Science through a Nature Club

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="13f24593.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Crooked Pines Ministries"><U><IMG SRC="040bf930.gif" border=0 width="191" height="147" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Glance at Reading Readiness"><U>A Glance at Reading Readiness</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Ba"><U>A Look at Peppermint and Slippery Elm Bark</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Pleasing Palette"><U>A Pleasing Palette</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Treasure So Fine!"><U>A Treasure So Fine!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion"><U>Amazing Grace or Flaming Rebellion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aunt Bettys BBQ Sauce"><U>Aunt Betty's BBQ Sauce</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Back to School"><U>Back to School</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Beginnings of Habit"><U>The Beginnings of Habit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Being Poured Out"><U>Being Poured Out</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Broccoli Chicken Casserole"><U>Broccoli - Chicken Casserole</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Educ"><U>Building Habits on the Dry Bones of Education</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Choosing Curriculum for the new year"><U>Choosing Curriculum for the new year</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives"><U>The Comforter: the Fabric of Our Lives</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dwelling in Safety"><U>Dwelling in Safety</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fall: The Season of Change"><U>Fall: The Season of Change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promise"><U>Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promises</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For the Love of Ginger"><U>For the Love of Ginger</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Covenant Journey Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL "><U>From Claddagh, Ireland to Florence, AL - A Pure Vessel Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!"><U>Get Ye unto Your Tents... and REST!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure"><U>The Habit of Dawdling, The Cure</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in t"><U>Happy is the Mom Who Puts Her Trust in the Lord</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Have You Been Working Out?"><U>Have You Been Working Out?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="His Love"><U>His Love</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home Educators and their Books"><U>Home Educators and their Books</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling... A New Adventure"><U>Homeschooling... A New Adventure</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Shoals"><U>Homeschooling in the Shoals</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Springtime"><U>Homeschooling in the Springtime</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homeschooling in the Swamp"><U>Homeschooling in the Swamp</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How the Created Thing "><U>How the Created Thing </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Prepare a Tincture"><U>How to Prepare a Tincture</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In the Final Analysis"><U>In the Final Analysis</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Joy of the Lord and His Plan"><U>The Joy of the Lord and His Plan</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just Enough Stress"><U>Just Enough Stress</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Loneliness in the Homeschool"><U>Loneliness in the Homeschool</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Message"><U>The Message</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nature Studies Indoors"><U>Nature Studies Indoors</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nursing ParkerDaniil"><U>Nursing Parker-Daniil</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Teacher"><U>Our Teacher</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Relationships in the Homeschool"><U>Relationships in the Homeschool</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S is for Skullcap and Sleep"><U>"S" is for Skullcap and Sleep</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Great Deception"><U>Satan's Great Deception</U></A></div> <div> <B>Science through a Nature Club</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sharing from My Excess"><U>Sharing from My Excess</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sir, We desire to see Jesus!"><U>"Sir, We desire to see Jesus!"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Storms of Change"><U>The Storms of Change</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Strength to Face the Day"><U>Strength to Face the Day</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two Moms, One Jesus"><U>Two Moms, One Jesus</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Waiting excerpted from Parables from Nat"><U>"Waiting" excerpted from "Parables from Nature by Mrs. Gatty</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Water and the Blood"><U>The Water and the Blood</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Are You Homeschooling"><U>Why Are You Homeschooling</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Winter... 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Woodis"><U><B>Articles by Mary E. Woodis</B></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Science through a Nature Club</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.hisimage.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hisimage.org"><U><IMG SRC="05193950.jpg" border=0 width="147" height="149" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Science through a Nature Club</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>by: Mary E. Woodis</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A Chapter Excerpted from:</B><B> </B><B>"The Nature Study Idea Book..."</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><B>Crooked Pines Publishing, Florence, AL USA</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="78b45a30.png" border=0 width="325" height="419" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Hiking and Camping Page"><U><B>*</B></U></A><A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Hiking and Camping Page"><U><B>(Also see our Camping and Hiking page for more information on how our family does Nature Studies.)</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Many things come to my mind when I consider Nature Studies. God's Word says in:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="14623280.gif" border=0 width="35" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT><B>Job 37:14,</B> "Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of GOD."<I> </I></div> <bR> <div> But:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> "to be so occupied in the investigation of the secrets of nature, as never to turn the eyes to its author, is a most perverted study; and to enjoy everything in nature without acknowledging the Author of the benefit, is the basest ingratitude." John Calvin, 1554. </div> <bR> <div>      In so much of the books of Psalms, Job, Genesis, and really throughout Scripture, you find detailed accounts of GOD telling us of His wondrous works. In many places we are commanded to look to nature to find god?s direction for us. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="14623280.gif" border=0 width="35" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT><B>Proverbs 6:6-8, "</B>Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="14623280.gif" border=0 width="35" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT><B>Luke 12:24,</B><I> </I>"Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and GOD feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls." </div> <bR> <div> Jesus Himself directed us to this lesson and again in: </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="14623280.gif" border=0 width="35" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT><B>Luke 12:27-28,</B> "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then GOD so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith."<I> </I></div> <bR> <div>      These are such beautiful pictures of God's abundant provision for us, and wonderful reasons why we should get out and "consider the ravens or the lilies" and find out what this Divine Creator has to teach us. Do we need to go to the ant? Are we like the sluggard? Do we trust our Lord as the ravens and lilies?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>A Prayer</B></div> <bR> <div>      As with any worthwhile study, let's begin with this great prayer by a Christian Scientist: </div> <bR> <div> "Almighty GOD, Who has created in man Thine own image, and made him a living soul that he might seek after Thee, and have dominion over Thy creatures, teach us to study the works of Thy hands, that we may subdue the earth to our use, and strengthen the reason for thy service . . ." </div> <div> James Clark Maxwell. Amen and Amen.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Formation of An Idea</B></div> <bR> <div>      There are many different ways to go about a really good nature study. GOD has used His creation in many ways to touch the lives of His children at crucial times in their lives. GOD used a Skylark to remind Corrie Ten Boom of <B>Psalm 103:11</B> at a very critical time during her confinement in prison camp. </div> <bR> <div>      Another good way is to teach the Attributes of GOD through nature. We will get to that in another chapter. One way that we have found here in our area is by forming a Nature Club. On the Charlotte Mason E-mail study group, a friend described a club such as this. They met once a month, explored a different habitat each time, collected samples and then looked their finds up in their reference books and sketched them. I just loved the sound of this! With all the knowledge that I have collected over the years, I knew this was something that I could do. GOD was calling me to serve Him in this way, so I decided to form such a group here.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>A Step on Faith</B></div> <bR> <div>      What a hard thing it was to take that first step on faith, believing that GOD really wanted this for our area. But, I also heard Satan in my other ear telling me that no one would come. This was a very effective play on Satan's part, since I have sponsored functions in the past with VERY low turnout. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="14623280.gif" border=0 width="35" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT><B>Hebrews 12:1,</B> "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen." </div> <div> How could I not believe GOD at His word and do this thing?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>A Legacy of Nature Teachers</B></div> <bR> <div>      Throughout my lifetime, GOD has placed many people in my life to teach me wondrous things about Him and His creation. My Daddy has always been a valuable source of information for me. During the years of my childhood we would often go camping as a family vacation. These times spent reveling in nature built a love for the outdoors in me that will last my whole life. Even now when I gaze at the star strewn skies at night, I feel once again the urge to call my Daddy and tell him to look outside at the stars. </div> <bR> <div>      My Mother contributed to this vital love in my life by leading our Girl Scouts Troop. I was in the Girl Scouting Organization from Brownies up to Cadets. My Mother was the leader of our Junior Girl Scout Troop. We were often working on projects that took us out of doors. Projects that taught us how to dwell with nature, care for God's creation, or just exactly what these individual things in nature were. </div> <bR> <div>      One of our summer projects was caring for a garden. We learned about the pests that plague tomato plants by pulling them off the plants. I can still remember my parents paying us for every horn worm that we pulled off the tomato plants. Boy! Those bugs didn't stand a chance when we started hunting them for money! </div> <bR> <div>      One other family member that significantly impacted my love for nature was my Grandmother, Mary Henderson. What a wonderful storehouse of knowledge was forever sealed when GOD called this angel home. </div> <bR> <div>      From Granny's childhood, caring teachers had taught her the beauty of nature. What a heartwarming picture! One such Teacher took his students to the woods every week and taught them the names of the flora and fauna and had them memorize poems to go with these walks. Can't you just hear the children strolling through the forest reciting the poem of the week? </div> <bR> <div>      Granny carried this knowledge all through her life. Even up until her death last year she could still recite these poems she had learned in her youth. Every spring she would go out in the yard and pick her "weeds" I never would join her in her "yard banquet". But now I wish I had paid more attention! She taught me so much about flowers and "weeds". </div> <bR> <div>      What a beautiful legacy she left me in my love for nature. Whenever I see a beautiful flower garden I think of my little Granny. Whenever I see birdhouses and bird feeders, I think of my Daddy and Momma. Whenever I am picking horn worms off of our tomato plants, I think of those hot summer days in San Diego pulling horn worms for money.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Taking That First Step</B></div> <bR> <div>      From these special teachers in my life, I have also learned the value of teaching children often, and starting young, about the treasures that GOD has around us in His creation. Building the habits of careful observation and attention to detail. The habit of "taking nothing home but memories and leaving nothing behind but footprints." </div> <bR> <div>      That is why I finally decided to make that first step and host the Nature Club. I want to share with the children of our area, all the knowledge that GOD has so graciously given me. I want to share my heritage and the legacy that my Grandmother, Daddy and Momma have given me. </div> <bR> <div>      What a treat our Nature Club has been! GOD has brought the increase and we have had a wonderful time! The children look forward to this meeting every month and I must confess, I look forward to it too! In order to ensure success, I secured the promise of my favorite prayer partners and began to inform my public. Mom's Night Out, and our local Mom's Study Group were good places to start. These Moms, and a few of the Dads, have come and caught the desire to give this precious time of discovery and treasured memories to their children too!</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Beginning Business</B></div> <bR> <div>      We start our time out with prayer. If there are no Dads there, I lead this prayer myself, always asking for the safety that only GOD can give us during our walk, and that He will bind Satan and his emissaries from causing unworthy distractions. After prayer time, I give a brief overview of the habitat we are to visit. Next, I gently admonish the children of the importance of not running wildly through the area. Nothing is more frustrating, than to have a special "nature moment" spoiled by a child pointing and loudly calling attention to something, only to have it flee before you can show it to the rest of the children. </div> <bR> <div>      You will never see any wildlife if you don't go slowly, tread lightly and be very observant. We couldn't surprise the animals if we wanted to, because there are too many of us, but we can listen to them warning each other of our approach. Squirrels chatter and birds call, fussing at us for invading their "space" I really enjoy listening to them. By teaching them from the beginning the habits of quiet observation, you will ensure the future success of your club. Be sure you always give a few safety reminders suitable to the area you are entering.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Stepping Into Nature</B></div> <bR> <div>      Our first trip was into new woods. New woods are created when a nearby wood slowly reforests a vacant field. As we walked through these woods we noticed that the undergrowth was dense. This is common in young woods because of the low, sparse canopy of the trees. We were able to identify Virginia Creeper and Poison Ivy. These plants look amazingly similar, but Virginia Creepers leaves are in groups of five and Poison Ivy's leaves are in groups of three. Remember this little rhyme when trying to identify vines. "Leaves of three, let it be." Then there were Red Maples, several varieties of Oaks, Sweet Gum, Pines, and Eastern Red Cedars. Let me also mention the briars, and two varieties of Honeysuckle. </div> <bR> <div>      As we made our way through this varitable smorgasbord of mid-south wooded life, we allowed the children to gather a few samples for our next step. We were able to catch the sight of several different birds, and hear a squirrel chattering away at our intrusion into his territory. What a treat for our children! Us Moms were pretty pleased too!</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Our Favorite Resources</B></div> <bR> <div>      After our perusal through the woods, we came back to the house to research our finds. Each parent brought his or her favorite nature research books. My personal favorite is "Reader's Digest North American Wildlife". This is a color-illustrated guide to 2,000 plants and animals. It has everything from detailed descriptions of habitats, tips on identifying different species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish mollusks, insects and other invertebrates, trees and shrubs, wildflowers, ferns, mosses, seaweed's, and lichens, and last of all, mushrooms. This has been an invaluable resource for me. I have learned so much from this one book. And guess who gave it to me? Yep! My parents. </div> <div> Cindy Rushton brought "Anna Botsford Comstock's Handbook of Nature Studies". This book is illustrated in black and white, but it is a big book of wonderful details and fascinating information about nearly everything in creation. You would be hard put to find something that this book couldn't help you with. </div> <bR> <div>      There were various "National Audubon Society Field Guides" present and they were also very helpful. Their illustrations are photographs of the actual birds and are often the deciding factor when you are having trouble identifying a particular specimen, be it bird or rock. All these wonderful resources came in very handy when we were trying to identify our finds. Often, the fact that it came from young woods was our greatest obstacle. You see, unless you take into account the bark of a tree, a mature leaf, and the environment or maybe even the soil conditions, sometimes it is very difficult to make a definitive identification.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>A Source For Inspiration</B></div> <bR> <div>      Now that we were ready to start our work, I handed out a Nature Study Worksheet. You will find a copy of this at the back of the book. This is a very simple form that gives you the place for the common name, Latin name and the remainder of the page is blank to sketch your find. I like to determine the most popular specimen and read aloud the information on this find while the children sketch. This is also a good time to do a basic nature based devotion. The Scriptures are full of great verses that you can build a devotion on. Some of my favorites are: <B>Job 38 & 39</B>, also particularly <B>Psalm 104</B>. <B>Psalm 1 </B>is great for this also. </div> <bR> <div>      Another great source for this devotion would be "Parables From Nature" by Mrs. Gatty. Then, there are Christian Liberty's Nature Readers. All of these deal with Nature in a way that your children will remember. Reading aloud from living books will captivate their minds, their imaginations and enrich their minds with the ideas they need. A verse or quote pulled from any of these, makes a great source for copy work at the bottom of the page. </div> <bR> <div>      It is interesting to see what they choose for their particular drawing. Take the time to have them tell you about their drawing and why they chose the copy work they used. We have had some of the most interesting conversations over our nature sketches. </div> <div> After they finish their sketches and the devotion is over, we turn them loose for playtime and the moms can chat. This is a good time to plan next months meeting. Our meetings are always scheduled on the second Tuesday, but we sometimes vary the location. We are conveniently located near the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Tennessee River. There are thousands of acres just waiting for us to explore them.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Simplicity Will Breed Continuity</B></div> <bR> <div>      Keep this Nature Club thing very simple. Don't make it work for your hostess. We don't serve refreshments, for instance. If the parents think their children might need a snack or drink, they bring their own. I never go overboard with the housecleaning either. The children will be running in and out and remember, they are bringing samples of nature indoors to sketch! This could be anything from a leaf, stick, bug, flower or piece of bark. You will want to vacuum very well when everyone leaves! This is one time I don't delegate this chore to my children. I want to make sure that we have no "visitors" left in the carpet!</div> <bR> <div>      Also, everyone brings his or her own art equipment. I don't supply colored pencils, regular pencils, or crayons. That way everyone has their own, and no one has to wait for someone else to get through with what they want to use. Get the picture? Easy! Now, I am not totally heartless. If a child needs a pencil, I give them a pencil! If they get hot, I give them a drink of water. If it is particularly cold, I have served hot tea! But, please don't let your gift of hospitality make this Nature Club into dreaded work. The whole principal behind this is to get the children in touch with nature, not to make more work for you, mom.</div> <bR> <div>      Keep your hikes short in the beginning, especially if you have young children in your club. As the children grow older or they just stronger and better trained, you can lengthen your hikes. As their attention span develops, so can the intensity of your hikes. This same simplicity theme can carry over to the sketches that the children are making. Let them know that you don't expect some perfect, museum quality piece. You only expect their best work. Do your own sketches or drawings to inspire your children. Your best work may not look any better than theirs! </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>The Red Maple</B></div> <bR> <div>      There are a few varieties of trees that I emphasize every time such as: Red Maple, Sweet Gum, and Eastern Red Cedar. I believe GOD created the Red Maple especially for heavily polluted inland valleys. This tree acts as a natural smog filter. Here in the Tennessee River Valley we have lots of big industry. Consequently, we have lots of air pollution. This particular tree filters out the toxins that local plants belch into our air supply daily. These trees feed on that stuff! I protect these trees on our property!</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Safety Tips</B></div> <bR> <div>      Some other safety concerns that I emphasize are the difference in Virginia Creeper and Poison Ivy and the dangers of ticks. Also, the danger of snakes and only walking where you can see your feet. Keeping in mind the importance of safety during your nature hikes can prove to be invaluable. </div> <bR> <div>      Little tips such as tucking your pants legs into your socks and wearing light colored clothing can protect you from the dangers of ticks. Never stepping over a log unless you can see the ground on the other side and staying out of deep piles of leaves or pine needles can protect you from snakebite. Remember snakes rarely bite the first person to pass by, it is usually the second person. Be sure you know how to handle any emergency that might arise. These treks into God's world will quickly loose their charm if you have to worry about every eventuality. Make sure every parent has his or her own children under control before you venture forth. This could make the difference in a wonderful hike and a disastrous one.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Different Habitats</B></div> <bR> <div>      There are a few different habitats that we have visited. As I have already mentioned, there is the young woods. This is easily identified by slender-trunked trees and dense undergrowth. Next, we visited the moist bottom land. We have a wet season creek and waterfall that flows across our property. In this habitat we found grasses and ground covers that are found nowhere else on the property. There we also found interesting mushrooms and mosses.</div> <bR> <div>      On to the abandoned field. Here the bordering forest is trying to re-establish itself in the open space. There are many saplings in this field. To name a few: Tulip Poplars. Oaks, Maples, Sweet Gums and Pines. We also identified berry vines and wildflowers. Here are some identification tips on berry vines: blackberry's canes grow upward and arch towards the ground, dewberry canes grow along the ground. There were the obvious grasses, also.</div> <bR> <div>      Next we went to The Natchez Trace Parkway. There we hiked the Nature Trail at Rock Spring. We saw all of these habitats plus, a beaver pond was easy to spot because of the evidence of a once higher waterline, dead trees standing in the water, and the very slow movement of the water. Then, we moved on to old woods characterized by large trunked trees and sparse undergrowth. At the end of the trail there was a creek that flows from a spring. The creek provided cooling relief and interesting wildlife not available elsewhere. In the creek the children found minnows, crayfish, watercress, algae and some very interestingly shaped rocks. We even had a nice talk about the different types of rocks.</div> <bR> <div>      You can also do your study in a yard, or a park. How about taking a walk down a country road and identifying the plant life in the roadside ditches. The possibilities are endless, let your curiosity take over. Have you ever thought of a nature walk in your garden? That opens a whole new world! The study of different insects and weeds found in a garden can be fascinating. Just use your imagination and take that first step. You will undoubtedly be very happy that you did, just as I am.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Different Seasons</B></div> <bR> <div>      Don't limit your Nature Club to only "good weather" seasons. All four seasons hold a varitable smorgasbord of finds in all of your favorite places. Spring brings the budding of trees, the building of nests, the birth of babies, and a general rebirth of all of nature's winter dormant life. Spring flowers abound and the shrubbery takes on new life. This is a great time to learn where those birds build their nests. You can search for wild strawberries during this time as well.</div> <bR> <div>      Summer brings with it full growth for all of these things, and the blooming of summer variety wild flowers. This is the real growth season. This is the season to visit the area lakes and streams and discover the life teeming in them. Catch tadpoles to study to full growth, or take samples of the water and look at it under a microscope. I guarantee you won't want to swim there when you find out what is living in it.</div> <bR> <div>      Fall brings the beautiful reds, browns, oranges, and yellows. Not just on the leaves of trees, but also vines, flowers and grasses. This is the time all the little creatures are laying up their winter harvest and preparing for a nice long nap. This is the best season to view wildlife. By this time they are used to your intrusion and they are so busy they are not as alert. Now the snakes are becoming sluggish and coming out for the warmth of the sun. The harvest is all in and the insect life is beginning to die out. You will want to check the fields now for signs of deer coming to eat of the dropped harvest.</div> <bR> <div>      Then comes winter. With the first blast of freezing temperatures the forests and fields take on a whole new look. Now you can see the symmetry of the trees that once were covered in leaves. You can find the abandoned birds nests that so intrigued you last spring. This is the time of the year to clean out those birdhouses for next spring's nests. This is the season to hang those bird feeders and see species of birds that you wouldn't normally see. Your little group can don their coats and find a whole new world to discover during winter, so please, don't limit yourselves.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Are You The Next Nature Queen?</B></div> <bR> <div>      Well, I hope you have found the courage and inspiration to start your own nature club. Don't be like me and be intimidated into missing this blessing. Don't cheat yourself and your children out of the fun of exploring with your group. You will be surprised by what you discovered and who comes to discover it with you. Leading out Nature Club has brought so many blessings into my life, blessings I almost missed out on because of fear. GOD will never give you an abundance of knowledge in any area, unless He has a very special plan to use you to help others. Why don't you take the time to pray about it today and see how our Dear Lord will lead you in this area. If you have felt that stirring in your breast during this chapter, you may very well be the new Nature Queen of your area. Don't you want to find out? Does your area need a club like this? I wish you good viewing and safe time on the trail.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>This article is copyrighted by Mary E. Woodis. If you would like to print this article in whole or part in your publication please </B></I><I><B>contact us</B></I><I><B>, </B></I><I><B>Jessie and Mary Woodis at</B></I><A HREF="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net"><U><I><B> </B></I></U></A><A HREF="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:jessiew@hiwaay.net"><U><I><B>jessiew@hiwaay.net</B></I></U></A><I><B> for permission and more details.</B></I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#top" TITLE="Science through a Nature Club"><U><B>back to the top</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Crooked Pines Publishing<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Jessie and Mary Woodis<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 1365 County Road 74<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Florence, AL 35633</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.hisimage.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hisimage.org"><U><IMG SRC="0d44a260.gif" border=0 width="74" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">jessiew@hiwaay.net</U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.hisimage.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hisimage.org"><U><IMG SRC="148a43a0.jpg" border=0 width="164" height="58" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Page last updated January 2006</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>