I knew it would happen at some point. I have started to get email telling me that you can't do the week's challenge because you have too much snow or it is too cold.I know that the conditions in parts of the country are not ideal for many of the particular challenges I have posted in this series. Please try to remember that I write the challenges weeks ahead of time and that there are many, many participants from all over the world. I can't tailor every challenge to every location.
Please know that you are not left high and dry.
On the Handbook of Nature Study blog, in the right sidebar, there are literally dozens of Outdoor Hour Challenges to choose from. Please feel free to pick and choose and adapt any challenge that will give you some inspiration for your weekly nature study. If you get my blog entries as email, you will need to click over to the blog to see the long list of challenges on the sidebar. There is no particular time limit on any of the challenges and you may use them at any time and post on Mr. Linky and/or submit your entry to the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival.
The complete Winter Wednesday Series from last year is listed on the sidebar. Even if you don't have the Discover Nature in Winter book, I provide in each challenge a simple activity for you to try.
Winter Wednesday #1: Finding Winter Colors
Winter Wednesday #2: Filtering Snow and Measuring Melted Snow
Winter Wednesday #3: Observe the winter night sky
Winter Wednesday #4 and #5: Tree observations-which can even be done from a window
Winter Wednesday #8: Watch birds from your window.
Winter Wednesday #9: Look for mammal tracks in the snow.
Remember as always that a successful Outdoor Hour Challenge is just to spend some time each week outside. It can be just a few minutes when the weather breaks and you can bundle up and take a stomp in the snow. There does not need to be anything more than getting outside if that is all that is going to happen this week. The aim of the Outdoor Hour Challenge is to challenge you to spend a few minutes with your children outside to see what you can see. If is a mountain of snow, great. If it is a frozen world, great. That is winter nature study in much of the world and it can be a beautiful experience.
I know the frustration of getting little ones all dressed in coats, hats, mittens, and boots only to have them want to come right back inside, but it is worth the effort. My children remember fondly the days we suited up for an outdoor trek after a big snow. They remember the hot cocoa afterward as well. It is not all about formal nature study.
It is about building relationships with the world outdoors and with each other.
If you need additional inspiration, stay tuned for Monday's Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. You are going to be so encouraged to try some winter nature study after seeing all the great examples from families who live all over the world.
