Be Out There!

October 13, 2009

From an email I received today , here are some good words to get our kids playing ouside:

For many of us, childhood memories are synonymous with outdoor moments like climbing trees, skipping stones, or gardening. But today’s kids spend twice as much time indoors as their parents and grandparents did, missing out on the simple pleasures and lasting mental and physical health benefits of daily outdoor time.

Studies show that children who spend time in nature are healthier, happier, and become better stewards of the environment. National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is launching
Be Out There, a national movement to return to the nation’s children a connection to the natural world around us and the joy and sustenance it brings.

– Want to play “Wild Things Bingo”? Check out our Activity Guide for Kids — adults can play too!

– Get ideas for planning your own Wild Rumpus Day.

– Start your Be Out There adventure by heading outside to watch for animals near you with help from Wildlife Watch.

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Posted by mygrandmasue

The Fullerton Arboretum

September 23, 2009

A beautiful leaf of a Chinese parasol tree adorned the front page of yesterday’s Orange County Register. More photos were on-line at <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/. I found another beautiful storyblog accompanied by totally awesome photos at Swizzlestix. Information about the Fullerton Arboretum is here. It is celebrating its 30th anniversary this October as described in the Cal State Fullerton Daily Titan. There’s a Children’s Garden and child education activities. Museum info is here. Enjoy!

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Posted by mygrandmasue

Outdoor Volunteer Events

August 4, 2009

Letter I received from the National Wildlife Federation last week:

Join NWF and millions nationwide for the federal government’s United We Serve initiative dedicated to showcasing volunteer opportunities through September 11, 2009. One positive outcome of the economic downturn is a dramatic increase in volunteerism. During the week of August 3rd, United We Serve is highlighting projects related to Energy and the Environment.

Here’s how you can make a difference:

Pass on a love of nature – Support the Department of Interior’s United We Serve initiative to mentor a youth outdoors and pass on a love of nature. NWF offers several resources including:

NatureFind – Search by city, state, or zip code to access outdoor adventures nationwide, including activities and events, trails, regional parks, and more.

Wildlife Watch– Watch for animals and plants in your neighborhood and share sightings online to track the health of species. A fun and educational nature-watching program created for people of all ages.

Find a volunteer project near you – Visit United We Serve’s website to discover short and long-term volunteer opportunities in your community. Enter your zip code to get started.
Be part of the national volunteering movement for positive change!

Sincerely,

Eliza Russell
Director of Education
National Wildlife Federation

P.S. Remember, you can make a difference by mentoring a child outdoors. Join NWF’s Be Out There campaign to encourage increased outdoor time for kids and families.

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Posted by mygrandmasue

Missouri Botanical Garden

May 21, 2009

Lots of activities for little ones are on the calendar at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri. Then there’s the Butterfly House in Faust Park, 15193 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield, EarthWays Center at 3617 Grandel Square – St. Louis, and the Shaw Nature Reserve at Hwy. 100 & I-44 in Gray Summit. Family classes and activities are offered at the Shaw Nature Reserve. The mbgnet is a wonderful, interactive learning and information tool that is a lot of fun to use. Virtual tours are also available!

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Posted by mygrandmasue

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