LITTLE ADVENTURES, BIG CONNECTIONS: Inspiring Kids to Explore Nature Virtually
Three weeks ago, life as I knew it was pretty great: every week I got to bring nature connection games, stories and lots of love and silliness to over 400 kiddos in central Ohio. Inspired by Richard Louv, Jon Young, Dave Bauer and many more authors, I had worked my way up from being an …. Read More
BUCKET FULL OF NATURE: A Fun Indoor Nature Challenge for Families
During the COVID-19 crisis, if you’re experiencing cabin fever and your kids (and you) are climbing (or drawing on) the walls indoors, we’ve got a plan to keep you connected with nature! The mental, physical, social and emotional benefits of regular and meaningful opportunities to connect with nature are many and vital for the health of …. Read More
10 Nature Activities to Help Get Your Family Through the Pandemic
If the coronavirus spreads at the rate that some experts believe it will, schools and workplaces will continue to close. Here’s one thread of silver lining. We’ll have more time for each other, and for nature. “Do not stay inside all the time: your vitamin D level goes down,” advises John de Pluma, MD, a …. Read More
VITAMIN N FOR THE SOUL: How Nature Can Nourish the Spirit of Children and Adults
Matthew, my youngest son, once asked me if a connection to a higher power is, in fact, an underutilized sense—one that some people find activated in nature. This is the same son who, when he was five, asked, “Are God and Mother Nature married, or just good friends?” Great questions. Most religious traditions, especially in …. Read More
HEADING TO THE FOREST: Bringing Joy, Accomplishment & Hope to Children
This is the second installment of a two-part series. In the first part of this article, we visited a nature-based early childhood program in a forest preserve on the western edge of Chicagoland. Here, children found treasure, became pirates, engineered a raft/bridge and adventured for long distances in the winter woods. In this part, we’ll …. Read More