Let's Get Started: Outdoor Hour Challange #1

Faithful's Treasure
Beloved's Feather
Eager to journal...
Leaf Rubbing

Feather Drawing

We actually made it out of the house! We took our dogs for a walk in the neighborhood and began our first official nature walk. I kept an eye out for flying pigs.

The boys and dogs were excited beyond words. It was a little chaotic to begin with but all settled into a nice long walk. Then, I was able to tell them to just look around as you walk, note some things of interest and maybe collect something.

Faithful was ready to begin collecting. He wore his backpack and kept stopping to pick up a leaf, flower or stick and yelling "Wait up!". While, Beloved is more reserved and quiet. I noticed he was doing a lot of looking around but he was only interested in bringing back the feather.

I brought back a clipping (Tradescantia pallida Wandering Jew) from a neighbor, an oak leaf and a seedpod from a magnolia tree - it was shaped like a cone and had fallen off the tree and begun to turn brown. I took a picture but unless I want to do multiple posts I can't show it to you. I can't figure out how I can post more than 4 or 5 pictures at a time. I am blogger challenged! Take my word for it - its a great picture.

When we got back I wasn't planning on journaling today, but both boys were eager to begin. Faithful filled up 3 pages with leaf rubbings and Beloved did a great job drawing his feather. I had supplies ready to show the boys how to make a flower/leaf press.

Tomorrow I plan to initiate a conversation on today's walk and break out some field guides encouraging them to look up what they found and add the information to their journals. I plan to be very gentle and relaxed with this so as not to overwhelm any one of us or make them dread hearing me say "Let's go for a walk."

Now about those flying pigs...