nature observation
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Winter Tracking Practice
January is a great time of year to brush up on the Daniel Boone-esque skill of tracking animals. Better yet, it is a great time to expose your children to the wonders of Nature-sleuthing. The white snow picks up every trace of passing mammals. A little detective work might lead you to a great discovery. Go out to the backyard or a local park and see if you can tell who has been there, where they went, and perhaps even why and how quickly they were moving. Studying the signs of animals in snow can be translated into a summertime activity as well. But, why wait until then? Check out these resources on tracking, then either get outside on your own, or attend an event like the one ...
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Sketching Nature
[caption id="attachment_162" align="alignright" width="172" caption="Sketching Nature: A Red Oak Leaf"][/caption] Drawing or sketching is an essential skill for aspiring naturalists, or anyone interested in understanding more about Nature and the world around them. It doesn't take a ton of talent, but it does take some time. By spending a few hours looking closely at Nature and natural objects, you will begin to see the details that are otherwise missed. Likewise, you will pick up on the important features that differentiate one tree from another, or one bird from another. Learning to draw those important details can help imprint the information in your brain and will in turn ...
