The Handbook of Nature Study blog has been a great source of satisfaction during the 2008 year. Here are some points that I would love to share in review as a way of saying thank you to all that have made this year a very special nature study year for our family and for all those that have come here to be inspired and encouraged and supported in their efforts to include nature study in their lives this year.- I started off the year wondering if the Handbook of Nature Study was a friend or a foe. With a lot of encouragement, we started the Outdoor Hour Challenges in February of 2008. (Remember when we first started out and we called it the Green Hour Challenge?)
- We started on February 15, 2008 with the very first Outdoor Hour Challenge. If you need some encouragement to get started with the challenges or you need to get motivated to start them again, you must read the links on Mr. Linky and see all the enthusiasm we had when we started. I think there are ninety-seven links on challenge number one so I am sure you will find something there to get your motor running again.
- We started a collection of nature study photos from participants of the Outdoor Hour Challenge. This year I hope to start a collection of nature journal pages as an archive to inspire and encourage beginning journalists. Don't miss watching this slideshow! Outdoor Hour Challenge Photos of the Week Slide Show
- We have been featured on Celebrate Urban Birds website.
- This blog almost won a Homeschool Blog Award.
- 798 Outdoor Hour Challenges have been completed and logged on Mr. Linky. This number does not include the many other challenges that have been completed without a blog entry shared on Mr. Linky.
- We studied garden flowers, insects, flowerless plants, trees, and the weather.
- We changed our name in June from the Green Hour Challenge to the Outdoor Hour Challenge to avoid confusion.
- Six participants completed the Thirty Page Nature Journal Challenge and received their certificates. You can still work on your pages and I will be happy to award the special certificate to your child.
- We started year-long seasonal tree and weather studies.
- A study of mammals
- Winter Wednesday series using Discover Nature in Winter.
- A new collection of images of nature journal pages to inspire and encourage us.
- An ebook featuring the first ten challenges of the Outdoor Hour Challenge
- Lots and lots of time outdoors with our children having a great time learning together.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
