Do you *really* do nature study?

I’m hoping to be more consistent with nature study this year, but I really think it doesn’t have to involve long, drawn-out walks or hikes. May I share how nature study was done at the CM retreat I attended? We did nature study as one of the lessons (we acted as students). We simply took a walk together for about 15 minutes, asking our teacher about things we’d found that we couldn’t identify, and discussing our findings with each other. Once we’d returned, our teacher asked us to tell her about some of the things we’d found, and she wrote them down on a whiteboard. Sometimes people debated the proper names of things, and she let us debate among ourselves before writing down what we’d decided on. Then we settled down with our sketchpads, to draw something we’d seen (many of us had returned with something – an acorn, a black walnut, a fallen leaf, etc), and we could use the words on the board to write a bit about them.

You’ve gotten great feedback here, and I wanted to add that a short walk through the neighborhood or even backyard can net a lot of nature to notice. “Noticing” – that’s a big thing for us, “let’s see how many things we can notice.” I have children who would rather be physically active and plow through, making a walk into an adventure, and some who will stop and examine each little thing. Those ones are helpful, because they often find things for the rest of us to check out.

To encourage an interest in nature, I set up a nature table years ago. Really it’s an old bedside bookshelf, with a flat top and shelf below. I keep all our nature guides below – many gleaned from library and garage sales, along with other nature-themed books. We love our copy of The Handbook of Nature Study, and often consult it to learn more about something once we’ve identified it. It’s not a great read-aloud to the kids in most cases, but is better paraphrased to tell them a bit about what you’ve seen/caught.

I think scheduling and just getting out there might be a key to getting over the hurdle. Really, 15-30 minutes twice a week shouldn’t be too much to handle – at least that’s what I’m telling myself and shooting for this year!

Blessings,

Aimee

Truthfully, I think you just need to get outside…whether you like it or not. 🙂 lol 

I would go outside and just BE.  Don’t worry about studying anything.  Just go, listent to the wind, look at the leaves.  Walk along the grass.  I would set a small goal.  Maybe 10 minutes per day?  I think God has a way of revealing Himself through the wind and the trees.  I would bet that, after a week, you will be looking forward to your 10 minute walk (or sit.)  

Once the outside becomes less intimidating, you could add a little nature study.  However, if all you accomplish is an appreciation for the outdoors and a little fresh air, I think that’s worth a whole lot…even if you never crack a nature journal. 🙂