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Summer is a time for fun but also a time of heat. Humans have their own strategies to beat the heat such as houses, air conditioning, fans, and ice cream. What about animals? Below are a few strategies that animals use to cool down. Estivation Although estivation is similar to hibernation, it is strictly a …

By Jessica Pate    Want to stay healthy to be able to enjoy life to the fullest? By prioritizing produce in your diet, you will be on your way. Produce is full of vitamins and antioxidants, it helps ward off a variety of undesirable ailments (read more from Harvard School of Public Health), plus it is …

When is the last time you’ve flown a kite?  Does a distant memory from your childhood emerge of a breezy day at the park?  These flowing streaks of fabric in the sky are often  regarded as toys solely for kids, but why is that?  I would like to advocate that adults can (and should) fly …

White-tailed deer are common in North America, making their home from Southern Canada all across the continental U.S. except for the Southwest. They are easy to recognize with their brown or greyish coat with white around the eyes and nose and on the throat, stomach, and underside of the tail. But there are some things …

 If you like to take photos, you’ve probably got a growing collection of pictures of friends, family, events, and selfies. But have you ever thought of capturing wildlife with your camera, too? You’d be surprised what you can find when you’re on the lookout for wildlife. Here are a few examples of what I’ve captured: …

After driving the beloved forest green family minivan for all of my licensed teenage years, I was excited when it came time to pick out a new set of wheels.  I’m not a very picky person when it comes to cars, but after sporting a twenty-year-old Ford Windstar and embracing all of its “charming” imperfections, …

It’s the first official day of summer, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate the season! Here are some ideas to get you started:  1. Take the kids on a bug hunt. 2. Play Bloom Bingo. 3. Find some river rocks and paint them. 4. Take a break along a quiet river or stream. …

Rock balancing is used for creativity, to relax, and to meditate by stacking stones and rocks without using adhesive materials. It is also known as stone stacking, and stone balancing. For some, it is a beautiful art form; for others, it provides a form of peaceful meditation and stress relief. Still for others, it’s just …

Temperatures are starting to rise, but there are lots of fun ways to spend time outdoors and still beat the heat. Try some of these water activities to stay cool when it’s hot outside. Go swimming. Check around to find the swimming spots are near you. Besides a pool, some other places to consider are …

When we were growing up, my brother, sister, and I used to go outside on summer nights and try to catch fireflies. Today, watching them flash in the evening is still one of my favorite things about summer. Not long ago, while we were camping in a valley, the fireflies flashed in the trees all …

I grew up in a great neighborhood. All of the kids in the cul-de-sac were around my age, so playing outside was a regular and cherished part of my everyday routine. It’s this tradition and the sense of community surrounding the experience that sparked my love for the outdoors at a young age. Across my …

A nature journal is a book or notebook for recording thoughts, feelings, ideas, and observations about the natural world. Creating nature journals is a great way to get your class connecting with the outdoors. Recording observations and thoughts in a book helps you get to know their natural surroundings. Sometimes it’s hard to care about …

Every once in a while, a huge flock of crows comes our way. They fill up the yard or the tree branches, making quite a racket. They are gathering together to sleep, and their big group is called a “roost”. No one is sure why these birds do this, though it may be for protection …

When we hear the word “recycling”, we oftentimes think of  a single-use water bottle being dropped into a bin designated by three triangular green arrows and then sent on its merry way to be remolded into a new plastic product.  But sometimes, recycling can be a little more inventive than that. Over the past several …

Spring comes each year with a predictable rhythm. Are your children or students feeling the drumbeat of its approach? Rather than letting spring fever take over, channel their excitement into observation of the outdoors. If you have a consistent commute with kids in the car, begin by pointing out the blooming flowers, shrubs, and trees …

You can color this picture of an Eastern Box Turtle! Download and print it HERE.   Find out more about box turtles here.

Writing spiders are large black and yellow spiders often found in backyard gardens. Some legends say that if you speak someone’s name to a writing spider, the spider will write that name when it weaves its web. Other stories say that if you disturb or damage the web, the spider will write your name. Although …

If you’re a college student like me, the farewell of winter and emergence of spring means one thing —finals.  By this point in the semester, the mere thought of finishing projects, writing lengthy papers, and preparing for arduous cumulative tests may send you into a spiraling vortex of stress.  Luckily, stress is natural, which means …

April 22 is Earth Day! If you’re looking for a meaningful way to celebrate it, here are some ideas you can try:  1. Start a Nature Journal: Sometimes it’s hard to care about something when you don’t know much about it. Creating a nature journal is an easy way to get connected with the outdoors. …

Humans are creatures driven by smells. We become alert when our nose detects that something could indicate danger or provide information. We react to smells such as burning, linger around strangers wearing an attractive perfume, wrinkle our noses when the trash hasn’t been taken out on time, and run to the kitchen when we smell …