A great way to involve kids in the outdoors is to take them fishing. I think most parents remember the thrill of catching their first fish. Why not give your children the same opportunity to experience the excitement of feeling the tug of a fish at the end of their line?

Fortunately, taking a kid fishing does not have to be complicated. All you need is a simple fishing pole, line, hook and a worm. And in the month of June, in many states, you won't even need a fishing license! The week of June 6-14 is National Fishing and Boating Week, and during that time state fish and wildlife agencies allow the general public to fish for free! You can find all the information you need to plan a fishing trip at TakeMeFishing.org. It is packed with information on equipment for kids, how to teach kids to fish, where to go and includes information on what states offer free fishing days.

I encourage you to create new memories with your children and spend a morning at a local pond, lake, stream or beach. You'll be glad you did and so will they!

I am so fortunate to be able to earn an income while being a SAHM. I especially enjoy being able to spend the summer with my two children. At the beginning of each May I begin to get excited about all the possibilities for summer activities and the freedom to do whatever we want together.

Now that my daughter is officially on summer vacation, I am feeling a sense of angst. It happens every year. Suddenly, all the free time I was so looking forward to is upon us and I realize I do not have a darn thing planned. It has only been a few days since the start of vacation, but everyone is already feeling a little lost because we are off our normal schedule. I realized today I had better plan our summer and plan it fast. Here is the result - a short list of what is on our plate for the summer.

1. Swimming lessons - a summer tradition. Every single parent I know has signed up their children for swimming lessons. My kids begin theirs at the end of June.
2. Camping - we set up camp in our own yard and spend weekends making smores and reading at night in our tent. We listen to the peepers, crickets and owls.
3. Canoeing and fishing - we are lucky enough to live near a lake and spend several hours a week canoeing and fishing (with a life vest for everyone of course!).
4. Hiking - Our town has a hiking club and sponsors hikes every Saturday. This also includes going for walks around the neighborhood as often as possible.
5. Beach/Lake - There is nothing like spending the day at the beach!
7. Whale watch - I hope the highlight of our summer will include a whale watch off the coast of New England. This is more for Mommy because as long as I have lived in New England, I have never been on one.
8. Picnics at the park - This is always a popular activity with us.
9. Day camp at the local farm - I personally try to avoid the pseudo camps (not that there is anything wrong with them) that involve sports, music, computers, etc. because I want my kids outdoors enjoying nature as much as possible in the summer. I call them pseudo camps because to me unless they involve nature, they aren't really camp.
10. Lots of time with family especially grandparents and aunties - Mommy loves this because it means I will have some time to myself over the summer. The kids love it because they get to be spoiled. Yea!

Well, I feel better already. We do actually have things to do this summer. Now I just have to fill in the calendar and we will be right back on a schedule and all will be right with the world!

I do not have children old enough to be playing video games other then a few that are geared toward learning to read (which I limit to once per week for 15 minutes), but this new study I read about in USA Today is cause for concern. I thought my followers would be interested in reading about it so I have posted the link to it.

This study also supports the theory that video game playing should be limited by parents and outside play should be encouraged. There is no study that I know of that has stated playing outside is bad for the health of children. The exception to this would be the inevitable broken bones, scraped knees, the chance of getting Lyme Disease, and the like. Please inform me if I am incorrect. However, the benefits far outweigh the risks: relaxation, encouraging creativity, independence...and the list goes on.

The results of the study reinforce to me that my quest to connect my kids with nature is the right thing to do and provide me with the incentive to take my kids outside as often as possible, even when the laundry is piling up and the sink is overflowing with dishes from breakfast and lunch. We all know it would be a heck of a lot easier to plop them in front of the video screen while stuff gets done around the house. But considering the consequences, its getting stuff done really all that important?

The legislation, which passed the House Education and Labor Committee with bipartisan support, would get kids outside during the school day by providing new funding for environmental education. The funds would ensure that teachers are trained in providing high-quality, engaging lessons and would expand environmental learning opportunities around the country.

As kids become disconnected from nature, the ramifications are profound – dramatic increases in childhood obesity, diabetes and attention deficit disorder. We have to re-connect young people to their natural world.

This legislation is also a strong response to the many complicated environmental challenges we face, including global climate change and an increase in threats to our air and water supplies. We have to make sure our children understand these challenges and are well-prepared to overcome them in the years ahead.

The No Child Left Inside Act should be a priority for all parents. I urge you to contact your legislators to support this important piece of legislation. The No Child Left Inside Coalition has a handy form on its site that can help you do this easily.

I offered many options to my daughter for celebrating her 5th birthday. Since it is such as milestone, I expected her to ask for something like a party at the local kiddie gym or something along those lines since she has attended several parties like that. We debated it for weeks, but wxwhatever I offered was of no interest to her. The one hint she gave me was that the most important thing to her was to do something with her best girl friend. I kept trying --- I offered mini golf, a party at a toy store, a dance class for her friends and more. Then it dawned on me that doing something outside might be the ticket. One of our local Audubon nature centers was offering programs for children throughout the spring. One, called Big Puddles, sounded like just the thing to spark her interest.

One morning, while driving to preschool, I casually mentioned that I had an idea about how to celebrate her birthday. It was quiet in the car for several seconds and then she said "what?" I said, "how would you like to take your friend to the nature center to look for frogs, salamanders and bugs in a vernal pool?" I barely finished the sentence and she said, "yeah, mom that sounds so COOL!"

Now, you have to understand my daughter. She is the ultimate girly girl. She loves princesses, ballerinas and anything pink or yellow. She wears dresses almost everyday and often to bed. Her favorite shoes have red sparkles all over them. The fact that she wanted to be outside getting dirty and touching bugs and slimy things for her birthday tells me that being outside exploring gives her a great deal of pleasure.

Last Friday was the big day and it was a beautiful one in more ways than one. We met her friend and her friend's mommy at the center and spent an hour catching critters in a vernal pool. The funny thing was, both the mommies were digging through the leaves and stuff caught in the nets right along with them. The two little girls were so cute wading in their Wellies and laughing with delight when they found critters. Here are photos of some of the neat things we found (credit: the Vernal Pool Association):

Wood frog



Isopod






Finger clam






At the end of the session, before getting into the car, my daughter gave me a huge hug and said, "Mommy, I love you so much!" Wow, that really felt great.

When planning you child's birthday party, I encourage you to consider alternatives to the norm. Research your local area to find out if you have a park or nature center near you. You might be surprised by what you find. Many can accommodate birthday parties. Not only will it be fun, but it will be memorable for everyone and a great learning experience for the kids.

REI Chief Talks Children and Nature in Meeting with Obama

Seattle Times – May 17, 2009
By Rami Grunbaum

REI Chief Executive Sally Jewell was sailing with her husband, Warren, off Port Townsend last Sunday when their daughter Anne reached her via cellphone with a bit of unexpected news.

"Mom, the White House just called," she begins. "Apparently, the president would like to meet with you on Tuesday. Just thought you should know."

Jewell laughs as she retells the story Tuesday afternoon just before a return flight to Seattle from D.C., where she had spent an hour discussing health-care costs with Obama and a handful of other business leaders.

Speaking to reporters, Obama saluted REI for providing health insurance to part-time as well as full-time employees, saying the Kent-based retailer can afford to do that because of innovative programs meant to make its work force healthier.

Jewell contributed $2,300 to Obama's presidential campaign last summer. But she suspects that her involvement with the Outdoor Industry Association — on whose behalf she made an earlier trip to D.C. — had more to do with her being there than anything else.

Before leaving the White House, Jewell gave Obama two "Passport to Adventure" envelopes, one each for his daughters, Malia and Sasha. Aimed at kids 5 to 12 years old, the packages include an adventure journal, information about local hiking and bike trails, games, outdoor tips and stickers. REI created the Passport program several years ago in hopes of stimulating childhood interest in the outdoors, despite their generation's fascination with such indoor pursuits as computers and video games.

Jewell also gave Obama a copy of the book "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder," a recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal.

"He said, 'I've heard of this book. This is good. Thank you,' " Jewell recalls.

Inchworms are everywhere these days and my five-year-old is mesmerized by them. I remember when I was a kid I used to catch them by their silken thread and watch them "inch" along on the palm of my hand. I never thought much about them beyond that, except that I had one I used to ride. Remember those?

I also remember a song I used to sing about an inchworm that went like this (written by Danny Kaye in 1952):

Two and two are four

Four and four are eight

Eight and eight are sixteen

Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two

Inchworm, inchworm,

Measuring the marigolds,

You and your arithmetic,

You'll probably go far.

Inchworm, inchworm,

Measuring the marigolds

Seems to me you'd stop and see

How beautiful they are.

So when my daughter asked me what they were, I had no response. I was stumped. For someone who prides herself in being able to answer most of my daughter's nature questions I had nothing to say except "it's a little green worm." How lame an answer was that! In a way, I have taken them for granted. Every spring I see them --- every year, year after year. I have never given them a second thought since becoming a grown-up. They are just "there."

In order save face and provide my daughter and intelligent answer I later Googled "inchworm" and was very interested in what I learned. According to Wikipedia inchworms are the larvae of the geometer moth. They are green, grey, or brownish and hide from predators by fading into the background or resembling twigs. Many inchworms, when disturbed, stand erect and motionless on their rear legs.

Armed with this information, I took my daughter outside the next day and we searched for inchworms. When I explained that the tiny caterpillar eventually turns into a moth, she was immediately enthralled. She learned all about butterflies and how they begin as caterpillars in preschool. I explained that moths are very similar except they fly around in the night.

Bugs are always a great way to connect children with nature. They are easily accessible and are interesting to watch. It is amazing how something so tiny can be the subject of hours of play and learning...for both of us!

I just saw today that Education.com, an online resource that receives a million unique visitors each month, created a section dealing specifically with nature-deficit disorder for parents. It offers tons of information on everything from quick facts on the disorder and helpful advice to articles and links to information published elsewhere on the Web. It's a very helpful way to learn about NDD without having to read the entire book "Last Child In the Woods" by Richard Louv.

Ever since reading his book "Last Child in the Woods", I am convinced this is a huge issue that parents need to know about and understand. It's also part of the reason why I am doing this blog. The fact that such a respected Web site has dedicated serious space to it indicates to me that the education field is also beginning to take it seriously. I encourage you to spend some time on the Web site.

I am also posting this link to the lead article from the site: The Ten Actions Parents Can Take to Prevent Nature Deficit Disorder so you can read a quick version of their suggestions to help your kids discover nature.

It has been raining for only a few days but it feels like a week. We had beautiful weather last week and my children were outside playing in the warm sun and enjoying every moment. I could tell they needed some outside time today so I decided we would head out in the drizzle so they could "help" me continue to get the gardens ready for spring planting. So we put on our rain hats, boots and raincoats and headed out. It did not take long for me to lose my helpers due to the discovery that a pile of dirt makes a great slide. Up and down they went on their bottoms and their bellies. Being the adult that I am, I told them to stop because they would ruin their clothes. Then I remembered that kids and mud mix, and mix well, so I let them go ahead with the fun they were having said "to heck" with the muddy clothes. That's what play clothes are for anyway! By the way, if you live near Irvine California, you should check out the Orange County Mud Run and Eco Fest in July. It's a day dedicated to wonderful, ooey, gooey mud and whole point to to get dirty --- really dirty. It is sure to be a few days of fun for the entire family.


Now back to our rainy day activities. Next my kids discovered the puddles collecting in the yard and had a blast getting soaked up to their chests while jumping into them. You may not have thought much about this, but puddles offer a terrific learning experience for children. You can discuss with them how puddles are formed from rain, what happens when you splash in them and what happens to them after it stops raining. You can also find things to toss into puddles and things to float on top. Try finding natural objects around your yard such as stones, leaves, grass, pinecones and flowers. Discuss what happens to each one when you throw them in the puddle. Sort them into piles and ask your children guess what will happen to each item - some float and some sink. We had a great time testing the various objects over and over again. I was amazed by how something so simple kept my kids so mesmerized.

Before long, I realized I had stopped gardening and was joyfully playing with my children. I think an hour passed and before we realized were soaking wet and muddy, but we did not mind. We clamored inside and laughed about how wet we were as we changed out of our wet clothes and into our dry, cozy ones.

I am not sure whether my son or daughter will remember this time we spent together, but I know I will never forget it. That's the thing about spending time in nature. The memories it creates last a lifetime.

Spending a lot of time exploring outdoors is a top priority in our family. There is most definitely a correlation between how much time we spend outdoors and the behavior of my kids: more = better! Since spring has arrived, we have been outside every day smelling (and picking) dandelions, violets, daffodils and all the wonderful flowers that are blooming. It has been so great to run around and stretch our legs. We have also spent loads of time just observing all that is sprouting and blooming going on around us.

Here's a great activity for your little sprouts (as excerpted from the "First Nature Activity Book):
Pressing flowers is a simple and magical way of preserving beautiful flowers and leaves so they last forever. Flowers with flat faces are best such as pansies, primroses, and daisies. Pick flowers that are dry and press them right away so they maintain their color.

Equipment:
Scissors
Heavy books
White paper for blotting

1. Open the book. Cut out a piece of blotting paper about the same size as the open book you will use. Fold the paper in half then open it out.
2. Lay the blotting paper across the book. Arrange the flowers flat on the right half of the paper, leaving space between them.
3. Carefully fold the left side of the blotting paper over the flowers. Then close the book over the blotting paper.
4. Put some heavy books on top of the book to weigh it down. Leave the plants to dry for at least four weeks.

After four weeks, they can be glued into a nature diary, onto a card for Mom (an especially nice idea!), or a picture to hang in your child's room. The nice thing is that you will have the flowers to enjoy long after they have finished blooming outside.