March 20, 2012
Mark the calendar – March 31st
Have you been wanting to check out one of the Kansas State Parks? On March 31, all state parks will host a Free Park Entrance Day, with open-house in the offices, allowing visitors to purchase park permits on the last day of lower off-season pricing.
Explore the beaches, scope out the campgrounds, walk the trails and more during this once-a-year free day at the parks!
http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/State-Parks
March 14, 2012
Here are g2g’s Top Ten Ideas for Getting Outside during Spring Break 2012!
The WATER Center is a great place to spend an afternoon. Walk the nature trail, check out the newly rebuilt aquarium and all the huge fish inside, play a round of frisbee golf, or just have a picnic and listen to the birds. The museum is awesome! And, there are some new exhibits. Museum open hours are 1p-4:30p, MWF. 
Grab a camera, give one to your child and head outside to a nearby park or in your own backyard. Take pictures of what you think is pretty, what you think is not so pretty. Pictures of new leaves, old leaves, flowers blooming. Can you find a bird and snap a pic before it’s gone? What about a bug?
March 8, 2012
Here, is a link to an interesting blog about now the most popular teen and pre-teen books are ones that paint a bleak picture of our future. Most teen books depict young people in nature-less societies, struggling to survive. Fictional plots set in beautiful, nature-filled communities are few and far between. I don’t know if I can name one…
The link above takes you to an interesting blog written by a bright 13 year old tackling this topic from her generations view point. Does this phenomenon create hopeless teens that are not looking forward to thriving futures? Or, do these books prompt teens to take action to avoid a dismal fate?
Personally, I think it’s a bit of both. As an environmental educator I often try to steer clear of the doom and gloom environmental messages and focus on the wonder and amazing-ness of nature in order to inspire young people to enjoy, and then want to preserve the environment. However, teens are also motivated and stirred up by drama. So, what would some actual or perceived crisis harm?
Like most things in life, it’s probably a fine balance. We will never be perfect, but I hope that as adults, mentors, educators, parents, and role-models we can get it right at least more times than not. Let’s think about what we can do to create more of a balance between the hopeful future that 13 year old Miranda describes in her blog and the harder future we are trying to avoid in our favorite teen books.
March 5, 2012
The Loraxwas the #1 movie at the box office this weekend. The classic Dr. Seuss book has been made into a feature length film and it’s doing rather well with movie-goers.
The Lorax, a stout, feisty, mustached creature, has a message about environmental responsibility. The story is told simply, but the underlying themes and messages are complex (even for adults).
I think the important take-away message is that we need to spend time enjoying “the trees” (nature). The more we enjoy and care about the natural world around us, the more likely that we will take care of it for generations to come.
In preparation for The Lorax ovie release the US Forest Service has created a great website where you can get all sorts of fun activities to inspire outdoor exploration and play. Check it out here.
February 21, 2012
T
he weather predictions are AMAZING for February! Gorgeous today…up to 70 tomorrow. How can you not head outside after school???
Before you settle down for homework and dinner this week, take at least 30 minutes to play outside! I suggest we all get out: mom, dad, brother, sister, babysitter, grandma, etc. It’s great for all of us. But, for sure those kids need to get out into the fresh air and do some running around.
A game or two to try out this week:
grow even though spring is still a ways off? Find a ruler and measure how far those tulips are up out of the ground. Measure next week too. How fast are they growing?February 16, 2012
Is it just me or are there TONS of families having babies right now? If this is you or you know a new mom or dad, remind them that it is never too early to start taking your children outdoors.
Outside gets a bad rap for being “dirty.” When actually, the fresh air outside has much fewer recirculated germs and the surfaces many fewer ickies from us touching and sneezing on things all the time. (door knobs, keyboards, etc). Today’s blog is not about the gross-out factor or a stimulus to go sanatize your home. It is a call to head outdoors with your kids, even the smallest ones.
What do you do with a baby outside? Well, here are a few suggestions. (Ideas borrowed from the Children & Nature Network’s “Together in Nature” publication).
February 14, 2012
Check out the fun nature-art projects you and your kids can do to celebrate Valentines Day! Thank you National Wildlife Federation for the great ideas!
February 9, 2012
Show your kiddo how much you love them by taking them out for Storytime at the WATER Center Tuesday February 14 from 10am-11am.
Join the WATER Center Staff for a free storytime and nature activity. February the story is Big Al by Yoshi and the activity is “Fish Friends!” The program is designed for Pre-K aged children, but all are welcome to attend.
The WATER Center is located in Herman Hill Park on the corner of Pawnee and Broadway. Due to contruction at Pawnee & Broadway, please access Herman Hill park via McClean and Pawnee.
You can park in the lot by the playground or behind the WATER Center building. The building has fountains out front. Wander up the path towards the fountains and enter the building for storytime. After storytime you can play in the museum or hike along the streamside paths towards the Arkansas River.
February 6, 2012
This is the last month that you can get into the zoo on Winter Wednesdays for $2.50/person! The Sedgwick County Zoo is open from 10a-5p.
The great thing about this abnormally warm winter is that you can enjoy the Zoo’s Winter Wednesday program without frostbite! And, if it is cold just check out the indoor exhibits (Jungle Building, Reptile & Amphibian Building, Downing Gorilla Forest, Koch Chimp & Orangutan Habitat, etc)
Click here to find out the zoo programs and animal feeding times you can see while you’re at the Zoo these next few Wednesdays!
January 27, 2012
Yesterday was the KS Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism’s Annual Winter Canada Goose Count. What is that you ask? Well, a group of 40+ scientists drive prescribed routes all around Sedgwick County and count Canada Geese.
Why? Because, in the 80s there were very few Canada Geese, and wildlife biologists wanted to increase the numbers to a healthy population. Today, there are LOTS of geese. Some only stop off here on their migrations north and south, but many stick around and live here all year. At times, there are so many geese that they become a nuisance. The Goose Counts help wildlife biologists keep track of populations and it helps them make decisions about how to manage so many or not enough Canada Geese.
Why am I tell you all this? Well, I think counting and tracking things in your own backyard could be a great way to increase counting and observation skills while getting your nature-fix.
Ideas!
Throw out some bird seed. Watch for birds. Once they arrive to feast have your kiddo sit for 5 min (or 10-30 depending on interest and age level) and count the number of birds that come to eat. Do it again the next day or next week and see if MORE or less come. For older kids you could have them track temperature to see if that affects the number of birds. 
These types of activities may get some kids excited and others may have little interest. Encourage the ones that LOVE this type of observation. Don’t force it if your child isn’t excited about this activity. Try it for a while, if they hate it, move on to something else. This activity is for left-brainers. If your child is a right-brainer this wont have much appeal. So, try it and if it flops, no big deal.
The cool thing about this (obviously I have left-brain tendencies) is that if you keep these lists year to year, you’ll start to see changes and cycles in your own backyard.
