Can I admit that in the past nature walks have been very scarce? With over-packed schedules, and the work it takes to get ready, we only got around to it infrequently. And then since it wasn’t a routine endeavor for us, I could tell my kids didn’t really know what to do.

This fall we started joining our local Forest School for All, Forest Explorers group, and my it was eye opening! Just simply being introduced to a trail where there were natural openings in the forest for the kids to play allowed us to see the possibilities of playing along the trail, not just walking and observing. Having other kids there to emulate their play in these natural spaces helped, too.

Now that nature walks have become more of a routine for us, what have we learned?

The natural world is fascinating

I will not burst my young child’s bubble that large rocks along our walking path are not fossils (hey, maybe they are!). When they discover mushrooms, their eyes light up. There are so many kinds, and found in so many places! Now that we’ve learned more about mushrooms and fungus, they love to point out every one they find, touch it, take pictures, and learn their names.

Hollow trees are particularly fascinating. On one walk along a trail that follows a major river, I found a tree where the roots were bare, likely from the river flooding year after year. To all of our surprise, we found a seashell nestled in the roots! I didn’t even know you could find seashells in Minnesota!

Animal tracks, fallen trees that twisted on their way down, still waters with possible tadpoles, wasp nests – all of these open the eyes of children to a whole world outside their backyard.

Slowing down is where the fun is

Our nature walks are actually only about 50% walking, and the rest is exploring what is off the trail. We love finding clearings where the kids can jump from log to log. One of their favorite activities is climbing up pine trees that have broken branches on the bottom; it’s a perfect ladder!

Learning to stop walking was something that changed everything for me. I’m not sure why I felt that we had to keep walking in order to benefit from nature walks, but maybe it also had to do with simply finding trails that were more interesting to explore. Many trails that are using for commuting through the suburbs are too pruned to be interesting. Finding untouched trails is far more captivating.

Pretend play is alive and well along the nature trail

Many playgrounds today try to build in aspects to encourage pretend play, from pirate ships to castle towers. Maybe it’s just my kids, but I’ve found they pretend play far more without pre-defined structures. They can be explorers in a new land, monsters trying to find their next victim, or family camping with their pretend fire.

In letting the kids play along the trails, I’ve also had to learn to dress them appropriately, or allow for their clothes to get ruined. Playing in nature is a lot more messy than walking through nature! Still, I’d rather have dirty clothes than kids who dislike getting dirty.

I need to learn more about nature

As the wise Charlotte Mason says:

Mothers and Teachers should know about Nature. — The mother cannot devote herself too much to this kind of reading, not only that she may read tit-bits to her children about matters they have come across, but that she may be able to answer their queries and direct their observations. {Vol 1, Page 64}

Now, I’m still learning about what books are a good way for a mother of small children to gain this information without being overwhelmed. My plans currently are to start working through Handbook of Nature Study next year when Aamina is in first grade, and Amatullah is in Pre-K. I’ve also fallen in love with Nature Anatomy and The Kids Guide to Exploring Nature. As I find more resources, in sha Allah I’ll share them here.

We don’t have to do nature study on each walk

I wanted to leave this one for last because I want it to stick. Up until recently, it was hard to break away from thinking my kids needed some sort of printable to make nature walks stick in their mind. We still love our Eye Spy cards, and still use them with joy, but I now don’t feel that I’ve lost our learning opportunity if I forget to have some sort of supplemental printable.

Creating a love of nature is part of nature study. That love of nature will keep them coming back for more, and will kindle their curiosity for years to come.

A love of Nature, implanted so early that it will seem to them hereafter to have been born in them, will enrich their lives with pure interests, absorbing pursuits, health, and good humour. {Vol 1, page 71}

Want to learn more about building a nature study your children love? Read The Outdoor Life of Children!