Never underestimate the outdoor adventure

Joey finding fronds while hiking.  senk 2013

Our family loves hiking. Fresh, blue skies cheer our spirits even when clouds invade. Shapes, colors, and textures delight our senses. Opportunities for exploration never end. 

One of the saddest results of building-central public schools and standardized testing, is that in many ways we've ripped away the importance of outdoor learning. It's not just that recess is often drastically cut or eliminated from the curriculum, especially when teachers and administrators feel pressed for completing testing requirements - it's beyond that. Outdoor learning - tending gardens, observing natural processes, animal husbandry, learning the names of trees, drawing outdoors, etc - is essential to education. In many public schools, financial and testing constraints have made field trips nearly impossible. So, for primary and secondary schooling to allow students the full benefits of outdoor learning, it has to occur in either a private or homeschooling environment.

There are endless opportunities for learning in the outdoor setting. Here a few ideas to get you thinking; and feel free to add other ideas in the comments section.

The boys investigate a salamander. senk 2013

Look for local fauna. During a recent excursion along a hiking trail in Shenandoah National Park, our family saw firsthand the Shenandoah Salamander. We were able to talk a little about what the salamander eats, its ecological role, habitat, and distinguishing characteristics. Ezra exclaimed, "It's so cute!" clearly showing his fascination with appearance; and Joey was excited to talk about its diet. We also observed a herd of deer, watched and listened for specific birds (like the pileated woodpecker), and noted how a spider sat upon its web in the winds.

Joey identifying a tree. senk 2013

Relish in flora. Even if you don't know the names of every plant or tree you see, you can find out what it is by making observations while on the hike. For, example, Joey is often obsessed with cone-forming trees. If you're someplace that would allow you to take a small cone-sample (one that's fallen on the ground) or frond-sample (again, preferable on the ground), then do so. Otherwise, make rubbings, take pictures, or draw impressions of the bark, leaf or needle, and seed pod (or flower) so that you have information that can help you identify your tree or shrub with an appropriate identification guide (think, National Audubon Society, The Sibley Guide, Peterson Field Guides, Tree Finder, etc). This is particularly useful if you don't have the guide with you on the hike. I have helped Joey create his own field guide journal, in which he draws a picture of the animal or plant and then we write important information about each entry - like the common and Latin names, size, habitat, distinguishing characteristics, etc.

Give your child responsibility for a section of garden space and/or an animal. Russell built raised beds for the boys to use in growing their choice of vegetables and flowers. Joey and Ezra helped prepare and plant the beds and continue to help in maintaining them, as well. Just today, we harvested spinach, which was used for a family meal and for preserving for future use. The boys also help care for our chickens and dogs. Both are excited to spend time with the animals, as well as feed and water them. Responsibility is not the only benefit of these endeavors, however, for both boys are also nurturing compassion, which is a trait needed-more in this world.

Joey & Ezra resting along a trail. senk 2013

Life experiences in safety, human impacts on the environment, and so much more are also a part of bringing children to the outdoors. We have to realize that each person has an impact to make. If we encourage children to have a serious and respectful approach to the great outdoors, while also enjoying the beautiful gifts that nature gives to us - then, we're fostering characteristics that will help just as much with whole-self growth as with learning. Make the choice to get your kids outdoors more, today!

H is for Hike

Each week we devote ourselves to a different letter and use the senses to explore that letter. We discover tangible objects throughout our house that start with the noted letter, take a trip to see or experience something with that letter, eat food that starts with the letter, etc. Several weeks ago, we learned the letter "H." After reading some children's books devoted to H, as well as my go-to books: "Dr. Seuss's ABCs" and "My Spiritual Alphabet Book," the boys had to sort objects into two different piles. One pile was devoted to objects starting with G, for reviewing; the other, with H. The objects mingled in a bag and one by one, Joey or Ezra delved elbow-deep into the bag to claim an object. Although Joey was the main sorter, Ezra managed to help, too. In the G pile, glasses, a giraffe, glue, and a game were placed. The H pile grew to include: a heart, a helicopter, a hotpad, and a hat.

Later in the week, we took a hike on one of the myriad trails along Skyline Drive. Getting the boys in nature any time is important, but connecting letters with experiences is a great way to making the alphabet real for them - so H for hike made an impact. Not only were the boys enamored with the Limber Lost trail we took, but they were even excited to point out items along the way that could be identified with the letters they knew. Rounding a bend in the path, we came upon the short remains of a chopped tree trunk.

"Look!" Ezra pointed with great exuberance and in his little boy accent, "a heart!"

"Ezra, heart starts with the letter H," Joey said in his big brother way, as if he had just centered new meaning in the galaxy (which in some ways he had for himself; and which is also apt as we have been reading Madeleine L'Engle - so his mannerism seemed to come from the pages of her books).

"Oh!" said Ezra, "okay!"  Then, he proceeded to run ahead to the next interesting spot on the trail.

Besides a heart-shaped tree trunk, the boys found a hole, which was the escape route of a chipmunk they were frantically stalking on the hike. They also found some non-H bits of nature that were just as fascinating, and all along the trail, Joey finger-drew his name in the fine gravel of the trail. Letters abounded.

And, they can abound for you, too. If you decide to run through the alphabet, consider cooking foods that start with or can shape the letter for the week. Plan activities with that letter in mind. Perhaps hopscotch or horseback riding would round out your H week. Read books that start with the letter H or have main characters whose names start with H. Listen to music by bands or composers with your proclaimed letter. Look for youtube videos that incorporate the letter, too (such as a good video of juggling for J - I would highly recommend Juggling Charlie at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfJM1I9hFRs). Or, browse books at the library or the Internet for good images of a non-native animal that begins with your letter. We researched hot air balloons recently, because Joey wanted to know how hot air balloons descended (more on that later). We found a great book at the local library, a Curious George book that included a hot air balloon, and saw some videos on youtube to help with this research. 

Learning should be a life experience and it should be based on student interest. If you can make a child's learning relative, fun, engaging, and contextual - as well as child-focused and not teacher-focused - then, you're looking at a great recipe for encouraging life long learners. And, more importantly, life long learners that engage the community around them and work toward making a difference in the lives of others.

So, happy learning - and have fun!  And, do share the fun ways you engage a letter in your home.