioned, as well as streak plates, hardness plate, magnets, etc.
And don't even get me started on the stuff you can add for night nature study - astronomy, etc...
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ekbell
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 1:42pm | IP Logged
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Instead of buying the full backpack kit for each child, I've bought smaller kits from the supplier to make my own backpack kits without so many duplicates.
Bird Watcher's Kit (the book is really good with plenty of activities as well as basic bird watching tips)
Backyard bugs kit
Rocks and Minerals (the rock set stays home but the field guide can go in the backpack)
and then I added a sketchbook for each child, some pencil crayons I bought on sale, extra plastic forceps, bug jars and another insect net, the One Small Square: Backyard book, rulers, some ziplock bags to use as specimen bags,a magnifying glass...
This winter I bought portable watercolor kits for each child, which they'll be able to take along if they want.
This year I'm thinking about adding the
weather study kit
Mineral test kit
and maybe the Pressed flowers Kit I'd buy the Amateur Astronomer's Backpack Kit if we didn't live in a city ill suited for star gazing.
I've found that using one larger backpack kit for the family plus smaller bags for each child's individual items (such as sketch books) works best.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 4:14pm | IP Logged
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ekbell wrote:
I've found that using one larger backpack kit for the family plus smaller bags for each child's individual items (such as sketch books) works best. |
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This is a good point. Hmmm...
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Becky
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 13 2010 at 4:30pm | IP Logged
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And I've found better backpacks cheaper at places like REI-outlet, Sierra Trading Post, Campmor
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: April 09 2010 at 7:48am | IP Logged
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Wanna hear what I finally came up with? These were a huge hit, and still are. My kids have asked me every day since Easter if we can go on a nature hike. This is what each child received (and nobody missed the candy!):
DS (2 yo) - a new small sized back pack, a water bottle, toy binoculars, sunglasses and a toy flashlight.
DS (16 yo) - didn't get nature study items! He's already collected so much of this sort of thing. He got other stuff, but I'll leave that out since it doesn't fit the theme of the post .
The other three kids all got:
a water bottle
sunglasses (just for fun!)
sketch journal
drawing pencils
mini notebooks for jotting down sitings
binoculars
Then, each of them got a couple of things to "specialize" their backpack. These are items we will share and I tried to fit them to the child's interests.
DS (6yo) got a bug collection kit. It comes with lidded jars, two kinds of tweezers, and a bug viewer with magnification lenses to see the top and bottom of the bugs. He also got an insect field guide.
DS (9yo) got a pocket microscope that converts to a telescope (the telescope part doesn't work as well), a battery-less, wind-up flashlight, and a bird field guide.
DD (11yo) got a small first aid kit, a flower press, and a wildflower field guide.
I also have a bag for a field journal, pencils, digital camera, my own water bottle and snacks for the kids. I'm also going to stick a blanket in there so we can sit on the ground after our hike, have a snack, and do the sketching in our journals.
We've already had so much fun with these! One adjustment I make though, is that we leave the sketch journals in the car. When we get done with our hike the kids sketch what they saw. They are just a bit too heavy. Since they have a mini notebook, if the want to sketch something on the trail, they can and then we will tape it into their journal.
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AtHomeScience
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| Posted: April 09 2010 at 8:25am | IP Logged
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What great kits! I came across a neat nature pack item I did not know existed at Target yesterday--a notebook case. It's a pencil case only large enough to fit a notebook in it with a molded grip handle. Not only does it keep the book clean, it keeps it flat. Large soft-over journals often gets destroyed by getting folded in the backpack or book bag. It was around $4.
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Love your nature packs, Becky!! They sound fabulous!
My dd and I are in the process of making little nature explorer wallets inspired by these done by Alice. I thought I'd mention them on this thread!
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Jen Mackintosh
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 09 2010 at 9:37am | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
Love your nature packs, Becky!! They sound fabulous!
My dd and I are in the process of making little nature explorer wallets inspired by these done by Alice. I thought I'd mention them on this thread! |
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I was wondering if these wallets could be adapted with some of the watercolor ideas, like making the wallet big enough for small sketch books or the watercolor postcards. Here are the links that inspired me:
Melissa Wiley: Scribbles and Bits
As Cozy as Spring: Watercolor Postcards
Alice Cantrell: Summer Painting
The watercolor paints wouldn't need to be used, but bring along watercolor pencils? Just brainstorming.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Topic: Help with nature backpack idea
