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A Site for the Budding Naturalist

My mother taught me not to do spring planting until the oak leaves were as big as a squirrel’s ear. (Unless you want to tempt the fates of frost, that is!) I was blessed to grow up on a farm and be taught the signals of seasonal change. Early immersion in the cycles of nature underpins the values held by many of us “greenies.”

Today, many children know that the rainforest is being destroyed. They can tell you that polar bears are being threatened by climate change. They may even be able to talk about their own carbon footprint. However, sadly, many may find it difficult to name five trees in their own neighborhood or point to definitive signs of spring in their own backyard.

Richard Louv and David Sobel use to the terms “Nature Deficit Disorder” and “Ecophobia,” to describe this growing disassociation with the living world. If you haven’t yet checked out their work…do so! I believe it is vital that we understand and begin to address children’s growing alienation from the living world. Children are, after all, the future stewards of this planet!

On that note, here is a fun way to open your child’s eyes to the signs of spring and help scientist track global climate change at the same time! Project Bud Burst collects information on the budding, leafing and flowering of native species and uses that information to track the signs and progression of spring. Select a plant or tree in your area (think backyard, bus stop or schoolyard) and observe the phenological stage that it is in and begin to watch it for the tell tale signs of spring.

There is a simple download to get started and you can turn in your reports online. This is the “good side” of technology: rewarding closer observation and deeper understanding of nature with a chance to be a citizen scientist!

[This post was written by Lee Welles.]

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Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    February 25, 2008 at 6:19 am

    That’s awesome! What a great site!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Discovering Nature « greener loudoun says:
    March 8, 2008 at 6:26 am

    […] Lee Welles Posted February 24th, 2008 …My mother taught me not to do spring planting until the oak leaves were as big as a […]

    Reply
  2. Celebrate the Earth: Find a Sacred Spot in Nature to Share With Your Children : Eco Child’s Play says:
    April 24, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    […] A Site for the Budding Naturalist Leave No Child Inside The Gift of Nature Add a comment or question Tags: nature, sacred, yew tree Share/Email Stumble It « Previous post aj_server=”http://rotator.adjuggler.com/servlet/ajrotator/”;aj_tagver=”1.0″;aj_zone=”green”;aj_adspot=”317027″;aj_page=”0″;aj_dim=”300787″;aj_ch=””;aj_ct=””;aj_kw=””;aj_pv=true;aj_click=””; […]

    Reply
  3. Virtual Worlds Bring Eco-Literacy to Kids Online : Eco Child’s Play says:
    September 7, 2008 at 11:38 pm

    […] greening your electronics to green gaming and havens for the budding naturalist, there are plenty of online to offline bridges to walk if you put on the right hiking […]

    Reply
  4. The “Green Effect”: Nature Makes Us Healthier and Happier : Eco Child’s Play says:
    February 18, 2009 at 12:28 pm

    […] being near trees, noticing the buds as they bloom, or taking note of the flight and song of backyard birds, is rejuvenating and essential. What is […]

    Reply
  5. Be Green & Drink It Too: Grow Your Own Wheatgrass : Eco Child’s Play says:
    April 7, 2009 at 9:42 am

    […] want to miss out on. Wheatgrass shots at your local health food store can be very pricey. So, last spring we started to grow our own wheatgrass for it’s health […]

    Reply
  6. What’s That Sound? says:
    December 7, 2009 at 12:50 am

    […] The Spring Equinox approaches and the clues of this dependable, cyclic change range from the buds bursting to the peepers awakening. Close your eyes ask yourself, “what’s that […]

    Reply

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About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

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