Sharing with little ones...

Since starting to blog...frankly I haven't been really blogging. I found many projects to keep me busy and focused on my mission to share nature with people, in both work and play.

A few months ago I was asked by a fellow nature program supporter if I would be interested in starting a program for a couple of homeschool families...I wasn't sure about this type of venture since I am not a traditionally trained "teacher" but knew I had a lot to offer these families and it would be a great way to start building more programs locally... thus began Tuesdays Adventures. Yup, you guessed it. The classes were held on Tuesdays for 10 weeks this fall taking me an a small group of three around the county exploring new a different places. We tried to cover one focus each trip, geology, water, clouds, seeds, plants, basic ecology but we mostly just played pretend and learned about the animals and the places we visited. Some weeks we met at a host family house and had lessons there, and other weeks we explored: Pirates' Cover - Corona del Mar State Beach, San Joaquin Marsh, Turtle Rock Nature Center, Mason Regional Park, Santiago Nature Preserve, Grower's Direct / Costa Mesa Community Garden (on Hamilton), and Orange County Coastkeeper Nature Play Garden The success of the program is loosely based on...they want more!  So I will be writing a Spring 10 week program starting in March.

What a great day for a project - after a quickie post on Facebook, I have such wonderful people in my life (Pam, James, Will, Gary, Adam, Teri, Mike, Matt, and Nicole) who all came out on a lovely Sunday morning to help with the garden. We first worked on the hidden trails, then moved into the garden area for weeding and mulching (a never ending task). With such a great crew we knocked out some great work and headed off for lunch at the near by burger place.

Join us next time - http://www.facebook.com/events/206559722784771

Quote -

―…children are disappearing from the outdoors at a rate that would make them top of any conservationist’s list of endangered species if they were any other member of the animal kingdom.‖ Tim Gill, British play advocate in The Ecologist

Innovation Project - Nature Playscape

A what? Nature Playscape...what is that? Sounds cool and something I would want to be a part of.

You are! Well most of us, who enjoy the outdoors and sunshine, dirt, trees, rocks...you get the idea. If you would like to help out, definitely you can contact me via email.

Is this my idea? No, many people from around the globe have this idea - children are suppose to be in nature to grow healthy, creative, and active imaginations. I agree, so I pitched the idea to the local non-profit Orange County Coastkeeper to use in their demonstration garden in a urban area of Orange CA. Thankfully they loved the idea and hired Reconnect Nature to do the project.
http://www.coastkeeper.org/coastkeeper-garden/

After working with the garden team we decided on a few key features to implement into the design: hidden trails, embankment slides, boulder fields,covered pathways, and climbing trunks. Designing is the easy part, I have become creative and realistic about what features will continue to keep the area natural and subtle enough for families and everyone to enjoy.

We are hoping to work with the local community for future projects and volunteering for the implementation this spring - and in time for the Coastkeeper Garden opening this April.

Wish us luck!! Stay tuned for more details!