Nature Study: In the Field

Did you get a peek at our sample child-created field guides? I discussed these in my last post (February 3) about nature study. Our last two issues of Hands-On Homeschool Newsletter contained a two-part article, "Your Young Naturalist." If you would like them emailed to you or to subscribe, please contact me at sandrabynum@allthingshomeschool.com

Nature study was a essential part of our homeschooling experience. Maybe some of our field experiences will provide you with some of your own nature study ideas:

>>We signed up for a community Lyceum class in the spring of one year, and went on a magnificent wildflower hike. The California poppies, Johnny jump-ups, and lupines were spectacular! We took photos and we drew and labeled various specimens in our sketchbooks. This wonderful daylong experience prompted my daughter to create her own wildflower field guide project.

>>We went camping in the Santa Cruz mountains, taking along several portable "creature keepers," just in case. My sons found and trapped a few Western fence lizards and an alligator lizard in a rocky area. We took three of these home for him to raise and observe while working on his Reptiles Boy Scout merit badge. He did so successfully, while finding it very difficult to keep his charges supplied with enough insect food. After several months he released them to a similar habitat.

>>During the same camping trip, my boys explored a pond and trapped an aquatic garter snake. We took it home and they outfitted our aquarium with water, flat rocks, and vegetation. It was fascinating to watch the snake weaving around in the water as it hunted, captured, and swallowed its prey: feeder goldfish from the neighborhood pet store. The kids also collected the snake's discarded skins, and built it a "den" for winter hibernation. One year later when we again went camping, we returned the snake (albeit a bit fatter) to the same pond from which it came.

>>While camping one summer, my children came across a Western rattle snake, coiled up and resting under a tree. It was amazing how difficult it was to spot it; the snake's dark mottled markings made it almost invisible in the shady grass. After nearly stepping on it, they ran back to camp for a camera, and went back to take several pictures of it - from a distance.

>>There were a number of white-tailed deer, with tiny fawns, in the same area. We took photos, but even better, we found some excellent deer tracks in the hardened mud. My son had brought along some plaster of Paris and cardboard strips. He was able to make several plaster casts of these animal tracks while working on his Mammals merit badge.

In these pictures, Elliott is mixing the plaster of Paris and creating casts of the deer tracks.

>>While living on the California Central Coast, we visited Point Lobos State Reserve, which is often referred to as the "crown jewel" of the State Park System. There are a number of habitats all in this one amazing place. We explored forestland, grasslands, a rocky coastline, tidepools, and sandy beaches. There are rare plant communities and over 250 animal and bird species. The children participated in outdoor classrooms and guided tours, observed sea otters, sea lions, and migrating whales, and set up easles to draw and paint the landscape.

>>Other natural reserves we explored were the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Elkhorne Slough Wetlands Sanctuary, Jacks Peak, the Marina Dunes Preserve, the Monarch Butterfly Habitat, and Pinnacles National Monument. Wherever you live, there are interesting places to go to explore nature!

>>We visited a spectacular Monarch butterfly preserve in Pacific Grove. This is a place where these beautiful butterflies rest along their migration routes from Canada to Mexico. During just a few weeks of the year, these butterflies visit the Central California coast; with thousands resting in the trees at one time. We took pictures and created a photo essay about the migration of the Monarch butterfly. Amazing!

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Here in Idaho, everyone owns guns, and hunting (real animals!) is considered a healthy sport. In fact, at the age of nine or so, kids are considered "ready" to go out hunting with Dad. ARRGGHHH! There is quite a different attitude about guns here compared to California. If your child and/or hubby are gun enthusiasts, help them to consider a safer alternative: paintball guns! It's competitive, physically challenging, and nobody gets hurt! Airsoft Guns has all the supplies, accessories, and related links relating to the sport of paintball.