THE NATURAL ART OF SEEING
Recently, I asked folks to send stories about animals who had changed their lives. Artist Susan McDonnell sent me her story, told through a painting. As an explanation for the painting, here is what she wrote: “In the early 2000s, I lived in a house with a small garden pond. In the late Spring, a Red …. Read More
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
NATURE GOES ON: Rediscovering the Rhythm of Nature in a Crisis
I was bent over the passenger-side front fender of a 2015 Subaru Sunday, trying to swap a burned-out headlight for a replacement that didn’t want to fit. That’s when I heard the distinctive sound. It’s like the call of a flock of geese, but with the reverb turned up. When we hear this raucous noise …. 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
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