C&NN Natural Teachers Network

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Comment by Juliet Robertson on March 4, 2010 at 7:25am

Hello Everyone.
I've just blogged about Willow Structures in school yards/grounds. I don't know if this is something that interests any teachers here, but feel free to have a look. It's a good summary of the benefits of having willow dens etc in schools for learning and playing.

Comment by Janice Swaisgood on March 3, 2010 at 6:47am

Here's another option for the IditaNature prize, if you want something that will "keep on giving" a reminder of the fun they had participating and getting outdoors. This would also create a lot of buzz leading up to the event. The idea is to create a tshirt for the IditaNature event that all kids (and adults if possible) who meet the challenge would receive as a prize. I just thought of this because my son has a shirt that says" Get into nature... IT'S WILD!" that he absolutely loves (thank you, Target!). Here's how I might implement next year (not enough time this year):
- get a sponsor for the event
-if students are old enough, I'd hold a contest for a logo and slogan design well before the event (this should get kids and families excited about the whole thing)
-a panel of students, parents and staff (include administration, support and custodial staff for increased "buy in") chooses the top 3 - 5 designs (depending on # of entries)
-the top designs go to a "vote"... include surrounding community if possible to promote the event and raise awareness of the overriding goal of connecting kids to nature
-use the winning design to create tshirts... and sweatshirts, hats/visors, rulers, pencils, folders, etc... whatever you think would be fun and motivating for the kids. I think sweatshirts would be fun for students who "double" the challenge minutes, a tshirt for all who meet the challenge and pencils or rulers or ??? for everyone who logs a minimum # of minutes.

I know that things like tshirts, pencils, rulers aren't necessarily tools for nature per se, but they increase visibility and provide positive reminders for what was hopefully a great experience. I think this is really doable with a sponsor if someone would be willing to do the required leg work.

I LOVE this idea and am going to look for a similar event that's more "relevant" to our area... San Diego. Not even "relevant" I guess, but something more well known by our community. Hmmm. But I even love the name IditaNature. I'll have to think about that.

I'm also going to promote this as an idea for our Family Adventures in Nature (FNC). Don't have time to get it together for the Iditarod this year, but I really love this idea/concept.

Maybe we should start planning and training now for the 2012 Summer Naturlympics!

Comment by Carmen Field on March 2, 2010 at 11:41pm

Hi Sue, Here are some ideas for an IditaNature prize (in addition to the great suggestion of outdoor gear by John):
- a classroom/family trip to a special outdoor place > beach, farm, park, forest, creek, trail, mountain, etc.
- pool party (our local Waldorf preschool has chosen this as a prize - teachers there raised the challenge for kids to spend twice the Iditarod distance/time outside, so 2,300 minutes in nature between Mar 6 and 20!)
- a spring picnic at a special place
- an opportunity to make a really great piece of natural art (a la Andy Goldsworthy)
- a horseback trail ride
- spring planting outing at a community garden (one of our 3rd grade classes plants potatoes in a community garden and the next year's class harvests them and donates them to the local food pantry for needy families)
- a giant boulder delivered to the school/home or public place where children can play on it
- a tree-climbing expedition to a local forest (that has good climbing trees, of course)

There are certainly lots more ideas out there...please chime in if you have some good ones :o)

Comment by John Thielbahr on March 1, 2010 at 6:51pm

Hi Christine and a hearty welcome to the Natural Teachers Network. Thanks so much for signing up for this discussion and idea site, and for your great post about the grant from Lowe's to build an outdoor classroom and nature trail behind your school. If that doesn't get other teachers to Lowe's in their area, nothing will. Such a great idea, and there are many places on this site to help with building your outdoor classroom. You might want to wander around some other groups to get ideas and connect with folks about the Spring build. Keep us posted on the impacy this project will have on your kids and please share as often as you can. John

Comment by Christine DePetrillo on March 1, 2010 at 5:27pm

Hello, all. I just joined and am excited to chat with other folks focused on getting children outdoors again. I just read the IditaNature post and totally love the notion. I'm going to suggest it at my school tomorrow. At our K-5 elementary school, we were awarded a grant from Lowe's to build an outdoor classroom and nature trail behind our school. We are very excited for Spring to arrive so we can get out there and start building!

Comment by Kyle Macdonald on March 1, 2010 at 4:58pm

Thanks to all the teachers out there that are getting kids outdoors! Great group!

Comment by John Thielbahr on March 1, 2010 at 11:04am

Hi Sue,
I don't know the ages of the children you teach, but outdoor gear retailer REI is a partner of the Children & Nature Network and perhaps the local store nearest you would have some ideas on age-appropriate gifts. They might even donate some items. Thanks so much for joining the Natural Teachers Network. Invite your friends and colleagues. John

Comment by Sue Mitchell on February 28, 2010 at 8:44am

I love this idea! We do a lot of things like this for reading, so everyone is familiar with the general concept. Anyone have ideas for a "fantastic prize"?

Comment by Carmen Field on February 27, 2010 at 10:16pm

IditaNature

Here's an activity teachers, parents, club and scout leaders...anyone who spends time with children...can try this next month to encourage nature play - IditaNature. Challenge your kids to spend 1,150 minutes (ie. the same number of minutes - or more - as the miles travelled by Iditarod mushers during the Iditarod Great Sled Race) outdoors between March 6 and March 20, while the Iditarod is underway. Kids can log their daily minutes spent outdoors in a booklet similar to summer reading program logbooks (or use a modified version of the page attached here - which our local Head Start students will be using). This log would then be approved and signed by teachers, parents, club leaders, and/or caregivers. Those youth who spend at least 1,150 minutes (just 1 to 1.5 hours each day) in nature win a fantastic prize - chosen by you! The fun begins March 6th!

IditaNature chart.docx

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