Nature Activities for Kids – Kids Discover Nature

Connecting to Nature Through Photography

by MCC

A great way to involve your kids with nature is to encourage them to take photos of what they see. There is no need to invest a huge amount of money into a camera for them. You can give them a hand-me-down point and shoot camera that you no longer use. If you don’t have an old camera and don’t wish to make an investment in a kid’s camera, you could start off with a one-time use camera to determine whether your child has any interest. A old smart phone would work. Many kids have one these days. Even a toy camera would work with tiny kiddos.

You can begin by walking around outside and pointing at interest things. Your backyard, no matter the size, offer interesting subject matter. You can say “wow, look at that,” and snap a photo with whatever you are using. Then your child can copy you. Once they have practiced with you, they can go off and hunt around and find their own subjects of interest. Insects are a popular subject. They are easy to find and — ants are ever popular!

As your children grow, you might be surprised by the artistry and imagination behind the photos they take. You might consider encouraging them to submit photos for to contests, post photos to their own blog, and even join community photo displays. When photographing animals, here are some tips:

Focus on the eyes of an animal. Make sure that the animal’s eyes are in focus – properly focused eyes capture the viewer’s attention.
Include the environment around the subject. Photograph the animal in its environment instead of zooming in close. Showing the surrounding area tells a story.
Be respectful of wildlife. Never get too close to animals. If your presence is changing their behavior, you should back away.
Don’t forget to pack their cameras for vacations! Why not give them a tool to help them create their own family memories!

It would be fun to see photos your kids have taken. Head on over to our Instagram account @KidsDiscoverNature and share photos with the entire KDN community. Thank you for joining us there!

Nature Activities for Kids

Invite Wildlife to Your Yard – Wildflowers

by Editorial Staff

It’s easy to attract wildlife to your yard. In return you will enjoy many hours of entertainment and your children will enjoy the process. This week I am going to focus on wildflowers and why they are good for your kids, your backyard and wildlife!

Often ornamental flowers are chosen in lieu of wildflowers because they are more showy, bloom for longer periods and there are many more varieties and colors available. However, in many cases they require intense care which includes chemical fertilizers, pesticides, constant watering and time. Natives are a nice choice because they require little care once they take root and are beneficial to wildlife. An added benefit it that you avoid adding unneeded chemicals into the ground, which pose a danger to your family, your pets, and wildlife. Additionally, some natives are deer proof, which means you won’t have to battle them eating your buds anymore. You can check with your state’s cooperative extension service to obtain a list of recommended plants.

Early spring is a good time to plant wildflowers. You can also start them inside as early as January. Here is a great link to help you get started.

Including your kids in the process will be great fun for them and you and will provide a nice learning experience. The National Gardening Association has an entire website dedicated to the topic called Kidsgardening.org and instructions on how to plant a wildflower garden. The instructions are geared to teachers in a classroom setting, but they can be easily adapted to your needs.

Once your garden grows and the flowers bloom, you will notice many creature taking advantage of them. Butterflies, honey bees, hummingbirds, and moths will be the most obvious. And you don’t have to just stick to planting native flowers. There are many beautiful shrubs and trees that support a healthy backyard habitat. Because you are providing food, cover, nesting places and an overall healthier environment, you and your family will be rewarded when you spy rabbits, frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, bats and more in your yard.

PS – You may wonder why dandelions were chosen for featured photo in a story about wildflowers. Well, poor dandelions have a bad rap. They are actually wildflowers not weeds and many species of butterflies use them to lay eggs. So before you yank them out or mow them down, consider saving a section of them in your yard.

Birds

5 Resources to Attract Wildlife to Your Yard

by Editorial Staff

Spring is around the corner! Now is the time to start planning for when you and your kids will be outside enjoying fun in the yard. Families will be again be spending a lot of time in their own yard this spring, so it’s the perfect opportunity to increase engagement with wildlife, insects, birds, frogs, and many other critters. There are 100’s of strategies you can employ to attract interesting critters to your yard and there is a plethora of information available to help you do it. Your effort will be rewarding by not only hours of enjoyment outside but will provide an easily accessible opportunity to connect your kids to wildlife and teach them about nature

Below are several resources that provide helpful ideas and instructions on how to plan your yard and gardens. It is important to plan ahead and choose plants, shrubs, and other installations that work well for attracting wildlife.

Your state wildlife agency website. You will find guidance on appropriate trees, shrubs, and plants. You can find list of the different species of wildlife that live in your area.
The National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Habitat Program provides tons of great information on how to attract wildlife whether you “have an apartment balcony or 20-acre farm.” You can even qualify to become a certified wildlife habitat.
The Natural Resource Conservation Service provides basic planning and a helpful list specific plants and trees to plant specifically to attract birds.
The American Horticultural Society provides a to state master gardener associations. The state associations maintain a list of master gardeners and can provide contact information to those who do business in your area. A master gardener is a specialist and thoroughly trained to help you design, plan and install a garden. Many have a special interest in being ecologically sensitive and are trained accordingly.
The National Audubon Society has resources dedicated to helping you design a bird-friendly yard. Its website provides advice and how-to tips on using native plants to attract wildlife, with a special emphasis on birds, of course!

Now is a great time to do some research, put a pencil to paper and start planning. Getting your kids involved at the planning stage is a great way to engage them and teach the process. Plus, they will have some terrific ideas on what they would like to see in the yard.

If you have helpful resources you would like to share, please share in the comments.

Fish

Nature Activity: Enjoy a River Walk Together

by Jodi Valenta

Yesterday was a busy day, but I was determined to find time to take a nature break. I decided to stop by our park to let the kids play in the river. When we arrived my daughter said, “why are we here? This is boring.” I said, “Well, we have some time to spare so let’s walk down to the river to see what we can find.”

There is bound to be a river stream in your area that allows public access. If you are not sure where that might be, contact your park and recreation department and ask. Spending time by a river, stream, or even a pond is not only fun and refreshing but educational too!

Supplies You Will Need

Rubber-soled shoes to prevent slipping on rocks and to protect feet
Sunscreen
Hat
Clothing appropriate for the weather and activity
Insect repellent

What to Do

Encourage your kids to explore the bank by looking at the rocks, critters, vegetation, etc.
Throw stones a safe distance from others
Watch sticks and leaves flown downstream in the current

The Challenge

Who can find a fish, frog, crayfish, etc.?
Who can name the critter?
Race sticks or leaves downstream
Build a dam with rocks and mud

Great Ideas

Bring along critter nets and a pail for collecting
Discuss currents and eddies as they watch their sticks, etc. float downstream
Discuss the difference between fresh and saltwater
Teach how and where rivers begin and where they flow
Discuss the ecology of the stream and food chains

Additional Tips

Take the back seat and allow the children to explore on their own
Remember to return critters to there home before leaving
Encourage gentleness when handling critters

Safety Tip

Children should wear personal safety devices if the water is deep
Never allow them to drink the water
Never allow them to walk barefoot, rocks can be sharp and you never know what is on the bottom (glass, rusting metal).

Benefits to Your Children
Encourages exercise, relaxation, and exploration. Provides the opportunity for lessons in water flow, natural history, and ecology.

Helpful Links

Learn more about rivers at American Rivers.
Learn about our country’s wild and scenic rivers.
Find fun activities for river play at TLC Family

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Connecting to Nature Through Photography

Invite Wildlife to Your Yard – Wildflowers

5 Resources to Attract Wildlife to Your Yard

Cloud Gazing: The Best Five Minutes You’ll Spend with…

Nature Activity: Enjoy a River Walk Together

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