Featured Blog Posts (310)

I recently completed a short web video as part of the City of San Diego Parks & Rec web series. It follows Families Adventures in Nature as they explore Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego. In the process it demonstrates  the importance of reconnecting children to nature.

http://fieldnotes.com/csdprcn.html

When children and nature mix, something magical happens.

Watch the video..........

Sadly today, children spend 90% of their time indoors.

I am passionate about getting children outdoors and connecting with nature. I believe if we inspire a love for nature in a child, it will lead to a desire to protect it. First we have to give children the opportunity and freedom to go outside and explore, discover…

There are lists everywhere in our house.  Grocery lists, honey-do lists, the lists go on…  And this is where my husband and I found ourselves on New Year’s day, creating another list.  Not an exciting list, not a bucket list or list of our favorite things, as usual, this list consisted of chores and mundane must do’s.  All the “shoulds” lined up in a neat row waiting to be anointed with a holy “you are a good person” check mark.  So, I am sure you can imagine my relief when Matt Polstein…

My home province of Newfoundland and Labrador has so many natural gifts that for those of us living here, we tend to take them for granted.  Growing up near the ocean, and being the son of a fisherman, seeing icebergs was a near daily occurance. Over the years I've seen many different shapes and sizes, both up close and far away.   A cool thing is when icebergs 'founder' - when they flip over or break apart.  It tends to happen in seconds and shows the amazing power of when something so big…

Spotted this in Sunday's NY Times, and it introduced a slew of questions for me!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/nyregion/16critic.html

Your thoughts?

Latest post at my blog: TheNatureSchool.net

Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are, of course, in the midst of winter (you southern hemisphere folk will have to wait till July). What winter looks like varies greatly from latitude to latitude. What winter usually does usually have as a common thread is unpredictable weather. The northeastern United States is buried under mountains of snow that are atypical for that region at this time of year. US weather reporters have said that…

There are many state and local parks accessible - even within walking distance that you might not even know about. Sitting down with your children to explore your own local maps and destinations is a wonderful opportunity to talk about how our land is preserved and the wonderful ways you can engage with it.

Simple ideas like

• Unfolding a map - not via the computer but the experience of touching the paper and running your fingers along the places you can visit - is a…

We move to our new house this week and while clearing out his room, Samuel found a blank canvas. "Oh mum, can I do a splat painting for my new bedroom?"

"Of course you can Samuel" I said and gladly handed him my basket of paints.

He headed out to the back garden and lay his blank canvas on the snow.

Samuel was in his element.

He was completely and utterly free, wild and spirited…

The Dragonfly.  It is one of the largest insects you'll see around.  Most people avoid them for fear of their biting or stinging abilities. Still, their helicopter-like flight makes us pause in amazement when they hover over ponds or in our gardens. It's just that they look like they could do some damage. In Newfoundland we've dubbed them with names such as horse stinger and devil's darning needle - the latter more common in areas settled by the Irish.  My boyhood logic told me to avoid…

Dave and I have begun the trip home (using modes of transportation that are much faster than our …

This article was written by Maureen Hanzel when she and four other folks affiliated with Shedd Aquarium joined the North American Odyssey, canoeing on the Yukon River…

I work at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC), located in eastern Pennsylvania, near the Delaware River.  Our mission is to advance environmental awareness, knowledge, and appreciation through hands-on experience in a natural outdoor…

As the education coordinator for Volcan Mountain Foundation I would like to bring kids onto the mountain for a near-by nature program...the funny thing is...here we are in the country, yet we will have to bus the kids there; while in the City of San Diego you have your canyons near-by for many kids to walk to!

We are currently creating an education program as part of their science framework experience, by getting them up on the mountain to learn about their own back-yard. We have been…

When the weather gets colder and the leaves fall off the trees, it's easy to stay inside and

forget about the opportunities for outdoor recreation.  The winter is a great time to hike

or camp, as long as you are adequately prepared for the activity.  Your children will appreciate

the added challenges involved in winter camping. 

When you are getting your gear together, don't forget a digital camera, and binoculars. …

My recent visit to Twillingate, on Newfoundland's northeast coast, inspires this departure from my usual bug postings.  Just 2 days ago on December 26 I was in the community for a visit.  The province had experienced a few weeks of strong winds and high tides. Normally at this time of year the snow has arrived making hiking trails inaccessible. Not this year.  The trails are wet but there is no snow. 

I left Durrell and hiked…

Bloggers Note:…