Kidsoutside’s Blog

Yesterday we held our third homeschool park ranger meeting.  This time we met at the Purple Crayon in Woodstock, VT.  Purple Crayon is this great organization that really understands the importance of art and community.  Our guest expert this time was Finnie Trimpi, art teacher.  My goal was for the kids was to really start to look at an item from nature (in this case twigs from different types of trees).  Because I have found in my own profession that by drawing things, I really began to be so intimate with an item that eventually I was then able to identify it without thinking.  So my goal wasn’t really teaching how to categorize or label, but just to see the details of the branch.

Then Ms. Trimpi showed us how to dry brush watercolor which is surpisingly unlike how I learned to watercolor.  But I can see how it will be of benefit while nature journaling in the woods just from a practical side of things.  It dries faster!  What it also does is allow us to show more detail, more of the identifying characteristics, of what we are seeing.  Hence developing our scientific observation skills.

So then we hiked out into the cold (at least compared to last week!) and tried painting trees.   I realized, once we got outside and started working on our dry brush watercolor technique, the challenge of painting one tree.  I think it probably would have been better to do three drawings/paintings of one tree.  Draw the bark, draw the crown, and do an overall painting.   I could see that the younger kids definitely got overwhelmed with the whole tree idea.  Again they started painting what they thought they looked like and stopped looking at what actually was there.

I think that I will try and have my own kids paint parts of a tree (on a warmer day!) this next month.  We also took three of the branches and put them in water.  I am hoping each week we can do the 5, 15, 30, 45 second and 1 minute drawings as well as the blind and contour drawing of the twigs themselves.  If others in the group would like to do it as well and share next time that would be great.

If you are new to my on and off again blog, I have started a new adventure with getting kids outside.  Now I am utilizing the great opportunities that a national park can provide to develop a junior ranger program.  The local junior ranger program generally applies to 2nd graders in the area.  I decided I wanted my homeschooled 8 year old to get to participate in the fun activities at Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Park in Woodstock, VT.

This week was our second meeting.  Our first was a longish hike in cold weather where we observed the different kinds of trees along the way.  My goal with this group is two fold 1) to get them making observations for themselves and 2) introduce them to real scientists.  So the first visit we worked on the observations-identifying trees visually.   This month we were joined by an NPS employee whose background is in wildlife conservation but currently works with timber in the national park.  Most national parks do not have active timber activities (save for hazard trees-trees along roads and trails that NPS worries will fall on people!) so it is unusual to discuss how a timber sawyer measures trees and counts the number of logs in the trees.  Of course, once we found out our visitor had a background in wildlife conservation we had all sorts of questions.  From scat identification to invasive bugs to seed germination to the red crossbill that is found in the old stands of white pine in the park.  We discussed stand succession and dendrochronology (although we didn’t use the fancy words) and the kids reflected their understanding at the end.  They spent a good 20 minutes writing/drawing in their journals and then we each told something we observed.

I am looking forward to next month when we will learn some nature drawing techniques and tour the historic Rockefeller mansion to observe portraits by Albert Bierstadt.

I have decided to sign the kids up for soccer camp at the last moment.  If you are interested in hiking if you could post the area you are generally interested in, maybe I could plan a hike in that area!

We will be gone for a week-if anyone else wants to organize a hike, just post it.  Otherwise, come join us in White River Junction, VT on Tuesday, August 2nd.  Again, meeting at 9 and starting to hike by 9:30.  Also please RSVP.

This used to be a Valley Quest, but according to the website its closed.  I think history, nature, and confluences of rivers are too cool.   So I thought we could use the quest to explore, but not expect to find a stamp at the end.

To get there: 

We had an okay time yesterday on our hike near Enfield.  It is quite hot for us and I think we do better when there is water to swim in near by.  I am hoping we will be able to at least dip our toes when going to the Nature Conservancy’s White Ledges Natural Area next week on Tuesday.  Again we will aim for 9:00 and start hiking at 9:30.  Please post a response if you plan on coming.

Here are the directions: 

Directions

From I-89 take exit 2 for the town of Sharon. From the exit, travel south on Route 14 about 5 miles. As you enter the village of West Hartford, take a right and cross the green metal bridge. After the crossing, make a sharp right onto Pomfrct Road. Travel 1 mile and turn right onto White River Lane. Park at the pull-off just after the turn. You may not be able to see the trailhead sign from here. Just walk back to Pomfret Road toward the upland area and look up at the hill for the preserve sign.

From White River Junction, travel north on Route 14 for 7 miles until you reach the village of West Hartford. Take a left and cross a green metal bridge. After crossing the bridge, make a sharp right onto Pomfret Road. Travel 1 mile and turn right onto White River Lane. Park at the pull-off just after the turn. You may not be able to see the trailhead sign from here. Just walk back to Pomfret Road toward the upland area and look up at the hill for the preserve sign.

I am planning on starting kid’s hikes up again starting June 28.  I plan on leading hikes on Tuesdays.  They are meant to fulfill the nature study portion of my children’s curriculum, so don’t be surprised if we plop down and pull out notebook and colored pencils.  I would encourage those who come along to bring a nature journal and join in.  We also have enjoyed doing the Valley Quests and will be incoporating them into the mix.  I haven’t figured them all out yet, but I will by the end of the week.  We will be meeting at 9-9:30 and hopefully be done by 12.  We will hit the trail by 9:30 so please be there by that time if you want to be part of the group!

Next week let’s meet in Windsor.  We can do a quest at Paradise Park.  Here are the directions: 

To get there: From either Exit 8 or 9 off Rte. 91, take Rte. 5 to Windsor. Turn west onto State Street at the traffic light and (following signs to the Mt. Ascutney Hospital) travel about .7 miles to County Road. Turn right onto County Road and continue about 1/3 mile to the parking lot for Paradise Park on the right, just before the entrance to the hospital on the left.

Hi there,

I have been doing this for a year now and its a good time to reflect.  I think that I won’t be organizing any more hikes.  The people who show up are my friends and so I will just call folks.  Or call me (:  for hikes.  If you are interested in continuing the group contact me.  If you are interesting in going hiking or want to know where just submit a comment (they don’t appear right away as I have to “approve” them).  I will try and post any outside events for kids from time to time.

Which reminds me-Nature Conservancy is doing bird walks on Saturdays the next two weeks.  From 8-10, dress appropriately for the weather and muckiness.  Nancy Merrill does the bird walks and she said well behaved children and their parents are welcome.  Maybe we will see you there!

Actually sick part two.  So I thought I would let you know of another “outside” event.  There is a Little Feet rack and field meet for first through sixth grade up at the Moffat County High School.  It looks like registration is at 10 am and the events start at 11 am.  There is a $5 fee per participant.

Don’t forget the bird watching at Big Bottom the same day!

Sorry I have been out of due to sickness.  Hope folks have a good holiday!  Check out the Sombrero Horse round up in Maybell,if you are looking for something to do.  Next Saturday we will be going to the Big Bottom Bird Watching event that Rio Tinto puts on.  So many birding events don’t allow kids, so this is nice that this is a family event.  They said to meet Craig Holiday Inn at 7:30am on Saturday, May 15th.

On May 22nd, we will be at the Yampatika celebration for International Migratory Bird Day in Steamboat at the Legacy Ranch.  I will be reading kid’s books about migratory birds.  There will be all sorts of events…more info to come!

Then maybe we will get back hiking.  I think it has to snow a few times in May before I will organize much.  I do want to hike up Juniper Mountain!  Hope there are some takers!