Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival - July Newsletter Edition

Summer weather and summer trips have filled my life the past month. We enjoyed a trip to the Oregon Coast (blog entry coming soon), a crazy lightning storm, the amazing display of colors in our garden, lots of eating outdoors, swimming at the lake, and counting bees in the garden.

Summer as your children get older changes. The rhythm is different and I have found such satisfaction in my gardening and bird watching. There is time to read in the evenings as the sun sets slowly over the landscape. There are far fewer Popsicles being consumed and lots more Gatorade in the fridge as the boys take on new sports like soccer and volleyball with friends, mountain biking, running, and Hacky Sack.

On our camping trip I found that my boys were still happy to walk along the beach with me looking for pretty rocks and watching for marine life in the tidepools. They scooped up sand for me to look at as we compared each beach's unique sand. Nature study is not formal in our family anymore....it is casual and comfortable. We make observations, we make comparisons, we try to notice details, we read signs and books and displays when we travel, and we learn more every time we but forth the effort.

Thank you to all the families that sent in entries for this edition of the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. It is always one of the highlights of my month to get to put this entry together after reading all the entries. I appreciate your time and effort to make this carnival a success. 



Summer Pond - Turtles and Pondweed
Robin from Academia has submitted her post: Bike Ride to The Pond.  They rode bikes to their pond and she was able to capture some interesting pond life. Love the damselfly!

Kristin from Broom and Crown put together their Pond Study for the carnival. What a perfect summer pond day they had with insects, animal tracks, and so much more. She also includes a great example of a younger child's journal.  You can also read about another day they had at the Madrona Marsh. They are taking advantage of their local nature center this summer!


Summer Weather
Shirley Ann from Under An English Sky shares her entry: the Great British Weather. What a great entry to show how their summer weather is unique to their part of the world. I learned a few things too!

Summer Butterfly Study
Tricia from Hodgepodge shares the account of their summer butterfly story: The Marvel of the Butterfly Cycle.  I agree with her and know that reading about this in a book does not even come close to comparing with watching the life cycle in person. Thank you so much for sharing your family's study.

Cristy from Crafty Cristy recorded and submits for your enjoyment: Studying the Life Cycle of the Fritillary Butterfly for this edition of the carnival. They discovered eggs and caterpillars in their own butterfly garden.

Heidi from Home Schoolroom writes about what she calls Mesmerized by Monarch Metamorphosis. This mama went above and beyond to find the caterpillars, keep them fed with milkweed leaves, and then take a time lapse for us all to see of the caterpillar's change into a chrysalis. What a jewel! You don't want to miss sharing this one with your children.


Potpourri
Jennifer from Royal Little Lambs tells carnival readers about their Hummingbird Study. They have a variety to observe and they are making the most of it..complete with notebook pages for their nature journals.

Wendy from Loving Learning submits: Foraging for Fungi.  Their family went on a guided fungus hike and learned more about their local specimens. I enjoyed reading about this South African nature study!

Shirley Ann from Under An English Sky has written a wonderful entry: Cuckoo Spit, Froghoppers, and Other Things.  This is such a wonderful entry showing a nature walk they took with a friend...and ended up getting soaked in the rain.

Kristin from Broom and Crown shares their skunk study: My Lil Stinkers. Her girls really enjoyed learning more about this creature that we all hope not to see up close.

Zonnah from Zonnah's Addictions shows us how they jumped back in with the Outdoor Hour Challenge: We Are Back. Looks like they are using the newsletter grid to have a hot summer afternoon of outside activities. 


Catherine from Grace to Abide writes about their Outdoor Hour Challenge #14 (Pressing Flowers). They are experiencing some cold, wet weather in their part of the UK but they have spent time in their garden and observing things as part of the OHC. Love their colorful flower garden!

Jen from Snowfall Academy submits their entry, Summer Tree Study, for you to enjoy. Don't miss reading her daughter's next stanza in her "My Tree in All the Seasons" poem. Excellent job.

Don't forget to share your blog entries with the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. All entries done in August are eligible for the next edition. The deadline for entries is 8/30/12 and you can send them directly to me: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com or submit them at the blog carnival site (link on the sidebar of my blog).

Also, the August Newsletter link will be in tomorrow's blog entry so make sure you are subscribed so you can download your copy as soon as possible. You will not want to miss this edition of the newsletter because it is going to explain the Outdoor Hour Challenge plans for the next year. I will be giving you a detailed account of how the newsletter, Friday nature study challenges, and some new facets of the OHC are going to all work together to bring the OHC to the next level.

To subscribe to the Handbook of Nature Study, you can enter your email in the box below and you will receive each blog entry and the link to the monthly newsletter in your email inbox. Thank you so much for reading and supporting this blog!

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Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival - June Newsletter Edition

Does it feel like summer in your part of the world? We have had a few hot days but for the most part it has been unseasonably cool. The garden is loving the little bit cooler weather and I have enjoyed getting out to see what is new each day.

I hope you enjoy the latest edition of the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. I will announce the winner of the Your Backyard-Monarch Butterfly DVD in tomorrow's newsletter post.




You can read our family's posts for the month:
Chasing Yellow Jackets - Our Summer Nature Study Begins
Summer Tree Study - Following Up On Cottonwoods

Our garden bee in the sunflower pollen.

Yellow Jackets and Mud Daubers

• Kristin from Broom and Crown writes about their: Paper Wasp Study.  They took advantage of the opportunity to observe a paper wasp nest that presented itself..observations and comparisons with little ones = a perfect nature study.
• Cristy from Crafty Cristy shares their Studying Yellow Jackets in Summer entry with carnival readers.  She shows us how she does her "stealth nature study" so her children don't think they are doing "school" over the summer. Excellent way to do nature study over the summer break!
• Makita from Academia Celestia share two entries with carnival readers: Mud Daubers and Fabulous Fern Study. They happened to have some mud daubers and their nest to observe closely...perfect timing! 

Tiger Swallowtail in our Butterfly Garden

Beach Nature Study

• Heidi from Home Schoolroom joins the carnival for the first time this month with her family's entry: Nature Study-Exploring the Beach. This is a must read for everyone this time. She has shown how to apply so many of the suggestions from the June Newsletter for beach nature study. Excellent entry!
• Kim from A Child's Garden: Beaches, Beaches, Everywhere - Kim and her family have put together some ideas for further study at the beach. If you are using the June Newsletter and focusing on beaches, you will want to read her entry. 

Potpourri

• Wendy from Loving Learning shares their entry: A Little Fresh Air and Lion's Teeth. Get a glimpse into their South African nature study using the Outdoor Hour Challenge.
• Shirley Ann from Under An English Sky shares their First Day of Summer entry: Meadow Grass.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their outing and the observations they made in their meadow of grasses.She also submits a review of the book they used during their Meadow Grass study: Living Book-Nature Adventures.
• Sara from Garner Goings On has documented their Black Tiger Swallowtail story in this entry for the carnival: Captivating Caterpillars Become Flowers That Fly and All But Sing. Amazing!
• Jen from Snowfall Academy shares their nature study from France in this entry to the carnival: Nature Study with Flowers. Their family has used the Handbook of Nature Study to guide a gentle focus on flowers and they have learned lots! 
• Janet at Across the Page has submitted this entry to the carnival: Cornell Hawks-An 11 Year Old's View. What a wonderful way to follow up all that bird nature study that this family started months ago with the livecam at Cornell watching the Red-tailed hawk nest! Excellent and inspirational!
• Tiffany at a Faithful Heart writes up and shares their Nature Study - Chicks and Chickens using the Handbook of Nature Study.
• It looks like Tricia from Hodgepodge has taken my Summer Photo Challenge! Here is their Hodgepodge Gardens entry showing their beginnings of a full summer of nature study using the OHC. I think this is the most colorful entry ever!
• Tricia also has shared their Simple Summer Nature Study post with carnival readers.  What a delightful collection of their late June nature study topics and the promise of beautiful butterflies to come!
• Ann from Harvest Moon by Hand writes about their Fish Study. What a beautiful place to learn about such an interesting topic.
• Kristin from Broom and Crown submits their Wilderness Park Visit which is an early start to the summer pond study with the Outdoor Hour Challenge. Check out their turtles and birds!

Don't forget to share your blog entries with the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. All entries done in July are eligible for the next edition. The deadline for entries is 7/30/12 and you can send them directly to me: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com or submit them at the blog carnival site (link on the sidebar of my blog).

Also, the July Newsletter link will be in tomorrow's blog entry so make sure you are subscribed so you can download your copy as soon as possible. There are lots of great ideas for nature study, some printable pages for you to use in your nature study, and several articles contributed by Outdoor Hour Challenge participants.





Have you seen the new bundle? If you are new to the Outdoor Hour Challenge my Four Seasons Bundle and my More Nature Study Bundle will give you lots to work with! Click the buttons and read more about these specially discounted bundles of nature study ebooks.

If you haven't taken the survey here on my blog yet, I would appreciate your input. Thank you for your time!
Handbook of Nature Study Survey

OHC Blog Carnival - May Newsletter Edition

Here we are again at another end of the month Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. This month brought many of us to the real meat of our spring time weather....colors, growing things, new beginnings. Nothing is more encouraging than seeing the season change, knowing soon that summer will be upon us.


The new More Nature Study Book #4 Summer Sizzle ebook is ready for you to purchase or you can wait until June 8, 2012 and you can see the first challenge. I wrote this ebook with summer vacations in mind and with some extra ideas for simple summertime nature study right in your own backyard.

Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Spring Peepers from the Beery Family - They discovered and recorded a spring peeper! Pop over and listen to the short video. Do you have spring peepers in your area?

Low Tide Object from Angie at Petra School - This family was determined to find something extraordinary during their low tide adventure. I think they succeeded and were rewarded with learning about something new right in their own local area. 

Ordinary and Extra-Ordinary: Nature's Timing from Kris at On the 8th Day - They had several insect visitors come their way...they used the opportunity to find the extraordinary in their ordinary day during a dog walk. They even followed up with a nature journal entry. Welcome to the carnival!


Extraordinary in the Ordinary from Tricia at Hodgepodge - The Hodgepodge family always does a good job of finding the extraordinary in their own backyard. This entry does not disappoint the reader with its colors and textures found right outside their door.

The Extraordinary in the Ordinary from Shirley Ann at Under An English Sky - They truly had an extraordinary experience and they photos and journals are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your nature study with the carnival.

Finding Extraordinary in Your Own Backyard by Stephanie of Nature Notebook. They found some really interesting things right in their own yard. Enjoy her images!

Walking to Taughannock Falls, New York. May 2012.

Dogwood

Spring Tree Observations - Maple from Angie at Petra School - What a great substitute for the dogwood study! They even worked in some silent observation time with her older boys as part of their spring tree study. I am impressed.

Vines and Ferns

Vine-How Does Your Tendril Grow from Angie at Petra School -  They have done an excellent job of capturing and observing lots of their own Oregon vines. As always, they are very good at asking questions and finding the answers.

Fern Study (learning how much I still don't know) from Amy at Hope is the Word -This is a great example of how to adjust your nature study to your circumstances, how to apply what you read in the Handbook of Nature Study, and then follow-up with a creative nature journal entry. Thanks for sharing your fern study with the carnival Amy.

Garden Snails

Slug and Snail Study from Crafty Cristy -  They have made an extended study of slugs and have observed and learned a lot. I love the way they are following the interests of the children.

Taughannock Falls, New York. May 2012.

Potpourri

Pretty Petunias from Wendy at Loving Learning - They are joining the carnival with their petunia study using the Handbook of Nature Study. Excellent job and they even followed-up with a nature journal sketch. Thanks for joining us from South Africa!

OHC - The Meadow Buttercup from Shirley Ann at Under An English Sky - What a treat to see their buttecups! Shirley Ann shares her thoughts about the Handbook of Nature Study in this very encouraging entry.

Nature Study - Crows from Jamie at See Jamie Blog - They had a perfect opportunity to learn more about something right in their very own yard. A snake and a crow were the featured attractions! I love the way they seized the opportunity to complete an Outdoor Hour Challenge and some follow-up notebook pages. 

Spring Flower - The Bluebell from Shirley Ann at Under An English Sky - What a treat! This entry is full of beautiful bluebell images and information. Shirley Ann also has created a free Bluebells Notebook Page for you to download and use in your family. Thanks!

Outdoor Hour Challenge Pileated Woodpeckers from Janet at Discovering Nature - They discovered a wood pecker nest back in April and have been watching the progress. Wonderful images of parents and babies! 

Extraordinary in the Ordinary - Leaves

Outdoor Hour Challenge #2 - Using Your Words from Heidi at Starts at Eight - This is a wonderful robin study using the suggestions from Outdoor Hour Challenge #2. Wonderful job finding words for their outdoor time and then doing an exceptionally thorough follow-up. 

May Nature Notes from Amy at Hope is the Word - They have adapted their nature study this month to fit their family's circumstances. What a smart idea to go with color themed scavenger hunts outdoors. Beautiful images!

Nature Study Spiders! from Tristan at Our Busy Homeschool - This family had the opportunity to observe and identify a glorious spider. They posed it perfectly on lavender paper so even I could enjoy it. :)

The Nature Walk With the Spring Scavenger Hunt from Bethany at Little Homeschool Blessings - They had a great time completing their spring scavenger hunt!

May Musings from Barbara at The Schoolhouse on the Prairie -  They have had some rich outdoor time this month in and around the garden.

Jamaica Bay. Long Island, New York. May 2012.

Make sure to subscribe to this blog so you will receive the download link for the monthly newsletter. The Outdoor Hour Challenge June 2012 Newsletter is themed: Ocean Beach. There are so many practical ideas for including a little nature study when you visit the sandy beach this summer!

The newsletter link will be available in tomorrow's post and in every blog entry for the month of June. You need to subscribe using the subscription box on the sidebar of my blog in order to receive the link in your next email blog entry from me.




Have you seen the new bundle? If you are new to the Outdoor Hour Challenge my Four Seasons Bundle and my More Nature Study Bundle will give you lots to work with!Click the buttons and read more about these specially discounted bundles of nature study ebooks.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnvial - Spring Splendor

It has been a lot of fun for me to see spring come to all parts of the world through your Outdoor Hour Challenge blog entries as part of this carnival. So many of you have had an early spring which makes for a very green and colorful carnival.

Our family has enjoyed getting outside everyday as part the Go Explore Nature photo scavenger hunt. Yes, even our family needs a little push to get outside sometimes and this project encouraged us to not only get outdoors but to notice things in a deeper way. I hope that the Outdoor Hour Challenge helps your family in the same way....there is evidence in this edition of the carnival that proves that you are indeed finding joy and learning right outside your back door. Thank you to all the participants this month and I look forward to seeing your May entries as we all get deeper into this Spring of 2012.

Just a little note about the 

More Nature Study Book #4 

for Summer Nature Study. 

I am still writing and creating furiously in order to meet my May release deadline. I have found it necessary to push the release date to May 20, 2012. I wanted to keep you informed so you can plan your summer nature study using the Outdoor Hour Challenge.

Enjoy the carnival!

Spring Journal from Grace and Truth

Spring Splendor

Denise from Grace and Truth is a fellow Californian (she is southern and I am northern) and she has put together a wonderful post to share their Spring Splendor. Thank you so much Denise for sharing your nature journal entries..inspiring! Don't miss her beautiful images either. 

Heidi from Starts at Eight would love for you to pop over and see their Outdoor Hour Challenge #1 (which is really a Signs of Spring post). What lovely collages of their spring world she has put together for us all to enjoy!

Buds/Catkins/Blossoms

Angie from Petra School has submitted their Spring Nature Study-Catkins entry for carnival readers. I'm sure we would all love to have been there for their study set in a gorgeous location with a magical place to complete our journals.

Barbara from Schoolhouse on the Prairie shares their Buds, Catkins, and Blossoms on Our Spring Splendor Walk entry with the carnival. They made some important observations and followed up with journals that will remind them of their spring walk on the prairie.  Don't miss reading her closing statement. :)

Kim from A Child's Garden wrote up their account of Our March Bark Walk on the Nipmuck Trail. There are a lot of things to note in this entry but I what I noticed was how different her early spring woods look in Connecticut from what we see here in Northern California. Different trees, different colors...interesting to me.

Jen from Snowfall Academy has been conducting a tree study of a tree they can see from their apartment window (in France!). See their Spring Tree Study entry and be inspired. 

Robin Pastels Project from Hodgepodge

Spring Bird - Robins

Janet from Across the Page is sharing Cornell Pilgrimage Part 2: Hawks for us to enjoy. I loved this entry and it inspired me to make our plans in the near future to visit Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  Stay tuned for more information from Janet on the Cornell Lab in the May edition of the Handbook of Nature Study Newsletter.

Amy from Across the Page gathered several nature study sessions into her entry: April Nature Notes. Her robin image is gorgeous and her girls followed up with some very carefully done nature notebook pages. She also shares a few of their images from their photo scavenger hunt from Go Explore Nature. 

Tricia from HodgePodge has put together a jam-packed entry with so much nature study goodness it makes my heart swell: Spring is Full of So Many Things. Take a look at their robin study and follow-up Robin Patel artwork (shown above).

Schoolhouse on the Prairie is all ready for some birding!

Barbara from Schoolhouse on the Prairie has submitted their All About Birds entry for carnival readers to enjoy. I really loved seeing how birdwatching is a such a part of their everyday life. There is also a nice shout out to the Hodgepodge family...

Leslie from Two Cowgirls shares their Farm School - Raptors entry with this edition of the carnival. You must click over and see their nest images and hear how they are incorporating interest driven learning.

Jen from Whimsical Blessings wants carnival readers to see their Nature Study - Robins entry. Did you know that robins are the state bird of Michigan? She also includes their Signs of Spring Journals...excellent job!

Spring Flowers - Poppies, Buttercups, and More

Shirley Ann from Under an English Sky shares their Dandelion Study with carnival readers. They had a wet day to complete their nature study which included observations, collecting, and journals. She has a printable Dandelion Notebook Page to share with you all. Enjoy!

Angie from Petra School wrote up their Spring Flower Study-Learning the Parts study for us all to enjoy. What a beautiful visual entry! She has some images of their Forget-Me-Nots and up-close images that are going to inspire you to give your spring flowers a good inspection. Her boys have made wonderful nature journal entries too.

Here is an inspiring entry for those of you with younger children: Nature Study with Spring Wildflowers from Jen at Whimsical Blessings. Their family uses a more formal science program during the winter and then nature study the rest of the year, building on interests and subjects that they have in their own backyard. They also incorporate nature study with their art time...perfect!

Rachel from All Things Bright and Beautiful shares their Wildflowers Everywhere entry with carnival readers. They took a hike and captured some beauties! Rachel's daughter has also put together a blog entry all her own: The Buttercup. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful entry!

Dogwood Study

Amy from Hope is the Word has written and submitted their Dogwood Tree Study. She says, "One of the toughest things I have to let go of as a homeschooling mother/tutor/teacher is that I will always have all of the answers." I think that is the lesson we all learn over time...hard to let go of it though. Thank you for submitting your dogwood study and showing examples of your nature journals.

Dogwood Nature Study and Chalk Pastels Sketches from the Hodgepodge family will inspire you to look more closely at your flowering trees (and maybe even follow up with an art project!). Make sure to see their beautiful dogwood blossoms.

Fern Study from Under An English Sky

Potpourri

Shirley Ann from Under an English Sky was surprised to find ferns for their OHC - Fern Study in their neighborhood..in fact, their own backyard! She relates how this was a surprise to her and they now will be able to watch the fern throughout the year. They did an excellent job on their nature journals, capturing in great detail their fern study. 

Annette from Life With the Grubb Worms has shared their Outdoor Hour Challenge #1! Welcome to the OHC community and thanks for sharing your outdoor time with carnival readers.

Brandy from Half a Hundred Acre Wood wants to help you Make a Botany Book. They started their Dogwood Study early and have included a tutorial and a free printable tree notebook page in their entry. She also has submitted their Tree Study for you all to enjoy. Thanks Brandy.

Good Friday Garden and Choosing a Tree - Another great entry from the Hodgepodge Family. They are keeping up a family tradition while planting seeds and starting another tradition with their youngest and his personal tree study. Wonderful ideas.

Learning to Study Nature from Lisa at Looking At Life Creativlei is their account of the Spring Splendor Walk. They really saw some interesting things. I hope to see another entry from their family soon!

Amy from Barefoot in the Park has submitted their Spring Green collage for carnival readers to enjoy. 

Christy shares their Spring Nature Walk and Fairy Houses entry from her blog Crafty Cristy. What a great setting for enjoying a little spring sunshine and creativity. They also had a whopper of a grasshopper visit this month and she shares her Serendipitous Nature Study of a Grasshopper entry with the carnival. I love to see families find a subject and then pull out the Handbook of Nature Study to learn more...excellent!

Bethany at Little Homeschool Blessings shares their latest addition: The New Momma. Check out their little colt!



Don't forget to share your blog entries with the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. All entries done in May are eligible for the next edition. The deadline for entries is 5/30/12 and you can send them directly to me: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com or submit them at the blog carnival site (link on the sidebar of my blog).

Also, the May Newsletter link will be in tomorrow's blog entry so make sure you are subscribed so you can download your copy as soon as possible. There are lots of great ideas for nature study, a new nature journal suggestion, and several articles contributed by Outdoor Hour Challenge participants.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival - It's Spring Nature Study Time

This is the March Newsletter edition of the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival and it is packed with lots of early spring nature study goodness! As the weather warms and we return to our regular outdoor time, I am inspired by all of the families who participate and share their family nature study. What a wonderful community of people from all around the world!

As a special treat I would like to showcase Tricia's entry here at the beginning of the carnival. She and her family have put together an inspiring post: The Gift of Nature Study.  Their words and images truly show the power of everyday, over the long term benefits of nature study with the whole family involved. Thanks Tricia for sharing this glimpse into your family with readers of the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival.

Hodgepodge Family Pansy Study

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

Old English Proverb

Moon Names
Jen is joining the carnival with two entries done with her little ones: Nature Study- A Robin and Moon Shadow, Moon Shadow. Jen shows us how to gently get started with nature study as your children begin to show an interest. It is always nice to see new faces in the carnival. :)

Compass Outdoor Hour Challenge - Petra School

Magnets/Compass
Angie from Petra School has written up the account of their Magnet/Compass Study...complete with friends along. I love to see how they make the learning meaningful and fun at the same time. Wish I could have been there! (Image included above.)

More magnet work was done by Zonnah (Zonnah's Addictions) and her son. You can read and see their video: Magnets. Love the concentration her little guy is showing as he thinks about the properties of magnetism.

Cristy shares on her blog Crafty Cristy the account of their month long Outdoor Hour Challenge-Moon Study. She and her young children made many observations of their night sky and made some wonderful connections and memories. Excellent!


Spring Nature Journals - Under an English Sky

Spring Flowers and Pansy Study
Shirley Anne from Under an English Sky shares their Early Spring Flower entry featuring their crocus and nature journals. Beautiful! (You can see their journal pages above.)

Catherine from Grace to Abide (another UK Outdoor Hour Challenge participant) has written and contributed a two most colorful entries: Beginning Our Focus on Garden Flowers and Flower Parts.  What a beautiful display of flowers and she outlines their up-coming garden plans as part of their nature study. 

Angie from Petra School submits their Pansies in the Storm entry with carnival readers.This entry shows the many layers of nature study possible with families who have different ages of children. Excellent job on persevering until they saw the "face" in the pansy bloom.

Dorina from Out Side Blue writes about their Planting Pansies and Painting Crocuses for this edition of the carnival. She and her daughters enjoyed an almost-spring day of nature study in their New York City home. Beautiful!

Desiree from Our Homeschool Notebook put together their Nature Study: Pansies entry for us all to enjoy. This was a rich study starting with a neighborhood walk, studying pansies they purchased at the garden center, a close-up study of the pansy face, and then a nature journal. The images in this entry tell the story.

Jen from Snowfall Academy shares their pansy study from their French city apartment: How We Do Nature Study.  What a delight to see their journal, poem, and early spring flowers. Thanks for joining the carnival!

Amy from Hope is the Word shares their Spring Flower Study and Art. What a wonderfully full study they had and I think their artwork is lovely. Thank you so much for sharing your pansy study.

Barbara from Schoolhouse on the Prairie wants to share their Dancing in the Daffodils post with carnival readers. They made an enjoyable study of daffodils as an alternative to the pansy study. Excellent choice!

Anole in My Shoe - HodgePodge

Spring Splendor Walk
Tricia from Hodgepodge has put together a visual entry you are going to enjoy! Noticing Spring is a collection of their early spring images. (Image of the anole in the shoe is from their entry!)

Shirley Anne from Under An English Sky has shared their early spring walk: Spring Splendor. I love the way she started off with a plan but then followed her daughters' interests...frogs!

Spring in the Woods - Snake! Across the Page

Janet write about their Spring Woods on her blog Across the Page. Do not miss their beautiful images and all the interesting things they discovered on this early spring day. Amazing!

Desiree from Singing in the Rain shares their early Spring Splendor walk. They saw a snake too! You can view their wonderful spring images in this entry as well. Thanks for the glimpse into your neighborhood spring.

Dorina from Out Side Blue has shared their blustery Spring Splendor Walk.  What beautiful blossoms!

Potpourri

Jennifer from The Mason Family has submitted their Outdoor Hour Challenge #2 for carnival readers. She has declared, "We would enjoy nature and not hurry.  We would explore what interested us." Amen to that. Jennifer also shares their Outdoor Hour Challenge #3 with the carnival this time. They are really enjoying their spring time weather.  Thanks for sharing Jennifer.

Barb (Our Oklahoma Day) shares their Outdoor Hour Challenge #3 which includes a look into how they are beginning their nature journals with little ones. It is a joy to me to read how families are still joining the Outdoor Hour Challenge and gaining the confidence to make nature study a regular activity. Pure joy.

Makita from Academia Celestia writes about their Quartz - Nature Study for this edition of the carnival. They did some extra research to answer a question and followed up with some nature journal entries. (I agree...rocks are hard to draw!) Their family also did a follow-up study on a gall they had seen during a trip. You will be interested to see findings: Lime Nail Galls Nature Study.

Kris from On the 8th Day shares their Twiggy Update with carnival readers. She has learned to expect the unexpected.

Lacey from So Every Day has contributed the lovely account of the Outdoor Hour Challenge #10 - Picnic. She shares how they even included a little poetry writing as part of their nature journals this time. Inspiring.

Janet from Across the Page has submitted their Red-Tail Observation entry for the carnival. Their family has decided to build on the interest shown after watching the live webcam of a red-tail nesting at Cornell University. Wonderful entry showing their journals too!

Leslie from Two Cowgirls writes about their gorgeous spring day Tree Study. They took a walk as a family down by a creek and took time to gather some twigs and do some sketching.

Kristin from Broom and Crown shares their exciting Butterfly Watching entry.  




Don't forget to share your Spring Splendor blog entries with the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. All entries done in April are eligible for the next edition. The deadline for entries is 4/29/12 and you can send them directly to me: harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com.

OHC Blog Carnival - February Newsletter Edition

The carnival reminds me that we are still officially in the winter season but many of us are starting to see some signs of spring. Perhaps we are just hopeful that spring is around the corner. Either way, this carnival is packed with lots of nature study goodness for you to enjoy and to be inspired by as your read the entries. I know that it can be a challenge to read all the entries but I encourage you to visit a few favorites and perhaps a new family as well, leaving a comment behind as a way of connecting with your fellow Outdoor Hour Challenge participants.

I always come away from my reading with a great sense of joy.

Winter Weeds/Mullein/Twigs

• Julie writes about their weed study in Starting February With Weeds. They decided on a close-up study of dandelions and she shares their thoughts and journal page with carnival readers.
• Diana from Homeschool Review and Crafting Too wrote a very real and honest account of their Twigs Nature Study. I love that we can feel successful getting outdoors with our children even if things don't go as planned. Their family also completed their Mullein Study and Diana shares their adventure looking for some winter mullein...success! I am enjoying the glimpse into their family's growing confidence in nature study. 
• Angie from Petra School would love for you to read her entry Twig Studies. Angie and her boys are doing such a great job with this series of  challenges and you will be encouraged by their advanced study examples.
• Barbara from Schoolhouse on the Prairie shares their wonderful Twig Study and a Book Review.  They decided there was much to learn from their backyard twigs. Don't miss her book review and see if you can find this OOP book at your library.
• Rebecca from Mom's Mustard Seeds joins the carnival for this edition with her Adventures with Chickadees and Twigs entry.  Their family is just getting started with the Outdoor Hour Challenge and she shares her struggles and their success in this wonderful entry.

Galls and Gall Dwelling Insects

• Makita from Academia Celestia shares there Galls: Nature Study entry with carnival readers. She has collected quite a few galls and shares their study and your images for your inspiration
• Julie from the Homeschool Balancing Act asks Galls? What is a Gall? as part of their entry for this challenge. They did some discovering and now they will be on the lookout for more potential galls.
• Western Galls and Squalls, but No Gulls with Gals. How is that for a blog entry title? Angie from Petra School has a humorous and informative entry to share with carnival readers.
• Zonnah from Zonnah's Addictions has submitted Galls for carnival readers to view. She includes two beautiful clear images of different kinds of galls. Thanks so much for the reference. She is also sharing their Twig Update...absolutely gorgeous!

What a display at Petra School! Thanks Angie for sharing.

Quartz

• Zonnah from Zonnah's Addictions submits their Quartz nature study entry for your to read and view. She has a collection of quartz that they observed and then they made rock candy! Excellent idea for follow-up for families.
• Angie from Petra School is going to inspire you to get outside and collect some quartz of your own. Her entry for the Quartz Challenge shows just how creative and personalized you can make each challenge. Awesome job! My boys and I are going to make our own quartz collections!
• Rebecca from Mom's Mustard Seeds also writes about their Learning about Rocks, Sheep/Wool, and a Detour to Marshes and Ponds for this edition of the carnival. I love seeing how they make so many connections to their other studies, their values, and beliefs while learning through nature study. Excellent.

Magnets and Compass

• Zonnah shares their Compass entry with carnival readers which includes an easy adaptation to one of the suggested activities. I think we are going to use images for our notebook page as well.

Lacey and her family (So Every Day) have created a wonderful nature collection on their mantel.

Potpourri

• Jenny Anne from Royal Little Lambs has submitted their Sheep Study for carnival readers. It sounds like they thoroughly enjoyed this challenge.
• Barb at Give Us This Oklahoma Day has just started with her first Outdoor Hour Challenge.  I loved seeing the muddy hands and the smiling faces. Please pop over and give her some encouragement.
• Leslie from Two Cowgirls shares their first Outdoor Hour Challenge and they saw some signs of rabbits!  I think they did a great job of finding something interesting even in the city.
• Lacey from So Every Day has been sharing their Getting Started nature study entries. For OHC #8 (magnifying glass), she writes about how she initially needed the push to get outdoors but felt the rewards of doing so with her children. Great example. For OHC #5 and #6 (list and collection), she shares their awesome new collection that is beautiful and contained on their mantel. Please pop over and let her know you stopped by. She is longing to "catch up" to us and be a part of our community.
• Crafty Cristy has submitted S is for Science which documents their beginning on the Handbook of Nature Study trail. It is always wonderful to get to meet new families. 
• Makita has another entry from their blog: First Fridays which details their latest Roots and Shoots nature group outing. You must click over and see their ginormous list of birds observed.
• Diana from Homeschool Review and Crafting Too has submitted their Chickadee Study Part 2 for the carnival. Here is another family that completed the pastel chickadee project!
• Kristin from Broom and Crown has put together a wonderful entry for you to read: Our First Sonoran Desert Nature Walk. This is one of my top ten nature study destinations in the world. I love everything about the Sonora Desert. Thanks Kristin for the visual trip.
• Martha from Sunrise to Sunset captured some fantastic images for you to see. Click over and read: My Backyard Excitement!
• Amy from By His Design shares their Signs of Spring entry for this edition of the carnival. Don't miss the image of the grubs...and the beautiful spring photos as well. :) 

It is almost time for a new set of challenges! 

Publish Date - March 5, 2012

I am polishing up the More Nature Study Book #3 - Spring Splendor volume of Outdoor Hour Challenges. This is the most thorough and exciting book so far. I can't tell you how much I have learned as I put this book together and I look forward to sharing the ideas with you as we work through each one this spring.

Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival - January Newsletter Edition

The end of January is already here! This has been a very fast moving month with weather that was very conducive to getting outdoors for nature study...at least in our part of the world. There is a wonderful mix of winter nature study blog entries for this carnival and I hope you can make some time to visit each entry and be encouraged. I gleaned some good ideas and loved seeing all the children getting outside for nature walks, bird watching, twig gathering, and have a good time!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this edition of the carnival.

Our Winter Window Garden - Cactus

Winter Wonder
Shirley Ann writes about their Winter Wonder Silent Nature Walk on her blog Under An English Sky. She does a wonderful job documenting their experience in words and pictures.

Another Winter Weather Walk from Angie at Petra School finds its way to the carnival for this edition. She includes their journal pages which demonstrate that everyone can follow-up in a way that fits their personality.

Winter Wonder and Weather Walk shows how Tricia and her family completed this challenge. I loved seeing nature study at different age levels and hearing why worms are pink. :)

Julie from The Homeschool Balancing Act shares their version of the Winter Wonder challenge with Winter Walk with Nature in California. It sounds like they had a great bird day!

Kelsey has combined their Winter Wonder walk and their Chickadee study into one entry: Winter Hike. She always has such great images of their outdoor time and this entry doesn't disappoint.

Janet from Across the Page has submitted their Winter Walking: Tracks and Birds entry for your delight. It is jammed with birds, tracks of all kinds, and animals too....you will want to share this one with your children. They also share their nature journals for your inspiration.

Diana shares their Winter Weather - Silent Nature Walk entry with carnival readers. She has written such a creative entry showing all the natural and man-made things they observed during their outdoor time. Thanks Diana.

Barbara from Schoolhouse on the Prairie recorded their Silent Winter Weather Walk and I invite you to click over and read how many interesting things they found on their walk. Don't miss the hawk photo!

Our Backyard Resident Hummingbird

Winter Bird - Chickadee
Makita from Academia Celestia shares their family Chestnut-backed Chickadee study as part of the carnival. Don't miss seeing their chickadee artwork from the chickadee pastel tutorial.

Shirley Anne shares their UK version of the chickadee study with some wonderful research information and images. Check out their Coal-tit and see if it doesn't look like the Black-capped chickadee: Under An English Sky- Chickadee/Coal Tit.

Angie has put together their Winter Bird Study on her blog Petra School. Their family spent some time observing and researching one of their Winter Wonder questions, "Why do the birds only hop and never walk?" Excellent entry full of information and images of their feeder birds. Thanks for sharing your research!

Julie from the Homeschool Balancing Act shares their Winter Bird and Twigs entry in this edition of the carnival.  Her son proclaimed it the "best day of his life". That must have been some great outdoor time! They also realize that there is a lot to know about twigs.

Tricia from Hodgepodge submits their family's Backyard Birds in Winter entry for you to enjoy. She captured quite a few of their feeder birds and their extra activities too.

Diana from Homeschool Review and Crafting Too wrote about their Chickadee Study...they were able to consult a local nature center to find out which species of chickadees live in their area. This is a great idea. 

Winter Weeds and a Sweet Pea

Winter Tree -Twigs
Zonnah is sharing their Twigs Entry with carnival readers this time around. Her son was a more than willing participant and we even get a glimpse at his nature journal.

Tricia and her family treat us to their Twigs Nature Study entry showing us that this opening your child's eyes to the world around them gives them a special sort of vision. I also love the way her son shares that twigs are also useful for playing in rain puddles. Perfect.

Shirley Ann shares their Twiggy Challenge on her blog Under An English Sky.  Make sure to check out her additional links for some resources you may be able to use.

Our Sharp-shinned Hawk - Verified by Cornell University

Potpourri
Nicole from One Hook Wonder has already completed their Gall Study for carnival readers. This is an awesome entry! Nicole also has submitted their Winter Cattail Study . She does a great job showing the comparison between summer and winter cattails. Makes me want to study cattails again!

Bethany shares their Nature Study with a Naturalist entry from their blog Little Homeschool Blessings. They share photos of many of the interesting things they discovered in their little woods.

Makita has a written and entry sharing their over-wintering ladybugs: Ladybugs, Ladybugs, Ladybugs.  Read her entry and learn a little about this interesting place...shhh it is a secret place.

Kim shares their Winter Bird Feeding entry with carnival readers. Lots of great information and plenty of ideas to share. 

Janet from Across the Page has got a wonderful idea in her entry: Back Yard Bulletin. Check out their family nature newsletter!

Robin from Harris Homeschool shares their Tracks in the Snow. She did a great job of capturing a tough subject.

Amy from Hope is the Word made the effort to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. You can read their account A January Jaunt and be inspired to get outside with your family soon.



See you all next month! Remember that February's Newsletter link will be for subscribers of the blog only. You will need to subscribe by entering your email address in the subscription box on the sidebar of the blog.


Make sure to read next Monday's entry. I am linking up with five other bloggers for a nature notebook event. We will each have a free printable to encourage your winter nature study. Another great reason to subscribe to this blog...you won't miss a single entry!

Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival: Getting Ready for Winter Edition

The busy month of December is coming to a close and the winter months have now arrived. This month's Outdoor Hour Challenges suggested we spend some time exploring our neighborhoods looking for signs of plants and animals preparing for winter. Taking time outdoors for nature study in December was a rewarding experience. I want to thank all the participants of the carnival for sharing your December World.

Getting Ready for Winter Edition - Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival

December World 

• Tricia gets us going with the first entry of the carnival, When A Millipede Interrupts Math. This entry so beautifully illustrates how being flexible and following interest lead to some wonderful nature study. 
• Amanda from A Thousand Words has put together the account of their outing - Winter Color: Lost and Found. Wow...love this entry! They found a lot of beautiful winter images to share and their smiles too!
• Angie from Petra School has submitted their Ready for Winter entry which combines the December World and Preparation for Winter challenges. I commented to her that there are just too many great things about this entry to even list them all. I encourage you to click over and read about their Oregon Coast style nature study.  Angie also shares their Winter Color Walk and hopes it isn't cheating to include this fabulous place. I really enjoyed it and you will too!



Photo Credit: Amanda at A Thousand Words

• December Nature Study in Flip-Flops! Amy writes about their unseasonably warm nature study as part of their December  challenge. She shares their birds and a beautiful moth for carnival readers. She also has this entry to share Enjoying God's Creation. Thanks Amy.
• Ann from Harvest Moon By Hand shares their Go On A Nature Walk entry with carnival readers. They had snow for this day's excursion...so very pretty. 
• Tricia was able to squeeze in some outdoor time this past week with her children. Read about it in their On a Sunny December Day entry to see blooming flowers, bees, lizards, and more. 
• This one really belongs down in the Potpourri section but I don't want you to miss it. Julie from Homeschool Balancing Act shares a mother's story worth reading: Brushing Off the Holidays and Getting Back to Nature. Thanks Julie.
• Janet from Across the Page submits this end of the year nature walk entry with some wonderful images and thoughts: Tree Tales, Muted Colored, Birds and Musings.

Evergreens

• Zonnah shares their Evergreen Investigation entry as part of the evergreen challenge posted last week. She shows us a great example of how to make nature study a family affair, even when someone is at first unwilling. She also includes some lovely images of cone scales. 
• Jenny Anne from Royal Little Lambs writes the story of their evergreen study. They were able to observe a pine tree up close and conclude with journal entries.  
• Shirley Anne from Under the English Sky sent in their Evergreens study for the carnival. It is sure fun to see their English countryside and winter evergreens. 

Preparing for Winter

• Amanda writes about their Preparation for Winter nature study time. Funny squirrels and beautiful birds...quail some of my favorites. Awesome images.
• Rachel from All Things Bright and Beautiful submits their Insects! in December entry as part of this carnival.  They used a field guide to give them some ideas of where to look for their insects preparing for winter. Great job!
• Diana writes about their Preparation for Winter study in their neighborhood. Their family found some signs of winter coming and some extras too. 
• Barbara from A Wildflower Morning has put together a very nice entry sharing their Milbert's Tortoiseshells in Winter.... read how this butterfly survives the cold winter as an adult. Wonderful!

 

Potpourri

• Denise from Grace and Truth has entered their Seasonal Tree 2011 Study entry. What a visual treat! They picked a California Sycamore and a Queen Anne Palm tree for their tree work. She shares their year-long tree work with wonderful images of their trees and journals. 
• Janet from Across the Page has submitted a fantastic entry about their local water habitat, A Bit About Beavers. You will enjoy the images and information about their beavers and muskrats. Great pictorial of their beaver's handiwork. 
• Nicole at One Hook Wonder shares their Osage Oranges entry with carnival readers. They did a very child-friendly study of a topic not covered in the Handbook of Nature Study. They also did a Palm Tree study while on a trip, making some very good observations! Okay, now how about some alligators...well the hope of alligators anyway? You can read about their alligator adventure on her blog One Hook Wonder. One last entry to share their Beaver study. Awesome beaver observing spot!
• Angie from Petra School has written up their Maple Hunt adventure, the one where she is humbled and we all get to enjoy her beautiful photos. Excellent.
• Bethany from Little Homeschool Blessings gives carnival readers their Rainbow Scarab AKA Dung Beetle entry to view and read. She sets a very good example for the rest of us by digging a little deeper and uses What's That Bug? to figure out the insects identity.
• Robin from Harris Homeschool shares their Bird Count entry....comparing visitors to their suet feeder and their sunflower seed feeder.  What a simple and fun idea!
• Anne has shared four wonderful winter related nature study entries with carnival readers: Weather Experiments-Thermometer and Hygrometer,  Frost and Snowflakes, Lights and Constellations,  and Make Treats for Birds.

The winner of the December Giveaway (chosen by Random.Org) is Nicole from One Hook Wonder! She will receive a copy of my soon to be released More Nature Study Book 2 Winter Wonder! Thank you to everyone who made an entry to this edition of the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival.

See you all next month! Remember that January's Newsletter link will be for subscribers of the blog only. You will need to subscribe by entering your email address in the subscription box on the sidebar of the blog.