Winter Warm Up

Here in Northern Colorado we have had a very nice mid winter warm up with temperatures in the 50's and 60's with sunny days. The snow seems to disappear so quickly but this leads to yet another fun outdoor activity... playing in the streams and puddles. As a parent our initial reaction is to tell the kids to stay out of the puddles or out of the street but there is actually a lot of fun a child can have if they explore these temporary streams.

There are so many discoveries to be made with these simple streams. Your child's imagination will run wild but some fun games include...

• What floats or doesn't float
• Why do some things seem to move faster than others
• If you block (or dam) a stream the water finds another way around
• Where is the water going? Where does it go after that? After that?
• Where did the water come from?
• Create splashes or ripples in ponds.
• Place rocks in a stream. How does it affect the flow (rapids)
• Do rocks look different or change color when they are wet?
• Step in the water then walk on dry pavement to make footsteps. Compare sizes of footprints.

There is an entire afternoon of fun and discovery flowing right by your house. Don't be afraid to play in the water and see what your children will come up with.

"Every stone we lay effects the course of the river" ~ Nat Keefe

Outdoor Education Series: Local Geology

Here in Loveland, CO we are lucky to have Big Thompson Elementary School of Nature & Science for our elementary aged children. We also have Rocky Mountain National Park just up the road. These two amazing resources have partnered together for an education series perfect for the whole family.

This past weekend we met up with over 60 other kids and family members to learn about the rocks and land formations in our area as presented by a ranger from Rocky Mountain National Park.

This particular January Saturday morning was cold and cloudy but not brutally cold. A large group of families gathered in the 4 Acre Outdoor Education Center of Big Thompson Elementary where we were surrounded by hills, rock outcroppings, and massive rock ridges. We all learned about sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. Then the children played a fun outdoor game about rocks.

We then took a very short hike up the road to take a closer examination of the types of rocks in our own area. This was an amazing way to spend a Saturday morning as a family. We learned new things which led to new discussions, spent some time with other people in our community who also have a love for our local geology, and of course the kids laughed and played.

If you are in Northern Colorado be sure to join us April 23, 2011 for a similar experience which will focus on the birds in our area. If you live somewhere else inquire with local State and National Parks or other nature programs for what outdoor children education programs may be available.

Nature and Science School

My wife and I made the decision this year to drive our daughter, Magnolia, all the way across town to attend a school with a Nature and Science focus. We had been up in the air about the best educational choice for our daughter but after learning about Big Thompson Elementary and its 4 acre outdoor classroom, worm composting bins, school garden, and beautiful natural setting, we knew this was the school for us.

This week I had my first chance to really check it out when the school asked for parent-helpers to help with a special outdoor education day. The teacher took attendance then sent the kids out to the Outdoor Education Center where the first graders enjoyed learning about insects by going on a real bug hunt.

We followed grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. We watched a huge spider who had caught a grasshopper in its web. We watched a black and blue wasp carry a dead spider into a safe grassy spot. We examined bees covered in pollen moving from flower to flower. We even talked about and built habitats for insect to live in using the natural materials all around us.

After lunch we studied seeds. We dissected lima beans to see what was in a seed then searched all over our Outdoor Classroom trying to figure out how plants distribute seeds. We saw seeds in the bear scat, saw seeds blowing in the wind, and picked sticky seeds off our clothing.

The kids and adults had a blast in this beautiful outdoor setting. We all learned a lot and became more connected with our local surroundings. The entire experience was so awesome. Thank you Big T. and Colorado State University Environmental Learning Center for providing these kids such a great educational experience.


~Andy