Nature Connections (03.11)

Nature Connectionsis a collaborative link collectionposted at the end of each monthon Living and Learning.
Its purpose is to showcase photos of childrenenjoying nature to inspire all of us to get outdoors more.

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I'm not sure exactly what these kiddos were doing while my friend and I chatted on our bench, but whatever it was, they seemed actively engaged in their play and perfectly content.   Later, they wandered further off and found a stream at the edge of the park.  From time to time they would check in with us or show us something they had found.  It was a nice afternoon.  I'm sharing this as our Nature Connection for March because I think it's important to remember that you don't have to go to fancy places to connect with nature.  Unstructured play at a local park can be just what the soul needs.

How did your children connect with nature this month?

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Your link must include photo(s) of child(ren) outdoors in March.  

Please adhere to this simple guideline or your link will be deleted.

Consider using a button or text link so that your readers will know where to join us.

Leave the direct URL to your post below and visit some other participating blogs.

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets

Our First Gardens

We are gardening for the first time this year and are using the square foot method. I have a 4x4 frame which I got for a really good deal back in December. I've filled it with Mel's recommended mix of 1/3 blended compost, 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 coarse vermiculite. It's all ready and waiting for time to plant. I'm hoping to grow tomatoes, pumpkins, basil, baby carrots, zucchini, marigolds, nasturtiums, and possibly chives (if I can find an organic plant). I've started tomato seeds indoors and plan to sow everything else directly in the garden later.

Yesterday Gerrick decided he wants his own garden, so he is using an extra plastic box we had in the garage for his raised bed. This will be the perfect size for him because he only wants to grow four things:  sunflowers, marigolds, baby carrots, and watermelons. We drilled some holes in the bottom of the container for drainage and mixed the same soil components that I used in mine.

We used some extra 2" blind slats to make his grid. 

He marked where they needed to be cut to fit his box, cut them, then pressed them into the soil.

Now, before planting, he just needs to decide whether he wants to keep his garden on the patio

or put it in the yard near my garden where the sun shines longer.

How does your garden grow?

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I'm linking at the Garden Challenge:

50 Outdoor Activities Your Children Will Love

1.  Explore a creek or stream.

2.  Observe living creatures.




3.  Have a designated spot available
for free-range creativity and loose-part play.




4.  Climb trees, rocks, hills...

5.  Ride on a boat or go canoeing.

6.  Walk in the rain.

7.  Splash in puddles.

8.  Get muddy.



9.  Walk in the woods or hike on a trail.

10.  Build a fairy house or see if you can find a real one.

11. Visit a botanical garden, local nursery,
or secret garden.




12.  Engage in digital photography.


Photo taken by Gerrick (age 6) at a local botanical garden.



13.  Have a scavenger hunt 

(like this one, or this one, or this one).

14.  Search for four-leaf clovers or gather flowers.

15.  Get a closer look with a magnifying glass,
hand-held microscope, or binoculars.



16.  Experiment with a prism.

 

17.  Blow, pop, or watch bubbles.

18.  Fly a kite.

19.  Paint with water on fences, walls, rocks, sidewalks...

20.  Lie on the ground and look for shapes in the clouds,
watch the trees sway in the breeze or the hawks soar...
or just take a rest.

21.  Ride a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, rollerblades...

22.  Take some inside toys outside.

23.  Roll down a hill or run through a field.

24.  Blow dandelions (or beat them with sticks).

25.  Build a tree house or simple fort and play in it all day.

26.  Stack rocks, skip or throw them in a lake,
or search for special ones to add to a collection.

27.  Relax on a blanket with a picnic and a good book.

28.  Go camping or put up a tent in the backyard.

29.  Build a fire; roast marshmallows or make s'mores.

30. Plant something and care for it.

31.  Play with a ball, frisbee, jump rope, hula hoop,
horseshoes, croquet set...

32.  Make a masterpiece with chalk.

33.  Swing!

34.  Draw in a nature journal.

35.  Paint en plein air or paint with nature.

36.  Go fishing.

37.  Target shoot with a b.b. gun, bow and arrows, 
Nerf gun, sling shot, etc., or have a Nerf, water, 
or marshmallow gun battle.

38.  Touch animals at a farm or petting zoo.

39.  Wash the family car together or give the wagon
or other outdoor toys a good scrubbing.




40.  Watch a sunset.

41.  Make BIG, messy, experimental art.

42.  Make a volcano...or just
experiment with baking soda and vinegar.



43.  Make soups, mud-pies, and various other treats

in an outdoor "kitchen" or "restaurant".

44.  Go geocaching or letterboxing.


45. Play with sand.

46.  Cool off in a sprinkler or wading pool 
or go to a local pool or splash pad.

47.  Dig!

48.  Observe the moon and stars on a clear night.

49.  Visit a farm to pick stawberries, blueberries, or apples, or cut a pumpkin right off the vine; or harvest items from their own garden.

50.  Take time to smell the roses.

 

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