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It’s the holiday season, which means lots of sparkly lights, colorful packages, and pinecones! If you haven’t noticed them before, you’re sure to see them now – on wreaths, in baskets, as ornaments and centerpieces. But besides adding to the holiday cheer, pinecones have an important job. They protect the pine tree seeds from cold, …

‘Tis the season for spotting mistletoe! Not only can you find it hanging from the ceiling, you can also find it high up in the trees. It’s not hard to spot; just look for bunches of green among the bare tree branches. But did you ever wonder — what exactly is mistletoe?  History  Mistletoe is …

 Making things out of natural materials was one of my favorite things to do as a child, and I still love nature projects as an adult. These projects not only help people learn more about nature, but they also teach children and adults how to be respectful of the nature around them. For this reason, …

You may have noticed that as the weather starts to cool, there are more wasps flying around. That’s because during the spring and summer, the population of a wasp colony continues to grow. It reaches its height in late summer and early fall.  There term “wasps” includes paper wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, mud daubers, and many …

Forests only cover around 10% of the planet, but the diversity in their ecosystem is unmatched by other biomes. This makes them very important to the planet. The more diversity you have in an ecosystem, the less likely environmental changes are to severely hurt the ecosystem (https://standfortrees.org/blog/forest-facts/). Forests are incredibly interesting, and scientists are learning …

It’s the first day of fall! Get ready to celebrate the season with this list of outdoor and nature activities!  Host a bonfire night – Invite friends or family for a small gathering around the fire pit to share stories, roast marshmallows, and enjoy the crisp evening air. Make your own fall wreaths – Collect …

The Appalachian Trail is an over-2,190-mile footpath stretching from Georgia to Maine, through lush national forests and past waterfalls, over mountains and rough terrain. I didn’t know much about it until I spoke to a friend of mine, who hiked 275 miles of the AT in 22 days, to celebrate and contemplate his recent college …

Have you ever wanted to be an archaeologist or paleontologist, or to discover precious stones? This week, I interviewed two of my dear friends, Davis and Tyler, about their hobbies of fossil-hunting and gem mining! Below are some of their best stories and tricks of the trade. Finding Fossils  Davis learned to hunt for fossils …

There are many ways to have fun in nature. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve creating projects from objects found in nature. Making something new out of natural materials can be a great way to learn more about the nature that surrounds you, while at the same time allowing you and your family to …

Insects don’t communicate in the way that humans do, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have their own language. As a child, I was obsessed with watching fireflies glow, which made me question the reason they glow. When I learned that fireflies flash in order to communicate with other fireflies, I began to wonder …

On warm summer nights, when the sunset fades and the crickets and night birds begin their chorus, it is the perfect time to look up at the stars. Stargazing has been a well-loved pastime for millennia, and with good reason. The stars and planets in their neat arrangement, along with the moon in its phases, hold …

There are many edible plants in the Southeastern United States, and foraging for them can be great fun, if you know what to look for. It’s also handy to have a back-pocket list of edible plants and how to spot them, for camping trips or other excursions when you might want a snack! Here is …

Are you curious to see more of the creatures who live in your area? Are they usually shy, remaining out of sight? Check out some of these creature hospitality crafts! These projects will provide helpful resources to some of your local critters, and hopefully enable you to get a better glimpse of them in the …

One of my favorite spots to be outside is Falls Park in Greenville, SC. Falls Park is a beautiful green area in the middle of downtown. The park features beautiful waterfalls, gorgeous stone paths, and amazing plant life. It also has an incredible suspension bridge that allows people to look over the edge for an …

There’s nothing more satisfying than standing by the edge of a pond or a lake, surrounded by fishing gear and tackle, slinging a line into the water and waiting for a fish to bite. I can still remember when I learned to cast a fishing line; I was no older than seven. My dad handed …

When you walk outside, you’re bound to hear leaves rustling and branches creaking in the wind. It may sound like the trees are communicating to one another. However, trees actually talk to each other in ways that humans are unable to hear and even see.  Fungal Foundations One way trees communicate is through a fungal …

Today marks the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, also known as the summer solstice – the longest day of the year. It occurs around June 20, 21, and 22, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most inclined towards the sun; because of this, the sun reaches its highest point in …

As a kid, one of my favorite camping or hiking activities was to go geocache hunting. For those who are not familiar, a geocache is a box or container hidden in a public space, containing family-friendly trinkets to trade and a logbook to sign. You can take something from the cache, as long as you …

Nature journaling is a wonderful practice for people of all ages. It sharpens our curiosity and our skills of observation, drawing, and writing, all while we soak in the beauty of the outdoors. Nature journals can be anything from sketchbooks to detailed diaries about the birds, plants, animals, and other things we see around us, …

Imagine it’s a warm summer day and you’re sitting on the soft, green grass as a gentle breeze blows through the air. You can hear birds chirping, calling out to each other as leaves rustle in the breeze. You watch as squirrels chase each other up, down, and around the trees. Think about the mood …