Share, Learn, Listen, Lead

C&NN Natural Families Network

Information

Welcome to the virtual gathering place of the Natural Families Network. A “Natural Family” is any family who values and uses the natural world as a place for playing, growing, and learning. Natural Families believe that children who spend time in nature are happier, healthier and smarter, and aspire to share their experiences with other families.

Website: http://www.childrenandnature.org/movement/naturalfamilies/
Location: Worldwide!
Members: 178
Latest Activity: May 3

EVERY FAMILY CAN BE A NATURAL FAMILY!

The Natural Family Network is a forum designed to connect families virtually, giving space to share ideas and ask for suggestions, where families can be engaged, supportive and encouraged. Here, we discuss and ask questions about using the natural world as a playground for our kids, whereby connecting with nature on a regular basis, they will harvest the seeds of lifelong stewardship in and for the natural world.

It is our hope that this forum will help grow the movement and inspire more families to enjoy the wonders of nature, either with a family nature club, with friends, or on their own! This is a great place to get more information on how to start a family nature club if you’re interested, too. Peruse the topics here and jump in with your own questions and contributions often.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the C&NN Connect site.

The goal of the Natural Families Network and this website is to encourage more families to connect their children with nature and to provide a forum where Natural Families can share their ideas, experiences and views.

Please participate actively, and encourage others to join. Get together face-to-face as well when you can!

You'll find tools and resources on the Natural Families Network home pages and throughout the larger Children & Nature Network website.

If you're looking for tools and resources you'll find them on the Natural Families Network home pages and throughout the larger Children & Nature Network website.

Discussion Forum

Do you have a great book to share? 17 Replies

We all have our "favorites"... favorite places, favorite sayings, favorite food, favorite "stuff", right? It would be great for all of us Natural Families to share our favorite books that are…Continue

Started by Janice Swaisgood. Last reply by Jan Ellen Ferrigan May 3.

How does $10,000 - $15,000 sound? 1 Reply

CLIF Kid® Launches 3rd Annual Backyard Game ContestWith New Group Category Contest Aims to Inspire Kids to Balance Technology and Screen Timewith Imaginative, Outdoor Play CLIF Kid®, maker of organic…Continue

Started by Janice Swaisgood. Last reply by Janice Swaisgood May 2.

"Diversity" Focus Group Forming

Hi All ~Are you passionate about ALL FAMILIES connecting to nature? I am!Part of our work with the Children & Nature Network, a big part of it, includes reaching out to diverse and underserved…Continue

Started by Janice Swaisgood Apr 23.

Rediscovering "Where Nature Meets Story" 3 Replies

In my search for good nature-based literature for my 6 and 8 year old boys, I recently rediscovered a fantastic resource we have right here with C&NN. Where Nature Meets Story has reignited my…Continue

Started by Janice Swaisgood. Last reply by Kelly Pfeiffer Mar 21.

First Steps: How (and why) I Started a Family Nature Club 10 Replies

When I was six years old, I visited the snow leopard exhibit at a zoo - a small, concrete, cell-block exhibit. All that animal did was pace back and forth with a maniacal look in its eyes.Back and…Continue

Started by Jeanine Silversmith. Last reply by Janice Swaisgood Mar 20.

How I found the South MS FaN Club 1 Reply

As a landscape architect, I recently joined the Children’s Outdoor Environment Professional Practice Network of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Before having children, I was a member of…Continue

Started by Ashley Norton. Last reply by Janice Swaisgood Mar 18.

Let's start the Let's G.O.! campaign with a bang this year!

The Children and Nature Network (C&NN) recognizes the importance of reconnecting our society to the natural world, especially our children. Their Natural Families Network promotes family…Continue

Tags: world, children, natural, nature, G.O.

Started by Nkrumah Frazier Mar 9.

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Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of C&NN Natural Families Network to add comments!

Comment by Margie on August 8, 2012 at 11:15am: Janice,

So glad you will share the curriculum. The Advice From Nature series is great. "Will do" on the discussion idea.

Comment by Janice Swaisgood on August 8, 2012 at 10:11am: Thanks for sharing this Margie! I will be sharing the curriculum with our regional collaborative as well (San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative). I haven't read the whole thing yet, but what I have looked at looks great and I love that it can be done in a week. This is important as many school already have "character education" programs in place that last the whole year.

I will also be taking a good look at the curriculum to see how I/we might utilize some of the ideas for our family nature club.

Thanks again for sharing!

Janice

PS-- You might want to start a real "discussion" ("Add a Discussion" link) about this and give folks the opportunity to share what they're using in a dynamic format here to inspire others to do the same. =)

Comment by Margie on August 8, 2012 at 9:47am: Nature clubs can be a great place to teach character lessons from nature: http://www.yourtruenature.com/library/images/Teacher%20Curriculum/K...

Comment by Suz Lipman on July 23, 2012 at 12:56pm: Congratulations Inland Empire Kids Outdoors! 4 years strong as a family nature club! There will be a celebration tomorrow at the U.C. Riverside Botanical Gardens:

http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/inland_empire_kids_out...

Comment by Suz Lipman on April 29, 2012 at 9:26am: Here's another blog you're going to enjoy.

THE BOND OF SHARED SOLITUDE: Family Connection in the Natural World, from Richard Louv:

http://www.childrenandnature.org/blog/2012/04/28/the-bond/

Comment by Suz Lipman on April 29, 2012 at 9:05am: Hi Everyone,

I think you'll be interested in this new blog from Robert Michael Pyle:

BACK TO THE SUMMIT The return and rise of family nature camps.

http://www.childrenandnature.org/blog/2012/04/28/back-to-the-summit...

Comment by Suz Lipman on April 27, 2012 at 11:32am: CONGRATULATIONS Chip Donahue, Natural Teacher and Nature Club for Families leader.*

Chip was just awarded Teacher of The Year for Roanoke County (VA) Schools. Way to go, Chip!

Here are two stories about Chip and the award:

http://www.rcs.k12.va.us/news/current/goldenapple2012.shtml

http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/307956

*In addition to this accomplishment, Chip and Ashley Donahue run Kids in the Valley Adventuring, KIVA. Learn more about them through the Natural Families Network and Chip's blogs on this forum.

Comment by Suz Lipman on March 22, 2012 at 12:32pm: Have you seen C&NN's latest Natural Families Network Newsletter? Get information and inspiration about Let's G.O.! (Get Outside) Month, Family Nature Clubs and more. We hope you'll join the discussions and the activities and get outside with us!

http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=84bc8aed7ef3c95d84fa1e04b&i...

Comment by Carolyn Hopper on February 10, 2012 at 3:23pm: As I'm new to this site, I'll check out some of the activities that other areas are doing. I'm really happy to be connecting outside of state or community borders.

Comment by Carolyn Hopper on February 10, 2012 at 3:22pm: I sent a general message out, but want to add that our Confluence Community here in Bozeman is being designed so we are getting out with the kids - We've started a tracking club and as spring is part of winter or becomes spring we'll be out in wildflowers and playing in streams while we create ceremonies that sustain all of us. We have a core group of 4 women working on supporting the activities of the Community.