Nature Connection Challenge - Day 62

Nature Connection Challenge Day 62 - Find a Robin’s Egg

This is the time of year that you can find a magical treasure! Be careful not to disturb or touch the nest or eggs but if you are lucky to find one, it sure is a treat to see. You may find eggs in a nest under a deck or in a swing set or you may find newly cracked eggshells on the ground.

Happy egg hunting! Share your findings with us on Instagram or Facebook.

Nature Connection - Day 61

Nature Connection Day 61 - Complete a Nature Challenge You Missed

We have shared 60 days of awesome nature connection challenges to help you get outdoors and connect with nature to de-stress, heal, and have fun. Today we challenge you to look back through our 60 challenges on our blog and find one you missed to complete today. Which one will it be?

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 60

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 60 - Activate the Vestibular System

Remember when you were a young child, how good it felt to spin around until you were dizzy then fall down laughing in the grass? Well it turns out that when you did that, you were actually doing something very important - activating your vestibular sense. We are all taught at a young age about our five senses, but we rarely hear about this other sensory system. The vestibular system is what contributes to balance, spacial orientation and coordinating movement. This system uses information from our eyes inner ear and gross motor movements to help us maintain our desired position in space. It is important for people of all ages to activate and exercise this sense to help us maintain balance and agility.

Here are some activities to try today to activate and strengthen your vestibular system:

• swing on a swing or hammock

• walk on a balance beam

• do cartwheels or somersaults

• spin around until you get dizzy

• hang upside-down, or do an inverted yoga pose

• walk or run around obstacles- go over, under, and through

• log roll down a grassy hill

Today, take a few moments to do one or more of these activities and notice what your vestibular system does for you.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 59

Nature Connection - Day 59 - Make Land Art

Land art is art that is made directly in the landscape, sculpting the land itself into earthworks or making structures in the landscape using natural materials such as rocks or twigs.This can be a really interesting way to notice patterns in natural materials or create something beautiful out of mundane materials.

Today’s challenge is to collect some materials from nature and create some land art. Try making a few piles of similar items like pine cones, leaves or sticks and then arrange them into patterns.Take a picture of what you make and share it with us on Instagram or Facebook.

Nature Connection Challange - Day 58

Nature Connection Challenge Day 58 - Check Out Our FREE Online Nature Programs

If you haven’t already, be sure to take a look at the online nature programs we have available for youth and adults. Our programs offer weekly video classes on wilderness skills and nature-focused mindfulness. All are available at no cost during this time.

For Youth:

Woodland - Ages 4-6

Evergreen - Ages 7-11

Ironwood - Ages 12-17

Thrive - Teen Leadership

For Adults:

Wild Wellness - Foraging, Forest Therapy and more

Birch Grove - Parent Support

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 57

Nature Connection Challenge Day 57 - Observe & Draw Nature’s Web of Inter-Beings

Grab your journal or something to sketch/draw on, go outdoors and find a spot where you can sit. Take a few slow and deep breaths to center your attention and calm yourself. Notice the nature beings around you and create a web by drawing lines from one being to another when there is a connection. Are there any connections between them or you? 

For example, I notice a chickadee on the branch of the birch tree. On my map I draw  myself, the chickadee and the birch tree. I draw a line from myself to the chickadee because I like being around the chickadee. Next I draw a line from the chickadee to the birch tree. Why does the chickadee like the birch tree?  I notice a mushroom growing under the birch. I draw a line from the birch to the mushroom. That’s another inter-being connection. It’s as easy as that. As you make more connections a web should start to appear on your map. What are you noticing about your map?

Have fun and enjoy your time.  If you are not able to go outdoors then perhaps you can journal as you sit in front of a window. Share with us the story of your beings in whatever way feels right to you. We look forward to seeing and hearing about them!

Nature Connection Challenge- Day 56

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 56 - Forage for Dandelion Greens

The humble dandelion has long been valued for its medicinal and nutritive properties and is one of the first and best wild edibles of spring. All parts of this plant can be eaten, but today we will focus on the leaves. These are some of the most nutritious greens you can eat. They contain high amounts of vitamin A, K and C and are high in calcium, folate and inulin (a dietary fiber that helps regulate blood sugar and gut health.)

Here is what you need to know:

• Look for an area that is not treated with chemicals or too close to the road to forage.

• Collect the young tender leaves of dandelion plants that are just about to flower for the best tasting leaves.

• Raw dandelion greens can be eaten in salads or added to smoothies.

• If you prefer to cook them, here is a recipe for sautéed dandelion greens with garlic:

  Ingredients:

  • 4 cups dandelion greens

  • 3 cloves garlic minced

  • 2 T olive oil

  • 1 T maple syrup

  • 1.5 t balsamic or apple cider vinegar

  • salt and pepper to taste

    Directions:

  • Wash dandelions thoroughly by submerging in cold water

  • Tear or chop the greens into 2 inch pieces

  • Heat oil in a skillet on medium/high heat, add garlic and sauté for about 45 seconds, then add dandelion greens, stir and sauté until wilted

  • Add vinegar and maple syrup, stir to coat greens and cook for another minute or two

  • add salt and pepper to taste

  • this can be enjoyed as a side dish, or topped with fried eggs for a healthy breakfast

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 55

Nature Connection Challenge Day 55 - Look for Signs of Wildlife

It can be so much fun to look for evidence of wildlife in your yard or woods, and you often don’t need to look very hard or go very far. Tracks, scats or droppings, a pile of seed hulls or pine cone pieces or other food remnants are all clear indicators that an animal has been in that area. Muddy areas and snow can make it easier to find tracks, and you may even be able to follow the animal’s path for some distance. Keep in mind that it’s important to be respectful and give wild animals space. If you find what might be an animal’s home (such as a hole in the ground or in the base of a tree), be sure to observe from a safe distance.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 54

Nature Connection Challenge Day 54 - Go Outside at Night

We challenge you to get outdoors when it gets dark and go for a little walk around your yard or down your street, if it’s safe to do so. Or, if you wish, grab a blanket and get snuggly on your front steps or lawn while you observe the night.

The natural world is an amazing place at night. The sounds are different from the daytime and if the sky is clear you can always star or moon gaze. In fact, May 7th was a full moon, so getting outside tonight will allow you to see see an almost full moon as it enters the waning phase.

We know that it’s not uncommon for children to be afraid of the dark. Bringing kids outdoors at night to observe the sights and sounds in darkness can help to alleviate these fears and begin to appreciate the Earth’s nighttime beauty.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 53

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 53 - Practice Stealth

If you spend time observing nature, you will see that many animals go about their business right under our noses. We often don’t notice them because they have perfected the art of stealth. Predators in particular have adapted ways to stalk their prey without being heard or seen. Meanwhile, most humans walk loudly without noticing the ways we disrupt the quiet order of nature.

Today’s challenge is to practice walking stealthily through a natural landscape. Here are some ideas:

• Try walking through grass, wooded areas or sand without making any noise. Try taking off your shoes and tuning into the sensations on the soles of your feet.

• Try walking slowly and carefully and notice if you can move in a way that doesn’t disrupt the natural behaviors of the animals around you. Slow down, bring your energy close to the earth, become part of the landscape.

• If you are walking with someone else, take turns trying to sneak past one another without being detected.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 52

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 52 - Have a Picnic

Today’s challenge is to pack a picnic and go find a beautiful place to eat it. Take time to make a meal that is nutritious and delicious, scout out the perfect picnic spot and enjoy!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 51

Nature Connection Challenge Day 51 - Climb a Tree!

Today’s challenge is to climb a tree!

Climbing a tree can be a thrilling experience for a kid (or an adult!) - taking on the challenge and being able to see surroundings from a much higher angle - it’s pretty exciting! Most kids are naturally inclined to climb sensibly, not going too high and doing what feels comfortable to him/her. However, it can be helpful to discuss a few tips to make climbing safer, easier and less stressful for the onlooking parent.

1) Make sure the tree isn’t rotting or dead. Check the roots or base of the tree for large cracks, and look for rotting wood and fungi growing on it, which can indicate a dead or dying tree.

2) Discuss the “rule of three.” While most kids will do this naturally, this can be a helpful climbing rule to remember. Always have three points on the tree, whether it’s two hands and a foot or two feet and a hand. This reduces the likelihood of falling, though experts such as Dr. Mark Holton, Director of Cornell Tree Climbing say kids don’t fall out of trees nearly as much as we might think.

3) Go down the way you went up. If your child is having a difficult time getting down, this tip can help him/her navigate the way back down more easily.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 50

Nature Connection Challenge Day 50 - Observe Trees Up Close

Today’s challenge is to get up close to different trees and take notice of all the details and differences. Look closely at the bark on the trunks of a few different trees - does it have ridges? Is the bark flaky or smooth? Dark or light? Is moss or lichen growing on it? What about the buds and leaves? What are the shapes and colors on various trees?

When you slow down and get up close to trees you begin to notice distinct differences, details and the natural beauty of these beings.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 49

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 49 - Dig For Worms

Did you know that scientists consider earthworms a keystone species for preserving life on earth? These wiggly workers help create healthy soil, a crucial component for all plant life. These under-appreciated creatures are necessary for us to grow healthy foods, breathe clean air and have thriving ecosystems.

Today’s Challenge is to get your hands dirty and dig up some worms. Take a few moments to watch them and appreciate how something so small and unassuming has helped shape life on this planet. See yourself for a moment as part of an intricate web of life and allow yourself to be in awe.

“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

— Mary Oliver

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 48

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 48 - Plant Seeds

Today’s challenge is to plant seeds! Work on your vegetable garden or plant a few flower or vegetable seeds in a pot. If you don’t have any seeds, venture out to your local garden center to pick some up or ask a friend if they have extra to spare. It can feel so good to work the soil with your hands, and several studies show that gardening can improve your health! What better way to connect with nature than to get a little dirty, plant some seeds and watch them grow?

Studies:

Benefits of Gardening Activity for Cognitive Function

Gardening for Health

Gardening is Beneficial for Health