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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Sept 22 2010 at 11:19am | IP Logged
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Does anyone subscribe to this? I am looking for a good, meaty nature magazine for my family and this looks like it would fit the bill. The website is sort of confusing me- is it still in publication?
What about the study guides? The creative writing and photo stuff looks interesting- I have one kid very interested in photography and it might be a nice introduction. Is it worth it?
Anyone who has any good or bad experience iwth this, I would appreciate it!
http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/
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Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 22 2010 at 6:18pm | IP Logged
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Hi Krista.
The magazine is in publication and you can subscribe here.
We have been long-time subscribers to Nature Friend - about 9 years now and this is the only subscription for children's magazines I keep current!! All the children love it, and because we've subscribed for so long, many times my older children will look up older issues for articles of interest.
We enjoy the magazine very much! My independent readers enjoy reading it on their own, and my younger children enjoy it when it is read aloud. We've used this magazine in a number of different ways over the years - and some years (a crisis year usually...) the magazine forms the backbone of our nature study. It's one of those things that when a lot/too much is going on - we peel back to our trusty friend, Nature Friend magazine, read an article every day, and it's good enough!!!
The general tone of the magazine is Christian. I find it to be without "agenda" - they support stewarding God's Creation and generally avoid evolution/Creationism discussions in articles (as far as I can remember). You will find Amish references (I think because many Amish families are subscribers).
The children and I enjoy the articles; we each learn something. My son loves Wondernose, a recurring feature wherein an unusual animal is featured and through the article you're given hints and characteristics to see if you can guess the name of the animal before the end of the article. Another favorite is the You Can Draw... portion of the magazine - a different animal is featured each month and simple, step-by-step instructions for drawing that animal are given. My kids complete these every month without fail!
You asked specifically about the Study Guides - we have gotten a couple and enjoy them. There are puzzles and writing ideas/suggestions which we use and my older dd enjoys the photography section. The Study Guides pertain to the content in the issue of Nature Friend they accompany.
All in all, this is a favorite magazine of ours and has been for some time! It's wonderful for elementary/middle school students. High school students would benefit from something meatier.
The best way to get a feel for the content, layout, and meat of this magazine is to view the free samples online. They have several magazines to view, and some study guides as well.
Hope this helps, Krista! If you have any other questions let me know! 
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Sept 22 2010 at 7:13pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Jen!
I think we're going to receive a subscription as a gift from the grandparents.
I did check out those free samples, they look wonderful. As my oldest is only six I think it will definitely work well for us!
It looks like such a great magazine... we've tried a few others before- National Geographic Kids, Ranger Rick, etc, and found them to be a bit... twaddley.
I am sure we'll enjoy this one much more!
Thanks again for your reply.
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Krista
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I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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ekbell
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| Posted: Sept 22 2010 at 7:20pm | IP Logged
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We also greatly enjoy Nature Magazine. The material is straight forward, informative and encourages actually going out, observing nature and then telling/showing others rather then just reading about it.
The photography articles in the study guide tend to be a bit above our level but the photo critiques (children can send photos to be critiqued) have been enlightening.
I also enjoy the fact that unlike many children's magazines the graphics enhance rather then overpower the articles. It's attractive rather then busy, busy, busy.
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: Sept 22 2010 at 7:25pm | IP Logged
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ekbell wrote:
The photography articles in the study guide tend to be a bit above our level but the photo critiques (children can send photos to be critiqued) have been enlightening.
I also enjoy the fact that unlike many children's magazines the graphics enhance rather then overpower the articles. It's attractive rather then busy, busy, busy. |
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I thought my six year old- who is showing an interest in photography- might enjoy reading the photography section, but I doubt he would actually get much out of it. Who knows, maybe he would.
It's the busy, busy, busy part of the other magazines we have subscribed to in the past that is turning me off, too. This one looks so clean and uncluttered. The articles seem well written and don't insult the intelligence of the audience. My kids have enjoyed the other magazines they ahve received and I have appreciated them as gifts, but this one looks like it would compliment our studies more.
Shoot, *I* am looking forward to reading them!
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Krista
Wife to a great guy, mom to two boys ('04, '06) and three girls ('08, '10, '12!)
I blog at http://kristacecilia.wordpress.com/
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Grace&Chaos
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Looks like a great magazine!! Did you see the $3.00 off subscription they're offering 'till Dec 2010 (offer).
I get in trouble on this forum  . Another great idea to add to my list.
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Jenny
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kristacecilia
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Grace&Chaos wrote:
| I get in trouble on this forum . |
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I know... me too.
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Krista
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Trinity
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| Posted: Sept 28 2010 at 9:10am | IP Logged
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kristacecilia wrote:
ekbell wrote:
The photography articles in the study guide tend to be a bit above our level but the photo critiques (children can send photos to be critiqued) have been enlightening.
I also enjoy the fact that unlike many children's magazines the graphics enhance rather then overpower the articles. It's attractive rather then busy, busy, busy. |
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I thought my six year old- who is showing an interest in photography- might enjoy reading the photography section, but I doubt he would actually get much out of it. Who knows, maybe he would.
It's the busy, busy, busy part of the other magazines we have subscribed to in the past that is turning me off, too. This one looks so clean and uncluttered. The articles seem well written and don't insult the intelligence of the audience. My kids have enjoyed the other magazines they ahve received and I have appreciated them as gifts, but this one looks like it would compliment our studies more.
Shoot, *I* am looking forward to reading them! |
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They are much less cluttered than other magazines I have looked at. I think just the fact they don't have all the advertising makes a big difference.
We are only recent subscribers, but I have already decided not to renew National Geographic for Kids. I like Nature Friend much more. I am also going to receive Ranger Rick soon, just to try that magazine out too.
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Trinity
DS(05/01/03)& DD(03/02/08)
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Paula in MN
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kristacecilia wrote:
Grace&Chaos wrote:
| I get in trouble on this forum . |
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I know... me too. |
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I'm older, and have been a member long enough you'd think I know better....not.
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Nature Friend Magazine?
