Kids Discover Nature

very good blog, congratulations regard from Reus C...

2010-07-28T07:05:36.246-04:00

very good blog, congratulations
regard from Reus Catalonia
thank you

Great post. Each week, we have been writing out a ...

2010-06-25T00:06:50.948-04:00

Great post. Each week, we have been writing out a schedule for the next week, and its been great. We have the kids participate in deciding what they want to do each day, and varied the activities from week to week. They get excited about the upcoming activities, and we get the benefit of not stressing over finding something to do at the last minute. We keep a lot of free time in each day, as well as reading and journaling. But there is always some outdoor activity, and minimal television time. Another key to the schedule is to be flexible. If the weather doesn't cooperate, or the kids are just tired from so much activity early in the week, be ready to take some down time.

Great post, Jodi! I've adopted a much less formal ...

2010-06-23T22:51:42.841-04:00

Great post, Jodi! I've adopted a much less formal strategy myself to ensure we spend time outside every day -- even if it's just to ride bikes or go for a walk. I've also put together a list of fun places (big & small) we can visit, maybe one a week. We're only a few days in, but it's been fun so far!

I really like the Shrek video... it's awesome that...

2010-06-15T21:51:29.302-04:00

I really like the Shrek video... it's awesome that they're using a well-known character to drive such an important topic. Yay!

Jodi, I just have a quick question for you but co...

2010-06-15T14:14:31.937-04:00

Jodi,

I just have a quick question for you but couldn't find an email so had to resort to this. I am an environmental blogger. Please email me back at barbaraobrien@maacenter.org when you get a chance. Thanks.

Barbara

Thank you. My two-year-old did love it so it's a ...

2010-06-08T21:00:33.117-04:00

Thank you. My two-year-old did love it so it's a safe bet that yours will too. It's just the right project for little hands.

We are doing the same thing!

2010-06-08T20:58:38.979-04:00

We are doing the same thing!

Hi Gwynneth. Thank you for your comment. I am gl...

2010-06-08T20:55:51.945-04:00

Hi Gwynneth. Thank you for your comment. I am glad you liked the DVD. You make an excellent point about "Gus Outdoors" not sending the heavy "save the world" messages that kids are bombarded with all the time. I like it even more now for that very reason. Great insight.

Hi. I bought this DVD after your review and we jus...

2010-06-08T05:36:25.672-04:00

Hi. I bought this DVD after your review and we just watched it on the weekend. My 4 and 5 1/2 year old boys loved it. Like Gus, they are experienced backyard documentary presenters, preferably imitating Austin Stevens. They really enjoyed Gus. I found the language more on their level than adult nature documentaries, I appreciated the subtleties of the suncream and water, the length was just right for their attention span and I loved that there was no overt "save the world/the world is dying" message which I don't think young kids need. We will definately be looking out for the next ones in the series. And yes my boys want me to film them - but they want to make a show about venemous snakes!

Hi Jody- I followed the link from your comment on ...

2010-06-02T20:59:49.278-04:00

Hi Jody- I followed the link from your comment on my site- sorry for the delay in commenting! Great list! My older son just started carrying his own backpack and it's so cute!

For control of slugs and snails in the garden, use...

2010-05-26T06:23:18.122-04:00

For control of slugs and snails in the garden, use the Slug Bell it's child,pet, wildlife safe as the pellets are not visible and are not in contact with the ground. look up the website www.slugbell.com and see

Fun post! We are planning on collecting tadpoles i...

2010-05-20T16:11:56.875-04:00

Fun post! We are planning on collecting tadpoles in early June and watching them metamorphose into frogs. (and then returning them to the pond we found them in).

Fun idea, Jodi -- I bet my 2 year old would love i...

2010-05-17T13:52:47.894-04:00

Fun idea, Jodi -- I bet my 2 year old would love it!

Wow, I wish we could see elk and pronghorn! How c...

2010-05-13T11:54:04.650-04:00

Wow, I wish we could see elk and pronghorn! How cool that would be.

Thanks, I am glad I am not the only one to think k...

2010-05-13T11:52:38.234-04:00

Thanks, I am glad I am not the only one to think kids should naturally be outside. I truly don't think it's weird because I see the positive effects it has on my kids. I am sure you do too!

Thanks for the nice feedback!

2010-05-13T11:48:29.930-04:00

Thanks for the nice feedback!

Hmmm...that was wierd. Your interview was wonderfu...

2010-05-13T07:10:08.863-04:00

Hmmm...that was wierd. Your interview was wonderful, and it is lovely to get to know more about you, but I would not put you in the same category as Free Range Kids, nor in the same wider group of Elimination Communicators! I don't think encouraging parents to take their kids outdoors is strange or radical but I was raised similarly to you. I often wonder how I would feel about the back to nature movement if I was raised on tv and videos and had raised my kids that way also. Maybe it is wierd?!

Hey, Thank you for following my tweets. I had no...

2010-05-12T22:51:53.145-04:00

Hey,

Thank you for following my tweets. I had no idea you were outthere. Next time I create a list of great outdoor family sites I will add you for sure.

Take care Heidi Ahrens

The new layout looks great!

2010-05-07T09:30:47.154-04:00

The new layout looks great!

Hi, Wanted to let you know about a geocaching even...

2010-05-07T09:23:37.658-04:00

Hi,
Wanted to let you know about a geocaching event that might fit in perfectly with getting kids out in nature. Please check it out at www.trippingwithkids.com. The geocaching event button is on the right top corner.
Thanks,
Lora
www.trippingwithkids.com

How exciting, Jodi. Can't wait to see what's ahead...

2010-05-06T19:03:12.067-04:00

How exciting, Jodi. Can't wait to see what's ahead!

Jodi, love the new look! I'm making a change to my...

2010-04-22T18:22:35.869-04:00

Jodi, love the new look! I'm making a change to my blog this weekend, too. Must be something in the air. This is a great post -- hope you have a wonderful day celebrating planet Earth! :)

You make a great point, Lisa! I thought a lot abou...

2010-04-13T20:32:31.804-04:00

You make a great point, Lisa! I thought a lot about what you said. My passion lies in anything related to nature -- almost to the point of obsession. I think this "passion and truth" will show in whatever I write about or offer on the blog. Thanks for commenting.

All of the categories you've listed are interestin...

2010-04-13T11:44:48.175-04:00

All of the categories you've listed are interesting to me, but I'd rather see any post that's authentically interesting to you. It's the writer's passion and truth that will interest a given reader, I think.

We love wildflowers too! Lucky for me the wildflow...

2010-03-30T17:53:13.121-04:00

We love wildflowers too! Lucky for me the wildflowers native to our part of Montana are gorgeous. A little smaller than their ornamental cousins, but gorgeous.