Guest Post: Welcome Debi Huang, Blogger at GoExploreNature.com

What parent these days isn’t familiar with the term “playgroup?” You know what it means the second you hear it, right? But could you say the same for a nature playgroup?

Credit: Debi Huang

If you’d asked me a year ago, I’d have said no. I suppose I could have guessed, but I’d have been sketchy on the details.

Fast forward a year and I am now hosting my own family nature club (a fancy term that includes all family members, not just moms). We meet regularly at locations throughout the Los Angeles area. We’re just getting started, but here are a couple of things I’ve learned so far.

Yesterday was a busy day, but I was determined to find time to take a nature break.  I decided to stop by our park to let the kids play in the river.  When we arrived my daughter said, "why are we here?  This is boring."  I said, "Well, we have some time to spare so let's walk down to the river to see what we can find."

All eyes have been on the Gulf Coast for the past 85 days to watch the destruction of the coastal habitats and a significant section of the Gulf of Mexico ocean habitat itself.  The good news today is that BP successfully fit the latest containment cap on the leaking pipe and, if all goes as planned, it will be able to suction most of the oil flowing from it!  Allelujah!

We've often seen sad video clips of the Brown Pelican covered in oil, which to me represents the horror and saddness of all that has happened.  That is why I have chosen this magnificent bird as today's featured animal.

Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Guest Blogger:  
Welcome Jodi Stemler of Jodi Stemler Consulting!
I am honored to have a dear colleague of mine as a guest on KDN.   Aside from the fact we have the same first name, Jodi and I lead similar lives, albeit in different time zones.  We are both moms who have a background in fish and wildlife conservation, spent many years working in Washington, D.C., left our full-time gigs to raise children and are avid outdoorswomen.  We are also committed to keeping our children connected to nature.  While talking business with her one day it dawned on me that she is a perfect person to provide my readers with a new perspective on connecting kids with nature. Enjoy!