In fact we recently adopted a wetland of our own, sort of by accident. We fell in love with this little house strait out of the 1970′s, so much so that we bought it. It has huge windows, a big kitchen, wood floors a pretty awesome yard and their just so happens to be a pond right on the edge of our property. We spend every evening out by the pond (when we’re in town), fishing, bird watching  playing in the mud, kayaking and swinging over the pond on our rope swings.

We love it. But even before we had a wetland living in our back yard I would seek them out. I’d drag the kids out to our local wetland on a regular basis.

I encourage you to do the same. Why? I’ll tell you.

1. The birds. If you’ve ever wanted your child to do a little bird watching your best bet is a wetlands. They will see birds, and it won’t take long. Evening is the best time to go if you want to see birds fishing, morning seems to be when all the babies are our swimming with their Mamas.

Bring a bird ID book and some binoculars (here are some tips on how to use them).

2. The bugs. I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not talking about mosquitoes (although bring some bug stray if it’s mosquito season). I’m talking about all the cool macroinvertebrates. Bring a net, even if it’s just a little fish tank net from PetsMart. You may not like bugs, but your kids will love it. Dragonfly nymphs, tadpoles, water beetles, fish… it’s a blast.

3. The recreation. Bring some kayaks and fishing poles. Paddle around and look for critters off the side of your kayak. Take tiny waterways and see where they lead. Find some baby ducks, old nests, frogs and XXXX.

4. The magic. Wetlands are not just magical in what you see on the surface, they’re also magical in the way they function. 

5 Reasons to Love Wetlands

1. They provide recreational

This weekend my husband and I headed to the local art museum.  There was a gallery featuring artwork by the local high school students.  Incredible.  Even the pieces missing symmetry or the ‘perfect’ level of shading impressed me.  The effort.  The thoughtfulness.  The unique perspective of each student manifested as creative license in each piece.  I thought of my own daughter and wondered how in the world I would ever be able to encourage the artist in her, considering my lack of formal artistic training.  It’s one thing to teach your kid how to glue construction paper and glitter and popsicle sticks together, but it is another beast altogether to teach a child to recreate, on paper, with a pencil, the world around them.  

Naturally, I turned to my mother for guidance.  How do you teach a kid to draw when the whole idea intimidates you?  I grew up watching her draw–for fun, to earn some extra money, and with us.  She somehow managed to be encouraging even while she carefully corrected us.  She taught us to forgive ourselves when our drawings didn’t look like we thought they should.  She taught us to try again, because trying again was fun.  I remember drawing with her so clearly, but I don’t remember her technique–how did she teach us to embrace the challenge of recreating something on paper?

She agreed to write up her thoughts on the subject to share with you all…

It is a common misconception that children need to be taught to draw.  But really!  They don’t need someone to show them how to make a mark.  They love to make marks—on walls and floors and brothers and bellies.  I can’t remember a time that I didn’t have a pencil in hand, but it wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that I learned how to “draw” in spite of countless hours and a small fortune invested in lessons.  Soon after, I started teaching at my daughter’s elementary school as a volunteer.  What I discovered is this:  Teaching children to draw means first teaching them to see and teaching them to see means giving them permission to ignore the symbolic world of our educational system.  There’s nothing wrong with symbols: this post would mean nothing to you if you had not mastered symbology (i.e. letters) in school.  But when it comes to drawing, I find that spaces, lines, texture, hue, saturation and color are much more interesting than symbols.

 What follows is drawn (sorry!) from the excellent book, “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards.  I can’t cover all of the material in the book in this post, but I highly recommend you give it a read. .  I can assure you that it will unlock your child’s inner artist—and maybe yours as well!

It’s fortunate that this is a blog about the outdoors, since nowhere else are a child’s creative urges more stimulated than in the natural world.  There are no symbols in the natural world.  Every subject in nature willingly gives itself over to creative interpretation.  Natural subjects aren’t annoyed when they are drawn with double chins, or with noses too big or lips too small; and the level of effort on the part of the artist is a matter of whim, not constrained by the clock.  I’ll leave drawing theory to Betty Edwards, but the modified exercises that follow will make more sense to you if you understand the theory behind them.  Give the following exercises a try to get your budding artist started.  (And I need to state that these exercises will be so much more effective if you and your little ones are all doing them together.  There will be some pretty silly images; if they can see you laughing along with them at what is most certainly going to be an “artistic” failure, they will be more likely to dismiss their own fear of failure and have fun.)

You will need to judge when to start and how fast to move through the exercises.  I recommend you wait to start lessons until stick figures aren’t good enough anymore and your child asks you how to draw _____ (fill in the blank).  This transition from drawing at will to learning to draw can be tricky because children are by nature impatient and by the time they are asking how to draw a subject, they will know about symbols and will assume that they need to know how to make the symbol that represents a subject.  You will need to use your mother’s intuition to get things started.  With many of these exercises the initial goal is not to create an image that immediately looks like a prancing buck or a fine botanical illustration–the point is to learn to truly see.  Once an artist has learned to see everything, there is no limit to what can be represented on paper!

I also recommend that they be allowed to stop when they lose interest.

Supplies:

Paper.  Newsprint pads are a good choice because they are large and cheap.

Pencil.  A plain old #2 pencil is fine for older children.  Crayons or markers are good for smaller children.

Eraser.  Erasing is fine, but won’t be needed for exercise #1.  If your little student gets too carried away with erasing, move back to blind drawing for a while.

Practice truly seeing the subject–not the symbol. 

1.      Blind drawing:  Use a drawing surface that can be steady on its own—like a table, an easel, or a stool.  Tape a piece of paper to the surface.  Choose a subject—the simpler the shape the better.  At least for the first drawing, a stone is a better choice than a pine cone;  a stick is a better choice than a maple leaf.  Have your child sit so that the subject is off to the side and behind the paper far enough that sneaking a peek at the drawing surface is difficult (i.e., they would have to turn their head to look at what they’re drawing).  The challenge is to draw the subject by ONLY looking at the subject, never at the drawing, and by NEVER lifting the pencil from the paper.  The objective for your child is to draw every detail that they see.  This exercise is good because it encourages paying attention and because it is impossible to be “wrong.”  The purpose of the lesson is to learn to focus and pay attention to small details, in other words—to see.  Younger children will have a very short attention span, so simple is critical.

Afterward, look at the drawing with them and remark on any detail in the drawing that reflects paying attention to the subject.  If you can get them to pay attention long enough, do this several times in a row.  Encourage them with each iteration to see more detail.  Part of the value of this exercise is to make the shift from symbolic consciousness to immersion in observation, a skill that’s natural to children.

Notice the Little Details

2.      Mirror Drawing:  Modify the blind drawing exercise to allow peeking.  A good subject for this second lesson is your student’s non-drawing hand, since it is so close. Same story–with emphasis on drawing every detail without lifting the pencil from the paper… and while they are allowed to peek at the paper, focusing on the subject is best.   Share your drawings and see if you can link the little curves and angles in the drawing with details in the subject.  Your child may be dismayed that the drawing doesn’t look just like their hand.  Congratulate them on the little details and remind them that ‘success’ here is measured by not lifting the pencil and by seeing details, not by representing a hand.

Now take that drawing and cut away one segment so that you are looking at just one part of the whole drawing (to start, chose the simplest part).  Since it is just one part, the tendency to symbolize the object is thwarted.  Using just the first line as a pattern, draw a mirror image of it. Make it fun; even if the two are not true mirrors, there will be some detail to remark about.  Again, have fun with the designs and patterns that emerge and keep them focused on noticing the details.

It’s Okay to Trace.

3.      Tracing:   We are all taught that tracing is cheating, but that’s not true.  Tracing is an excellent way to create muscle memory.  Seeing the line and replicating it requires very finely tuned eye/muscle coordination–tracing is a good way to lay this down.  For this exercise, you will need a line drawing of something recognizable.  A page from a coloring book works well if the image is fairly simple.  Have the children trace the drawing three times:  The first time, turn the picture upside down for the tracing.  The second time, they can’t lift their pencil from the page.  Ask them to see if they can do it without drawing over their lines (the secret is to start with the outer edge and work in a circular fashion to the center).  The third time, have them draw only the spaces between the objects in the picture. This brings us to negative spaces.

Learn to Draw Everything–Except the Subject.

4.      Negative Spaces:  Negative spaces are the empty areas around the subject.  In terms of artistic composition, negative spaces are one of the most important elements of a drawing.  As an example, consider the Rubin vase; the subject is a vase, but in the negative space (the white area of the image) are two opposing faces.  But before your little artists can begin using them for composition, they have to learn to see them.  One of the values of learning to see negative spaces is that it forces your brain to stop seeing the symbol–the object that occupies the positive space.  For this exercise, use natural objects arranged on a piece of colored paper.  It is important at this point to use the paper to create an outside boundary–the negative spaces on the outer edges are easier to see with a boundary.  Sticks, leaves, and rocks are good choices.  String coiled on a sheet of paper also creates nice negative spaces.  Cover most of the paper with these items, so that there are only one, two, or three spaces where the colored paper shows through.

The exercise will be to draw the non-subject space—the space that is open between the objects.  Talk about looking for round parts and angled parts; have them use comparisons to get better shapes (this line is shorter than this one, the space is wider than this line).  Compare drawings and remark on the shapes that are closest to the real space.

Now remove a few more objects and open up a few more spaces.  Either add them to the drawing or start a new drawing.  Again, with each iteration, remark on those spaces that are true to form.

Keep removing objects and drawing spaces.  At first the spaces will be just spots on the paper, but as you remove items and the spaces become bigger, the “space” between the spaces will start to look like leaves and rocks and sticks (see pictures below, with a few more objects removed.)

Seeing it all–lines and spaces

5.      Upside-down Drawing:  This is the most complicated exercise.  You will need to judge if your child is ready for this.  Using the same image you used in exercise #3, turn the image upside down.  On a clean sheet of paper, ask your artist(s) to draw exactly what they see.  The finished drawing will be upside down.  Ask them to look for spaces and to pay attention to details.  They (and you) will be surprised at how closely they have been able to replicate the image.  Try it again with a more complicated image,  At this point, stick to line drawings–nothing with dark and light or shadows.  Again, the point is to force the mind to see an object as it is, not as the symbol it has been trained to think it should see.  When a familiar image is upside down, it is harder for the brain to associate it with a preconceived notion of how that object ‘should’ look.

Putting it all together.

6.  A drawing for the portfolio:  It’s now time to put it all together. For the final drawing, use a fairly simple object, with spaces and lines.  A chair is a good choice because it has well-defined lines and angular spaces; or give them a mirror and have them draw their own eye.  Other options are piles of rocks, a leaf, a flower.

(Hint: to help them see the negative spaces around the outside of the object, teach them to use their hands to create a picture frame.)

Give the students as along as they need to draw the object.  Encourage them to remember what they learned about drawing spaces between lines.  Even if the drawing is not an exact replica of the object, pull out the parts of the drawing that show attention to detail.  Compare the final product with their earlier attempts at symbolic drawing.  Celebrate success!  Remember, even if the drawing is not worthy of the Metropolitian Museum of Art it IS a success.

From this point, it is likely they will be drawing all the time. Experimenting should be encouraged.  In school, they will be encouraged to practice symbolism because it can be standardized to all skill levels, but this isn’t a bad thing if they have the opportunity to let go and draw what they “see” outside the classroom. Whether or not your students become artists in the commercial sense, they will be have begun to develop an important naturalist skill–the ability to “see.”

I’ve mentioned before that I’m not really a campground kind of girl, but every now-and-then I’ve found myself in a low key backwoods campground where I actually didn’t mind having a few neighbors and sometimes even a bathroom.  Here, in no particular order, are my favorites (in the West, where I’ve most often found myself pitching a tent).

1)  Kodachrome Basin State Park. Cannonville, Utah.

Kodachrome Basin is just outside of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and just down the road from Bryce Canyon National Park. This campground tends to be relatively quiet (as in not a lot of people). They have toilets, showers and picnic tables and quite a few trails (many of which are good for kids). It’s a small park, but very picturesque and it’s close to all sorts of amazing exploring opportunities.

2)  A Campsite near Lassen Volcanic National Park, California.

I have no clue what this the name of this campground is, but I can tell you that it’s between the Cinder Cone trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park and Highway 44. It’s a little Forest Service campground tucked away and apparently not advertised. It’s such a great little spot with big trees, a little stream running by and just a few miles outside of the park. I posted about this trip here.

3)  Coast Camp. Point Reyes National Seashore, California.

I really like all the campgrounds in Point Reyes,  mostly because you can’t drive to them, you have to hike in. Coast Camp is my favorite because it’s an easy hike in for kids, 2 miles along an old dirt road, or you can bike there, or push a stroller. It accessible but provides that added element of adventures to anyone willing to give it an effort. The campsites themselves are nothing to write home about, but whole experience is what’s worth it. It’s really close to the beach, and some tide pools, and it’s got the best rope swing I’ve ever had the privilege of swinging on.

4)  Anza-Borrego State Park, Arroyo Salado Campground, California.

You have to hit Anza-Borrego State Park in the spring, during wildflower season. It’s warm and colorful when most of the rest of the country is still cold and drab. There are quite a few different campgrounds in the park, but we always migrate towards Arroyo Salado because it’s never crowded, probably because it lacks a few amenities. It’s got a pit toilet, but that’s about it. Still, we get down there every spring we can.

5)  Buckhorn Draw. San Rafael Swell, Utah.

This place is pretty darned awesome. The place we camp doesn’t have toilets and tables, but there is a campground at San Rafael Bridge Recreation Site that does have some amenities (toilets, tables, flat spots but no water). It’s a long dirt road in, so you have to be dedicated to finding beautiful scenery well off the beaten path. The campground is right in the heart of petrogluphs, climbing, hiking and off trail exploring.

6)  Gold Bluffs Campground. Orick, California.

This campsite is amazing, especially in the winter when it’s totally empty. There are not many campsites left on the West coast that let you set up camp so close to the beach. They have showers, restrooms, fire pits, water and picnic tables. They don’t have RV hook ups, in fact large RV’s are not allowed in. It’s a sandy campsite well off the main highway (off a dirt road) with golden bluffs on one side of the campground and the ocean on the other. Sometimes you get Elk wandering through your camp and the campground is by one of the most beautiful places in all of Northern California, Fern Canyon (which also just so happens to be the perfect hike for kids).

7)  Loma Linda Campground, Summerhaven, Arizona.

This place isn’t too far outside of Tucson, and the drive from the valley floor all the way up to 9,000 feet on Mount Lemmon is incredible.  The campsite features all the amenities (i.e. tables, bathrooms, etc.)  It is a little pricey, but worth it for one night, just to watch the sunset from so high up.  It can be crowded in the summer, but the off season isn’t bad at all.  There are a number of other campgrounds on the way up to Loma Linda as well that may be just as nice, and numerous hiking trails.  And if you’re the extra adventurous sort, I highly recommend the dirt road off the back side (north side) of the Santa Catalinas and winds its way down to Oracle.

8)  Gibson Reservoir Campsite, near Augusta, Montana.

I stayed here before starting a backpacking trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness to see the infamous Chinese Wall.  I had the whole place to myself… and between the incredible views, the little reservoir, and the crisp air in August, I was in heaven.  The drive up the Sun River to get here isn’t too shabby either.  Facilities are minimal, but (when I went) it was also free!

9)  Desert Pass Campground, near Las Vegas, NV

While the night sky isn’t the best you’ve ever seen from here, this little oasis in the desert is pretty cool, and pretty isolated considering the giant city not too far away!  We’ve enjoyed combining the contrast of a night in Vegas with the serenity of camping in the desert, and this little place provides the perfect contrast.  The Desert National Wildlife Refuge is not well-traveled so you can expect lots of peace and quiet, and this little place features Ponderosas and a nice breeze–quite a change from the Mojave desert surrounding it!  In the spring, the flowers can be stunning, and there are Big Horn Sheep and lots of birds that migrate through.  The road in here is bumpy, but exciting.  Make sure your spare tire is in the care, and inflated, and that you bring extra water!   There are several trails up into the mountains… a nice summary can be found at this website.

10)  Aguirre Springs Campground, near Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The best thing about this campground is it’s proximity to so many fun and unique things.  Aguirre Springs is in the Organ Mountains, which rise from the desert floor suddenly, and spectacularly.  There are trails to the tops of their jagged peaks (we recommend hiking up there very early for sunrise or sunset), and this place is open year round (we recommend visiting between September and May because that is when it is least visited, and when the desert is coolest–and we mean both kinds of coolest).  The view is phenomenal, and a half an hour away is White Sands National Monument which is good for several days of fun!  The campground is cheap, with clean but simple facilities and plenty of picnic tables and tent sites.  As an added bonus, the giant boulders scattered around camp make for fun exploring for kids.

• The Best Provincial Park Campgrounds in Southern Alberta (Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies)
• Alaskans Share Their Favorite Campgrounds (AKontheGO)
• Sandflats Recreational Area, Moab, UT (Kid Project)
• Best Campgrounds in North America: Western Colorado Edition (Brave Ski Mom)
• Camping at the City of Rocks (Climb Run Lift Mom)
• Top 5 Backcountry Campgrounds in Banff National Park (The Campsite)
• Yellowstone National Park Campground Review (TravelingMel)
• West Coast Campground Review – Sweet Summer Spots to Relax & Recharge! (Mommy Hiker)
• North America’s Best Campgrounds: Elkmont (Val in Real Life)
• North America’s Best Campgrounds: Cloudland Canyon, Georgia (GA Family Camping)
• The Best of West Coast Camping (OurBoler)
• Top 5 Campgrounds near Moab (Adventure Tykes)
• North America’s Best Campgrounds: Dolly Copp Campground in Gorham, NH (Adventurous Moms)
• Classic Campsites: Murphy Hogback Campground, Canyonlands National Park (Adventure Parents)
• Camping and Climbing in Maple Canyon UT (The Kid Project)
• The Best of West Coast Camping (Family Outdoor Adventures)

We’ve done interviews with lots of amazing moms over the last few years, but lately we’ve both been thinking about our own moms, and how important their lessons 30 years ago influence us now, so many years later.

For me (Lindsey), it was suddenly having a daughter.  That mother/daughter relationship was brought to the forefront of my mind. The thought of raising a daughter seemed daunting. I started to examine how I turned out so… well, cool (by my own standards of course). The answer: My Mom.

The three most important things I learned from her.

1. There is no substitute for hard work.
2. Letting your kids run outdoors unsupervised is a good thing.
3. Taking your kids out for adventures is exhausting. My Mom did it with 6 kids in tow.  Get over it, and get out there.

This is the interview with my Mom (6/14/2011) Nancy: Adventure. Exhausting, but worth it

For me (Olivia), my mom is constantly in my head.  The older I get the less I need to call her and ask for her advise (though I do…) because I can hear what she’d say without her having to say it (some people have bumper stickers on their car that say WWJD; What Would Jesus Do–my bumper sticker should say WWMMD; What Would My Mother Do.  And honestly I think Jesus and My Mother would do similar things, though I am unfamiliar with what Jesus took on camping trips).

From packing for camping trips to married life to (very soon) taking care of a little girl, I think back to my own childhood, and what my mom did, to figure out what I should do.

The sacrifices she made were completely lost on me as a child.  It is only decades later that I realize what an incredible mom she is.

This is the interview with my Mom (5/5/2011) Bonnie: Raising Outdoor Savvy Kids 

Happy Mothers Day to all the great Moms  (future, present and past) who read this blog.

Growing up, we celebrated Mother’s Day (and in August, my mother’s birthday) with a trip to the desert for some exploring of new roads and mountain tops, but with one slight change.  Mom got to pick where we were going all day long.  At every fork in the road we yielded to her whims.  I don’t know if it is how she wanted to be appreciated, but to us kids it seemed like a pretty big deal.  It seemed like a huge responsibility too… what if she chose wrong?  What if the adventure of a lifetime lay down the right fork, and she chose left?  I wondered if she might have appreciated a new sun hat more than the weight of Fate resting on her decisions.

Looking back I realize we never once regretted my mother’s choices–never once did we go home thinking “Man, that’s the last time we let her decide which way to go!”  And I also recall her enthusiasm about what we saw after each decision (“oooooh, look!  A Short-eared Owl is hiding in that Juniper!”,  ”My goodness!  Have you ever seen such a view?” , “Those clouds remind me of a Maxwell Parish painting!”).  Adventure is in the eye of the beholder, and mom showed us how to recognize it, no matter which path you took.

Andy at Sierra Trading Post asked Lindsey and I last week what items from Sierra Trading Post we would love to get for Mother’s Day.  This was a lot easier to decide on than I imagine picking the right or left fork on a dusty forgotten road is!  Here’s my (current) list of favorite items at Sierra Trading Post.  If you ask me in a week, I’ll probably have a new list of favorite items… sigh. Such is the life of a dreamer.  The nice thing about the trading post is that some of those ‘dreams’ are achievable thanks to their great prices (especially important when kids outgrow and wear things out so fast).  Don’t believe me?  Sign up for their dealflyer email and you will!

If you also have favorite items at Sierra Trading Post, I bet you’d like to know that they’re having a $50 gift card give away Monday through Wednesday of this week!  Go to the Sierra SocialHub blog to enter.  There’s also a coupon code for even more off! 

1)  A REALLY nice wool shirt.  I first saw Icebreaker shirts when I went to visit my sister in New Zealand.  They were soft, like a… like a little lamb.  And warm, and durable, and stylish.  Had I not spent all my money flying to New Zealand I might have brought one back.    I have been dreaming about them ever since.

2)  Some new socks.  Smartwools are my go-to socks for teleskiing, hiking, and winter walks.  Mine are all seven years old.  (I don’t update my wardrobe very often.)  When I go out on the town I’m wearing what I wore the year I graduated from college.  Lindsey and I went shopping for dresses a few months ago in the mall.  I was wearing a flannel and baggy jeans.  All the chicas in the mall were wearing spandex and fancy boots with buckles.    I felt as out of place as if I’d stepped onto the set of Star Trek.  New smartwools would make me feel like I was hip and up on all the latest sock styles.

3)  A good pair of Sorels.  Like slippers for the outdoor world.  Is there anything better than fluff-lined winter boots that last for 20 years?  I don’t think so.  Plus, they would go perfectly with some new smartwools.

4)  A hammock.  My husband and I are about to buy a house.  Finally.  After renting for the last three years.  We peruse each property and imagine ourselves in it.  My husband put together a list of important features to look for and ask about:  property taxes, age of the roof, etc. etc.  My list of important features includes the size of the bathtub and whether or not there are a couple of good trees for a hammock.  What else matters, really?

5)  A purse.  My favorite purse ever was my last one.  It had one pocket and was made entirely from a piece of zipper zipped on itself.  One day as I left the store I heard the sound of falling change and looked down to see that my zipper purse had unzipped itself into one long piece of half-zip.  I went to the local department store and poured over plaid purses, animal-print purses, giant purses, pocketed purses, over-the-shoulder purses, and under-the-arm purses.  I finally settled on the most bland medium sized purse I could find.  It was bigger than my last one, but with a baby on the way I figured the extra space would come in handy.  I hate it.  Last week I lost my keys.  In my purse.  The week before I lost my phone.  In my purse.  The cavernous size makes it impossible to keep track of anything.  I feel like Mary Poppins with her carpet bag.  I want simple.  I want chic.  And I don’t care if it means I end up carrying baby wipes in my back pocket and a pacifier behind my ear instead of in a purse.

6)  A new camp chair.  My pregnancy has brought with it the unexpected side effect of immobility.  On doctor’s orders I am to minimize walking, hiking, biking, or anything else remotely exciting so that my loose pelvic joints don’t permanently misalign.  My outdoor activity these days is hucking the ball for our dogs with a ball-thrower.  I sit in my camp chair with a glass of lemon-water, enjoying the sun, and throwing a soggy tennis ball.  A month ago my trusty camp chair called it quits.  Too much time in the sun, and too much weight from baby and me was enough to wear out the canvas.  In one loud RIP the bottom of the chair gave way, leaving me with my legs by my ears and my butt on the soggy grass.  To celebrate the moment, my German Shepherd dropped her ball in the little nook under my neck that was conveniently at her eye level.  My neighbor boy, who spies on me through the fence, thought it was the greatest thing he’d ever seen.

Want to see the wishlists of some other moms?

Tales of a Mountain Mama is doing a tribute to other moms who like being outside, and she’s also listed her favorite items from Sierra Trading Post.

Bring-The-Kids made an awesome list of her favorite items from Sierra Trading Post too.

Frankly, we’re thrilled, and have already begun the initiation (i.e. Lindsey is on a field trip all day, and I’m headed outside for spring cleaning just as soon as I hit the Publish button!).

So what is Screen Free Week?  In our own words, it is a week to remember that not all of life revolves around the many digital gadgets in our lives: phones, tvs, computers, dvd players, video games, etc.  It is a time to ween ourselves, even if just a little bit, from hours spent sedentary and vegetative with something that engages a little more of our brains and bodies.  I love that screen free week is in the spring, when being outside is so thrilling anyway.  It makes setting my apps and programs and tv schedule aside that much easier.  So what will we be doing during screen free week?  Who knows…

But here are some possibilities!

1)  An overnight camping trip and the first weenie roast of 2013.  Our bags were packed for this months ago…

2)  Flying a kite.  Is there anything better?

3)  Watching for spring wildflowers, maybe pressing a few, or telling scientists what’s blooming in the empty field nearby.

4)  Pulling out the summer water toys and the kiddie pool.

5)  Checking out the wildlife in the pond behind our house.

6)  Putting up some new birdfeeders.

7)  Practicing our biking skills… and maybe hooking up the old trailer bike.

8)  Going on a hike… one that the kids plan, with a map for their little hands.

9)  Taking a trip to the library and reading in the backyard (here’s our favorites for beginner, intermediate, and advanced readers).

10)  And, though it isn’t ambitious or life-changing, I’m dropping Jeopardy for an extra half an hour in the backyard throwing the tennis ball for my doggies.  The red-winged blackbirds are back, the sun is the perfect warmth about then, and the doggies love me so much more just for being outside with them.  I sit in my husband’s luxury camp chair with some cold lemonade and am truly content.  At 9.5 months pregnant, this activity appeals to me more than anything else these days.

A final thought or two… it is easy for adults to see the inherent value of stepping away from the screen.  Children have a harder time figuring out why you’re punishing them by taking away their precious time with their favorite video games.  Make it a celebration, and make the incentives for not being in front of the screen as great as the screen itself.  Cut back on their time slowly–ten minutes a day and by the end of the week that’ll be an hour!  Invest in a few new outdoor kid gadgets–some new toys that can only be used outside.  Whatever you do, don’t use screen time as a reward (i.e.,” if you go outside for an hour, I’ll let you play on the computer for 15 minutes“).  Keep the two ideas separate.  Also, keep it simple.  The backyard, a tree in the park, the zoo are all fine outdoor options.  You don’t have to drive across the state to a campground to enjoy screen free week.

And finally, when they cry and beg and make your life miserable for having pulled the plug, remember the reasons you’re doing this.  Screen-free time is one of the healthiest things you can do for your children.  It shows them what you really value, it lowers their risk for a number of diseases (both now and when they’re adults) linked to obesity, and it teaches them how the world actually works and engages parts of their brain that screen-time simply can’t reach.  (Here’s some extra articles about the television and brain development if you’re interested.)

See you next Monday!

When I say napping outside, I’m not talking about letting your child finish thier nap in the stroller after a walk or  letting them fall asleep in a pack while you hike – although those are both great ideas. I’m talking about people who put their children outdoors to take nap every single day, no matter what the weather. No matter where they are, which is often right outside their own home.

I first read about this idea on DesignMom, in a post about a trip she’d taken to Sweden. She described the country as “one big Waldorf school” where kids spend a lot of time outdoors. They play outdoors, spend school time outdoors, and yes, their kids take naps outdoors. It’s sounds like the OutsideMom’s version of a utopian society to me.

After reading this I was intrigued, so I tried it out with one of my own children when he was just a few weeks old. I put him to sleep in a baby Moses basket and set him outside under the trees in the yard for a nap.

To be honest I think I would have felt more comfortable putting him to sleep off the side of the trail than I did in my own backyard. I didn’t have a porch, so he wasn’t right next to the house where I could keep an eye on him. I was constantly checking on him and eventually just went and sat outside instead of staying in the house and doing anything productive – which is what nap time is usually for.

I’m not sure where I went wrong. Was it just my good old American supervision gene kicking in?  I was worried about the neighbors dog eating him. I was worried about the ants finding him, a bird pooping on his face, a sudden gust of wind, a loud motorcycle driving by, a rogue kidnapper…

Maybe I was just paranoid because I it was so… unconventional. If it were a good idea why wasn’t everyone in my neighborhood putting their kids outside for a nap? 

Probably because I don’t live in the Nordic Countries.

A fellow blogger friend of mine (and native Norwegian and outside baby napper) Kari Svenneby recently brought the idea of napping outside back to my attention when she sent me the article: Babies Who Nap in Subzero Temperatures.

Apparently “the theory behind outdoor napping is that children exposed to fresh air, whether in summer or the depths of winter, are less likely to catch coughs and colds”.   Of course you’ll need to dress your child properly, maybe get one of these cool napping buggies, but it actually seems like a pretty good idea.

What do you think?

Thanks for sharing your wisdom Danielle. Can’t wait to try this out.

How did you get into Stand Up Paddleboarding?  

I grew up in Naples, Fl (on the beach), then lived in the Virgin Islands with my husband for a few years. Being on the water has always been a part of who I am.

Three years ago my husband and I got the urge to try stand up paddleboarding since surfing is rare on the southwest coast of Fl. After a few times out on a board my husband and I decided we wanted to open our own stand up paddleboard shop, Sweetwater Paddle Sports. We’ve been open for 2 years, have been crazy busy and are now expanding!

What made you decide to start your SupMommys group? 

I had full access to stand up paddleboards after we opened the shop, so I wanted to take advantage of the lifestyle and teach my kids at a young age. I soon realized how hard it was to bring 3 kids under the age of 4, beach toys, beach equipment, a small lunch box and the paddleboards to the beach.

Knowing that our shop delivers boards, I asked my husband if he could deliver them to the beach for me.  It made my beach trip a little easier. I fell in love with being able to paddleboard with all 3 kids on the front of my board and one day I invited my close girlfriends and their young kids to a playdate to the beach with paddleboards. They all loved it and the kids loved it.

After that I thought about all of the other moms I knew who would love this sport. Like me, these moms do everything with their kids (no babysitters). I wanted them to have a good experience, rather than a stressful one, so I thought of the SupMommys class. A class where I bring everything down to the beach: an umbrella, toys, a treasure map with buried treasure for the kids, and my husband delivers the boards and possibly life jackets.  The mom just have to bring snacks, water and anything else she may need.

What kinds of things do you do in your classes?

The SupMommys class is done 2 ways.

1. For large groups classes we bring more help and set up 3 stations.

Station1 – The Beach Station: Kids (no more than 6, all wearing life jackets) come to this supervised station to play with beach toys while their moms are at Station 2.

Station 2 – SUP Basics: The moms get to go out on the paddleboards with an instructor learning the basics of stand up paddleboarding.

Station 3 – SUP with Kids: Kids go out on paddleboards with their moms in the water next to them, helping them get a feel for being on the board. There’s an instructor in the group showing the moms the best spot on the board to put their child, and we even teach the kids who are willing how to paddle by themselves.

After everyone has completed the stations we all go out together, moms and kids on boards together.

2. One-on-one “lifestyle” classes.

One mom and 1-2 of her kids, and me and my kid(s) go out together. I start with a beach intro and I instruct the basic motions. Then we move into the water with the kids on the board and the mom in the water holding the board. This lets the kids get a feel for the board. Then we jump right into learning how to paddle with kids on the board.  It’s really for those moms who want to be able get their own board and make it their lifestyle to paddle as a family. If someone is looking for lessons to paddleboard before they bring their kids on the board I usually have them take a lesson through our shop.

So the Moms actually have their kids ON their board with them. Is that safe? 

Yes, I encourage moms to bring their kids on the board with them. That way they can find their balance. For me I have all 3 of my girls on the board so I have to stand further back on the board. As for safety, I am not certified in any way except CPR so I make sure during class that all children are wearing lifejackets even if they’re good swimmers. We never paddle out far during class, no farther than being able to touch when the kids are on the board.  What the family does after the class on their own time is up to them and their comfort zone.

How many kids can you fit on one board?

I love paddleboarding with one kid.  Two kids is a great number to put on the board.  Three is a bit heavy, but I can’t leave one behind!  I have done it with four but just to see if it was do-able. It is but not fun if you plan to paddle far.

At what age would you recommend starting to do this with your kids?

Our SupMommys class is geared for kids ages 2-6. Once they’re around 7 they can actually start using kid paddleboards. Most of what I teach is based on experience. I started my youngest at 18 months and she was very calm on the board. However, my girls are used to the beach, water, and being around paddleboards. From my experience, 18 months is a bit too young for most kids.  Two years old is a better age to start.

What advice would you give Moms who want to start doing this with their kids?

• Bring a bucket, some sand , shells and maybe a small beach stick or shovel on the board  for the kids to play with.  My girls love to bring out children size fishing nets and pretend they are catching fish.
• Always bring snacks and tons of water, even out on the board as long as you don’t litter :) 
• Try to teach your kids about the ocean/lake while they are out there with you. Talk to them about keeping our beaches /lakes clean and why it is important. – - Look for sea life or lake life. 
• My girls love being able to stand up in between my legs and paddle by themselves.
• If you are planning a day with just you and your kids, pack light! Snacks, a few toys, water, bring a drycase or ziplock bag you can put your keys/phone in and wear a small back pack.
• Mornings are best where we live. Winds are calmer and water is usually flat in the mornings. 9am-11am is a good time block
• You don’t need a certain brand of a board, however look for boards that are 11-12ft long, 32″-33″wide and something with a deck pad (soft for sitting on and better grip)

Anything special we need to know about the technique behind doing this WITH your child on the board?

There is a sweetspot on a paddleboard (a good guide is the handle in the center), this is where you start and find your center of the board. If you’re too far forward your nose (the front of the board) will be in the water. If you’re too far back of the sweet spot on the back of your board will be in the water.

When you start putting kids on the board you need to think about their weight and where they are sitting on the board. It’s best for first timers to start off kneeling on the board with their kids closer to them in the center of the board. If your kid(s) want to sit more towards the front then you move towards the back until your board is flat in the water. Meaning the front isn’t underwater and the back isn’t under water. Same logic goes for standing on the board.

As for using the paddle. One hand goes on top gripping the handle, the other hand is about shoulder width apart down on the paddle. Both arms are straight as you paddle but when you have kids you need to be aware of their sweet little heads as you are switching sides. Before you venture too far, it is important to know how to hold the paddle, turn the board, and be stable on the board, without feeling like you are stiff on the board.  Use these basic instructions and mold them into what you as a mom feel comfortable doing with the kids on board.

Also, it’s important that parents know water safety: currents, wind conditions etc. You don’t ever want to bring your kids on the board with you if it is too rough or windy. Safety first. Remember if it’s windy and you go downwind first you are going to have to paddle extra hard going back against the wind!

Why?

Let me tell you.

These guys get it.  Their book tallies up the essence of outdoor parenting blogs everywhere.  This is from the introduction: “Nature is a destination, but you don’t have to travel anywhere to find it.  Just open the door and step outside.  The tiniest of porches can house a flower container.  A backyard can provide a lifetime of natural experiences.  Nature is everywhere….”  This book is perfect for first time moms, as a really awesome baby shower gift, and for those who wish they did more things outside but aren’t sure how to start.

Stacy and Ken have put together a book brimming with ways to enjoy the outdoors with your kids.  Ranging from super simple (#22 spring:  splash in a puddle) to major adventures (#7 summer:  harvest honey or #13 spring:  take a river trip), this book is inspiring and all-encompassing.  What’s more, you don’t have to live in the country to take advantage of the ideas they lay out.

They’ve split the activities up among the four seasons, though there’s definitely some overlap.  For each item on their checklists (50 per season), they include basic ‘how-to’ information, an extra challenge to make it more interesting, and they end with a fascinating fact (for example, did  you know that they bob for apples in Scotland too, but that they call it Dooking?  I wish we called it Dooking here…  #19 fall)   I love that the activities range from high-energy (#23 summer:  roll down a hill like a log) to more thoughtful and less active (#9 spring:  listen to the night sounds).

In addition to 448 kid-sized adventures, each season highlights several destinations that are seasonally appropriate (e.g. lakes, public gardens, national wildlife refuges), games you may not have tried, recipes and food suggestions, and projects to try (I’m definitely going to have to try twig art–is this another use of a stick?  I think so…).  AND as if that wasn’t enough, they include web addresses to sites with more information, and they maintain a wonderful blog with more ideas, more information, and links to other interesting sites. 

Other bloggers have been highlighting this book for the last few weeks.  If you want to see the book in action, check out this post on mothing (#21 summer), this one on feeding birds up close (#16 winter), and this recap of creating a nature journal (a spring project).

Do you really  have to do these things before  you grow up???  I’m hoping not…

They may already be blooming where you are… and if you aren’t sure, there are a number of excellent websites that can keep you up to date on the blooms occurring in your neck of the woods.  Here are my favorites, arranged by region (this list is hardly comprehensive, but is a start).  There are more ‘reports’, and they are more frequently updated, in the west and southwest.  This is not because people in those regions are more in love with flowers, it is because the start and peak of the wildflower season is less predictable and ‘flashes’ more in the desert.  If you don’t keep your eye on it, you’ll miss out completely!  In the east, rainfall is less variable from year to year and flowers are more constant.  As such, the types of wildflower websites I chose for each area differ–in the east they are more likely to be lists, or ideas for good places to go.  In the southwest, they are more like “This Just In” news bulletins.

Browse the links, look at the flowers, and be inspired to take a walk outside this weekend looking at nature’s short-lived gems!  Depending on where you are, bring a plant press, and keep some memories for later.

NORTHEAST/MIDWEST

• The AdirondackAlmanack has bloom dates for wildflowers in that area, as well as lots of other fascinating information about this range of mountains.
• Franconia Notch in New Hampshire features a lupine festival in June, but there are many other wildflowers blooming there in the spring/summer.  In fact, the Appalachian Mountain Club put together a nice list of the ten best wildflower hikes in the White Mountains (note the list was compiled in 2008–still accurate, but dates listed are not for this year!).
• In lower Michigan is the only wildflower sanctuary run by the Forest Service.  They put out an interpretive brochure for the place (Loda Lake) complete with bloom dates for all of the flowers.  Michigan national forests also feature several other wildflower viewing areas in the Huron-Manastee National Forest.
• Pennsylvania has a website with pictures of wildflowers along many trails, including when they bloom.  Hit the ‘browse’ button for the list of trails.
• Also if you live in the east, make sure to check if there is a Rhododendron festival in your area (or coastal west)–not to be missed!

EAST

• The national park service keeps careful tabs on when the cherry trees will bloom in Washington D.C. each spring.  In a good year, this is truly a sight to behold!  This year it was last week (though probably still pretty nice to look at…)
• The Great Smoky Mountains have wonderful wildflower displays in the spring.  While not as ground-carpeting as what you might see in the desert southwest, the diversity is incredible, and includes many fragrant trees (something you don’t see much in the west at all!)
• The Blueridge parkway puts out a wildflower report every week or two in the spring (not yet this year), and a fall colors report in the autumn.  Type in wildflower report in the search box to see the most recent reports.  Shenandoah National Park features a wildflower weekend every year too, highlighting those things blooming in the area.

SOUTHEAST

•  The Southern Appalachian hiking club has compiled a list of flowers blooming in the Southern Appalachians, complete with date seen and trail.
• While not specific in terms of where to see wildflowers, the Southeastern Flora is a nice comprehensive resource for identifying a flower in that region once you’ve found it.  There is also this nice flora of southern states (it is a large pdf file!).  And lastly there is this website with pictures of wildflowers throughout the southeast… no specific information on where to find them, but a good resource for identification.
• Florida Hikes has a wonderful list of hikes all over Florida, and each hike description includes a list of plants blooming there and when.  The Florida Wildflower Foundation features a ‘What’s in Bloom‘ page that even has an interactive map!
• For Louisiana, Lutherans online runs a website with information on what is blooming in the south each year.  It is a little difficult to follow, but the information is helpful!
• Tennessee (should this be southeast?  I can’t decide…)  has a wonderful website showing what is in bloom along many trails, complete with pictures for each week.  Even more hikes can be found here.
• Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina also maintains a bloom calendar for their beautiful state park, as does Asheville.

ROCKY MOUNTAINS

• The grasslands of Wyoming have excellent wildflower viewing in June and July.  You can call the visitor’s center to find out what is in bloom before you go, but they don’t (as far as I can tell) put anything online yet.  Sheridan Wyoming’s website lists some daytrips that include wildflower viewing.  And the National Forest has a nice list of places to view wildflowers all along the Rockies.
• Yellowstone National Park puts out a very comprehensive list of the wildflowers that bloom in the park and when.
• Glacier National Park has wonderful flower displays for a very short period in the summer.  This website lists what they consider the best hikes for seeing these flowers.  (Also recommended is the Garden Wall).
• In Colorado, Crested Butte is the Wildflower Capital of the state, and they celebrate with a week-long festival in the beginning of July.  The Colorado website features a list of scenic drives that are resplendant with flowers in June and July, and also five hikes.
• And Rocky Mountain National Park has a list of the flowers that bloom there, with some indication of when you might find them.

TEXAS

• I mentioned it above under identification, but the Lady Bird Johnson website also feature updates on flowers blooming in Texas (especially central), with ‘forecasts’ each spring based on winter rainfall.
• Wildflower Sightings allows people mainly in Texas to write in with their most recent information about wildflower blooms.  It doesn’t include a ton of information, but does include at least a smattering of updates that may be helpful in the spring.
• The DesertUSA website includes some of Texas also… see my description of it under Southwest, which is the main focus of the website.
• The Texas Department of Transportation also features a wildflower update page–believe it or not some of the best displays in desert environments is along roadways, because of all the extra water that runs off the pavement instead of sinking into the soil!

NORTHWEST

•  The Oregon Wildflowers website allows you to log your own report on what you saw, or look through trip reports for a given area.  You have to know what you’re looking for here as there is no ‘browse’ feature, but the website is nonetheless helpful if you already have a rough itinerary in mind.
• Currently Blooming Wildflowers or Washington and Oregon is a comprehensive website with links to many regions (focused mainly along the Columbia River) in the northwest.  Many of the links are for last year because flowers aren’t yet going strongly in this region yet… but check back soon!
• Some of the national parks in Oregon and Washington include on their websites wildflower updates.  Here is the wildflower report for Mt. Rainier.

SOUTHWEST

• I live in the desert southwest, and have been doing research on flowers in the southwest for many many years now.  The DesertUSA website is an excellent resource for finding out what is blooming in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and California.  It is updated constantly in the spring, and has helped me find blooms on many occasions.  Highly recommended.  Peruse the rest of the website for interesting information on all things desert.
• Arizona state parks also have a ‘ranger cam‘ which shows how areas are looking each week, and the desert botanical gardens maintains links to all state parks and their blooms each spring from March through April.
• There is also a website for the Sonoran desert in Arizona, updated religiously in the spring.

CALIFORNIA

•  The DesertUSA website I mentioned for the southwest is also quite good for central to southern California.  These areas of California have the potential for some of the most spectacular (in my opinion) wildflower blooms in the whole country.
• Many California state parks and national monuments/parks include updates in the spring about what is in bloom each week.  Look up the state park you’d like to visit for a checklist and update…  Here are a few of the most popular parks and monuments:  Anza Borrego State Park (also Here), Death Valley National Park (the update is in a tab on the left), Joshua Tree National Monument, and the Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve.  This website is a good place to start for a list of all state parks in California, and links to their webpages.
• Another excellent site is the Theodore Payne website, which includes weekly downloadable (.pdf or .doc) updates for the entire spring wildflower season all over California
• Also check out the pages run by the BLM, which often feature excellent information for areas of wildflowers a little less well-known.

ALASKA

• There are very few wildflower schedules or reports of Alaska.  Considering the plethora of gorgeous blooms much of the state gets each year, this is too bad.  I did find Reny’s wildflowers, and if you filter for Alaska, you can see what is common in some regions.
• Also, GORP has a top ten list of wildflower viewing areas in the U.S., and talks about a couple of beautiful areas for flowers to check out in Alaska.

And here are my favorite websites for wildflower identification (and all things wildflower-y)

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center  Someday I want to go here.  In the meantime, the website is wonderful.  Covering topics as far ranging as photography and wildflower cultivation, this foundation is one of the best sources of flower information in the U.S.  They have a very nice identification guide (under explore plants) and often give updates on what is blooming in central texas.

The PLANTS database  Run by the USDA, the PLANTS database is the most complete record of plant records in the United States.  It includes common names, scientific names, old scientific names, all varieties, titles of books that talk about that plant, and distributional information… for EVERY SINGLE PLANT.  There are pictures, and within the last few years they added state by state checklists that you can download.  Truly a remarkable website.

Flickr  The Flickr community has put together a collection of pictures of wildflowers of North America.  While identification may be difficult using just a picture, many of the images are very very nice and include notes from botanists about identification.  If you think you know what a flower is, searching for matching images here might help validate your guesses.  Or just browse the beautiful images for the heckuvit.

Celebrating Wildflowers The forest service runs this website, which includes activities and links to all things wildflower throughout the U.S.  While not too specific in terms of regional identification, it does provide links to websites that are very useful.

The National Parks Traveler has an article on wildflower viewing in national parks that might hit some areas that I missed.

Did I miss a favorite online reference of yours?  Please share it for our readers!