Compassion fosters a feeling of connectedness and peace

Gardening is all about Compassion

Gardening is tending to the soil with…

When people think of nature, too often the only images that come to mind are distant, expansive places like Yellowstone Park and the Grand Canyon, or even more remote wilderness like Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This is a grave mistake. Viewed through the wildlands lens, nature is something you might visit at best a couple of times a year while on vacation. Yet nature is everywhere—in our backyards, schoolyards, and gardens, thrusting skyward through sidewalk cracks and chirping…

Not long ago, I stood with my nine-year old daughter Jade on a rocky knoll over the ocean near our home. Minutes earlier, the sun’s orange disk had slipped below the horizon. In the distance, San Francisco began to glow. Much further away, starlit pinpoints began poking through the darkening dome overhead. We watched a clan of turkey vultures execute spiraling descents before settling for the night in a eucalyptus tree. As we began our own short descent toward home, it seemed as good a time…

Well, here we are in yet another election year full of vitriolic demarcations of right from left, seemingly with little overlap. Once again, the looming dangers of global warming, failing ecosystems, and our overall unsustainabilty are lost amidst the rhetorical din of jobs and economy (as if these were somehow distinct from the aforementioned perils). Meanwhile, the chasm between humans and nature deepens.

Watching the national debates unfold, I find little to be positive…

In just the past couple of weeks, the children-in-nature crisis has been featured in the New York Times, the LA Times, and on the BBC wireservice. Driven by the heroic work of Richard Louv, the Children & Nature Network, and many others, high profile media coverage is getting the word out. Childhood in this country is dysfunctional, even broken—and so too is our society. Rampant obesity, attention deficit disorder, and diabetes; depression, skyrocketing school dropout, and…

A friend of mine forwarded this photo to me and I quickly fell in love with the concept. I dream about having a classroom in the middle of a forest for children, with walls that could be moved, windows that could be opened or closed,  and roofs that allow the natural light in. Or is it again indoorizing children? A false assumption that they're outdoors, in nature while they're actually in a box? Or can we use the concept but allow a natural osmosis between indoor…

Last month, whilst back home in Scotland, I heard about a primary teacher from Peebles who was running forest school classes. I was intrigued how she was able to incorporate such classes into the school curriculum and wanted to learn more. Here is my short interview I had with the wonderful and inspiring Annie Edgar. (Later in the week, I was fortunate to visit the forest where Annie holds the classes. I took my niece and nephews with me. We had the most magical time and…

Coyote Trail from Abbott Loop Community Park

After an early winter cold snap, today's above freezing temps were a welcome treat! 2 dads, 13 moms and 17 kids hit the Coyote Trail. We started at Abbott Community Park off of Elmore. As you…

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WANT HAPPY HEALTHY KIDS?

Then UNPLUG and step OUTSIDE  into the REAL WORLD.

IT'S FREE !

And it's waiting for you. Mother Nature wants to share her magic with you.

It really is that SIMPLE!

This is a video of our first Revolution event-inspiring others to change the way children spend their time.

Join…

The mayapple is a plant with a secret, and children love secrets. A native perennial that grows in moist, rich soil, the mayapple is found in woods, thickets, and pastures.  If you plant mayapples in your yard, give them some space, as they will spread out and, over time, produce large patches. Mayapples…

"Hook Is A Codfish" Trail Bring The Kiddo's And Swim Suit Day

This is a combination event of hiking, swimming, and picknicking.  Maybe even a BBQ Day will be in order.  This is either a great hike with a wonderful swim, or a fantastic swim with a sweet hike.  This hike will lead you to a beautiful 40 foot waterfall with lovely pools beneath smaller cascades.

This is an interpretive trail…

There are many ways to foster an early love of nature for your children and you don’t need to travel far to do this.  You can go along to some local woodland or public park, or you can begin at home in your back yard.  The beauty of nature is that it is all around us just waiting to be explored.

Admiring Flowers

Collecting flowers and then pressing or drying them is an excellent way of teaching your children about the various plant life out there.…

For the past couple of days, my younger son and I have been trying to cure our nature-deficit disorder. Right now, I’m sitting in bed in a Bishop, California motel that, well, isn’t the Ritz. Matthew, who is 23, is still asleep, and deeply. A few hours ago we staggered across the clumped grass and mud along the Owens River, struggled to keep our balance as 40 mph gusts tangled our…

For all of 2010, on my blog, Seasons South and North, I posted a monthly observation guide comparing the nature of a place in the northern hemisphere - Britain - with a place in the southern hemisphere - the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil. I have gathered all of the posts together into one document and offer it here (as a link, I am afraid, as I could not manage to upload it here) to any who may find it useful:

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I wanted to share this video titled Logos vs Leaves  from UNC-TV's Exploring North Carolina and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (via iTunes University). Middle school students, a North Carolina governor, a teacher and a camp director (Sandy…

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 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…

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. …