4Real Forums: Nature walks

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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science

Topic: Nature walks

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ALmom
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Joined: May 18 2005
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Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 7:24pm \| IP Logged

Ok, I don't frequently post on the great outdoors except to beg for help. Now I wanted to share my excitement (and a little advice seeking thrown in here and there) in what my children are doing. They are doing regular walks to a particular wild spot behind our house - a long hike through the woods and up a mountain - usually gone for 2 hours. So far they have seen a rattler (not living when they came upon it), a fawn which one son almost stepped on not seeing it and they were amazed at how quickly it moved, box turtles, and a beaver. These, even though they had the dog with them.

They have been fascinated by the beaver, so today when they went out and had less time, they decided to experiment with different dam building techniques to see if the beaver dam is really best. (They did not go all the way to where the beaver was seen - got sidetracked by the creek). They went to a close by ditch and since we've had bookoodles of rain, there was plenty of water, and tried the different dams. The one made in imitation of the beaver's techniques held up the best and used the least materials. (Hopefully they have not now created a flood problem so we may have to check that out before the next rain).

Now for confession time

- I have yet to join them on their nature walks. Their excitement is contagious. My dh picked up some free samples of ivy x at a work meeting not too long ago and that has been a tremendous preventer of poison ivy outbreak in our crew - but we're out of it and it is only sold to companies. Does anyone know of a safe equivalent. It also seems to reduce the number of ticks that ride home with them - from 30+ per some children to none or one.
I know they travel through what they call a poison sumac forest. Anyways, dh and I would like to have them take us to all the places where they have discovered so many exciting things - neither of us wants ticks and poison ivy, oak or sumac!

We have all observed deer in our back and our front yard. They are so beautiful to watch. Is there anything I should do to extend this?

My ds, 12, has been doing a whole lot of plant identification (plant families using Botany in a Day, though I wish we had something equivalent for our region) and nature sketching.

I am amazed at the little details he notices whenever he is outdoors or watching critters. I am wondering if this eventually crosses over into paying attention to detail in other areas of life (like wiping the table or cleaning around the kitchen sink).

Ok, so I may not need to do a lot of inspiring for the young folks in my house. They are doing all of this totally by their own choice, self-directed and all from their own ideas. They're the ones who know how to identify animal tracks, plants, .... I haven't a clue so besides being in awe of the children, what can I do to inspire myself to get out there

without ruining at least some of the excitement of being way out on their own.

Janet

JodieLyn
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Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
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Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 7:59pm \| IP Logged

Janet, ask them to take you.. and let them direct.. they'll probably be thrilled to show you around and be the teacher and you the student

I'll check with my dh on the ivy x we may be able to track it or an equivelent down.

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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4

All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott

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