A blue spruce tree in my yard has grown too big and I planned to trim it back. But when I approached it with my clippers, I noticed a nest in its branches. Two tiny birds sat inside with their beaks wide open, waiting for food. That’s when I heard mama mockingbird trill from the powerline a few feet away. She wanted me to stay away from her babies! I realized that the spruce needs to be left alone until the nest is no longer needed.
As spring turns to summer in North America, many families like to spend more time outdoors. Seasonal changes highlight natural cycles, baby plants and animals beckon, and temperatures often make extended outdoor sessions possible. It can be a wonderful time to experience connections with the natural world.
One way to facilitate nature exploration is with a wonder wagon. Start with any kind of wheeled container – a wagon, shopping cart, stroller, or even a rolling laundry basket or backpack – and stock it with tools that support exploration. Think magnifying glasses, insect/butterfly nets, binoculars, pieces of cardboard and rubber bands (for affixing leaves and flowers to the boards), paper and colored pencils (for sketching and making notes), plastic containers (for dirt or seed samples), a bottle of water, and/or insect houses. Plan to bring a smartphone or tablet along as well if you have one.
Take your wonder wagon with you on family walks or hikes, pausing when you reach someplace that your child wants to explore. You might begin somewhere close to home, like your backyard, a local park, a window box, or a tree alongside a city sidewalk. Invite your child to select the items they want to use while you do the same. Then pay close attention to what you can see, hear, smell, and feel as you engage with nature. If you are lucky enough to pause near a place where honeysuckle or wild berries grow, you can even use taste to get to know the natural world a little better.
Use a magnifying glass to get up close with small insects, scrutinize flower petals, or notice color variations in tree bark. Pick a leaf off the ground (or a tree if it has plenty to spare), place a sheet of paper over it, and rub a pencil across the page to create a transfer image. Use binoculars to spot birds, squirrels, and other creatures in high branches or flying through the sky. Sit with a drawing pad and sketch a flower. Pour water (or rub spit) on a rock to bring out its striations.
One of my favorite nature exploration tools is the Merlin app on my smartphone. Developed by Cornell University, this free app listens for and identifies area birds. Just hit the microphone button and the app begins recording. As it recognizes bird sounds, up pops an image and name. Tap the name and the app provides pre-recorded versions of that bird’s song and calls. The app can also suggest birds that are likely nearby and families can create a ‘life list’ of birds they have heard.
Free apps exist for identifying plants, insects, and other organisms as well. Try PictureThis or Pl@ntNet for plants, iNaturalist for a broader range of organisms. Google Lens also works well.
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