All Blog Posts (970)

I am interested in getting my bird of prey related business more involved in my community.  I have several projects in mind.  First of all, the Kestrel and Owl nest box program, along with the elimination of the use of rodenticides in our environment.    www.birdsofprey.net  

I like the way new fallen snow looks so smooth and bright. It sparkles in the sun.

–Madeline Morrissey, almost…

Coloring rice was the project of the day. White rice, water color paints, plastic bags, two teachers, and eight Explorers were the ingredients needed for this plan. Each child was asked, "What color rice would you like to make?"

"Blue, yellow, pink, light green, turquoise, dark green, orange, and purple," were the answers that rang through the classroom.

In teams of…

New book available from MIT Press about how and why people engage in caring for nature and community in neighborhoods impacted by poverty, pollution, lack of green space, natural disaster, and ethnic conflict.

Krasny, Marianne E and Keith G Tidball. Civic Ecology: Adaptation and Transformation from the Ground Up. MIT Press. January 2015.

http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/civic-ecology  

Tree climbing connects

As a professional tree climbing instructor  (yes, there is a such an occupation that requires you to never…

Turkey Vulture -

Turkey vultures are scavengers, eating almost any dead animal’s carcass.  Also called buzzards, they win no beauty contests in nature.  They have a bald, red head that is tucked into a black-feathered body, and they have a sharp black beak to stab…

Cedarsong Forest Kindergarten Newsletter – January 2015

By Erin Kenny ©2015

January in the Pacific Northwest has been unseasonably warm and we have observed many signs of spring. We discovered new buds on the elderberry and the huckleberry. We noticed that the hazelnut catkins (flowers) have released their pollen and that the alder catkins are ready to eat. We are seeing new sprouts of miner’s lettuce and sticky wicky (cleavers) and we are seeing lots of new mushrooms,…

Cedarsong Forest Kindergarten Newsletter – November-December 2014

By Erin Kenny ©2014

November and December weather was mostly overcast and cool however we are still experiencing warmer than historical temperatures. The forest floor is covered with debris from the windy season. The children are enthralled by the number of items they find in the debris on the forest floor. One of the most interesting discoveries we made was the huge numbers of red alder seeds on the…

The more I learn about the vital necessity of allowing children daily, unrestricted playtime outside for their whole health, the more I want to make it a routine part of our lives. 

Have you heard of The Green Hour? The National Wildlife Federation recommends spending one hour outside each day for our holistic health. 



I just took the Pledge to be Out There which says I'll make getting outside a priority for my…

This year the Vashon Wilderness Program is offering truly wondrous summer camps. If you are on the island, have connections to our island (Vashon, WA), or want an excuse to pass a week (or more!) on our beautiful, relaxing island, do check out the camp descriptions and see which ones may be a fit for your kids or for the special child in your life. We even have a camp this year for…

Here are five ways we’ve been developing Nature Brains, helping our brains reach a new depth of skills, calm, and connections, during nature hikes and time at Nature Play Stations.  Count down to many happy memories and a future of finding green spaces where you can go to feel centered and inspired.

5.  Reaching Developmental Milestones

4.  Making Sense of Our…

I write here about living a family life rich in connections to natural world.  http://muddyfootedmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/hunger-moon.html

http://muddyfootedmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/hunger-moon.html

Bluebonnets in Winter -

Texas Bluebonnets are a special flower.  Most flowers germinate in the spring after the last freeze, but not bluebonnets.  They germinate in the fall, when the rain comes in September or October.  Germination is when the seed starts…

My husband, Dave, has a pair of Limmer boots. They are handmade boots that are made in New Hampshire. He has had the boots for at least 15 years. Even though they have always been just a little too tight he continues to wear them because he likes the tightness when hiking, loves the boots and the company that…

Christmas songs are a fun way to get into the holidays with your children. Many parents are intimidated by this idea because they aren't confident in their own singing abilities. You don't have to be a great singer, or even a good singer, to teach Christmas songs to your children.

Think about picking up some holiday CDs at the local library or watching Christmas YouTube videos together as a…

Our family loves the book, The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown. 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/curious-garden-peter-brown/1100831269?ean=9780316015479

Brown tells the story of a boy living in a city without greenery where people spend all their time indoors. The hero of the story, Liam, loves being outside despite the dreariness of his…

“It’s that time of year, when the world falls in love. When every song you…