Nature Study Connection

Nature study, especially among homeschoolers, has been a hot topic the past few years. Numerous facebook groups, instagram profiles, and curricula have been dedicated to helping parents teach their children about the world of nature. Picture perfect nature displays, beautifully illustrated nature journals, organized well planned jaunts into the forest with well behaved children grace the pages of these resources, promising success if only the user does xyz. 

While well meaning, this idea of nature study as an idealistic, step-by-step process similar to mathematics or reading, often ends up making parents feel like failures. A child balks at sketching in his nature journal, another shows no interest in the current topic of study, a nature collection sits unorganized and unlabeled, the weather doesn’t cooperate and a scheduled hike is canceled, whatever plant or animal is supposed to be studied during a certain week cannot be found….the list of hurdles in nature study can seem daunting. 

Many parents throw their hands up and, with a sigh, lament that nature study just isn’t working. They feel clueless how to proceed or are frustrated because their child shows no interest in nature study. They debate if nature study is worth the hassle, especially while the core subjects sit waiting on the kitchen table. They might even wonder if they should give up and shelf their nature study plans altogether. 

Whoa! If this is how you feel, it’s time for a reset! 

I want you to take the word “study” out of nature study, crumple it up into a ball, and toss it over your shoulder. Now replace it with the word “connection.” Nature connection!

This simple word switch will change your mindset AND how you approach nature study – nature connection – with your child. 

Think about it…what comes to mind when you hear the word “study?” How about the word “connection?” Which word sounds more in line with your ultimate goal?

Connection conjures images of a warm and meaningful relationship. We develop connections with our friends and family by spending time with them, engaging in meaningful activities together, and getting to know one another on a deep level.  

The #1 goal of nature study should be the same – to help our children develop a connection to, and relationship with, nature.

Will having your child sit and sketch a flower when he’d rather be looking under rocks for sow bugs help develop his relationship with nature? How about telling your daughter there’s no time to stop and admire the snake on the side of the trail because today’s lesson is about maple leaves? Or insisting that your son put the acorns he found down because today you’re searching for seed pods?

How do you continue nurturing your child’s connection with nature despite the unexpected rain or cold temperatures? What do you do when nature simply doesn’t cooperate and your nature curriculum topic for the week can’t be studied?

Tackling these questions brings up one of the greatest secrets of nature connection… 

Nature is MESSY!

I don’t mean messy as in dirty hands, muddy shoes, and stained clothes. Those are a (fun!) given. I mean messy as in not-so-perfectly organized…unpredictable…impromptu…wild. 

Just as a meadow doesn’t grow neat and uniform like a suburban lawn, nature connection shouldn’t have to be a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach. It shouldn’t have to be a series of steps, or a laid out plan, or a “we must do this, this, and this in order to succeed.” It shouldn’t have to be a magazine worthy scene of quiet children surrounded by perfectly coordinated themed study aides. (Notice I said “it shouldn’t have to be” instead of “it shouldn’t be.” It’s okay if these things work for you!)

If your child wants to look for sow bugs under rocks instead of sketching a flower, go for it! “How do the sow bugs react when you pick them up? How many legs do they have? What animal group do they belong to? Do you want to sketch one in your nature journal? Look at that centipede hiding over there!” It’s great to encourage your child to draw the flower, but not at the expense of the ultimate goal of helping him develop a love of nature.    

If your daughter wants to pause and observe the snake on the side of the trail, go for it! “What colors do you see in its beautiful pattern! Let’s look up what kind it is in our identification book. Do you want to take a picture?” By all means, study the maple leaves too, but not at the expense of the ultimate goal!

If your child wants to collect acorns right now, go for it! “What kind of tree do you think those acorns came from? Let’s use our identification app to look up what kind of oak tree. Do you want to crack one open and see what’s inside? Let’s take one home to plant.” Point out and collect some cool seed pods too, just not at the expense of the ultimate goal!

If the weather is less than ideal, try dressing accordingly and head out for a unique adventure. Most children will find a muddy or rainy nature walk exciting. And a winter hike in snow with ice covered creeks is especially beautiful! Usually it’s the adults that hesitate to go out in uncomfortable conditions. Once you’re out there, though, you might be pleasantly surprised to find you enjoy it too! 

If the weather is simply too poor to venture out, tweak your plans for impromptu nature connection inside. “Let’s record how many bird species visit our feeders this afternoon.” Do you want to paint the scene out our back window?” “Now’s a perfect time to organize our nature collection!” 

If nature doesn’t cooperate with your curriculum’s weekly study topic, toss it aside and go on a fly-by-the seat-of-your-pants nature adventure! There is ALWAYS something new to discover! And if you let your child lead the way, she will most likely find plenty of rabbit holes to dive into.   

The point is that nature connection doesn’t need to be perfect. By encouraging your child to explore what he or she is interested in, by being open to impromptu investigations, by going with the flow when things just don’t go right, nature connection and learning WILL happen. As a matter of fact, your child just might learn and retain more of the science behind nature than he would from any forced, well meaning plans!

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Psst…Don’t get bogged down by the idea that you need a lot of materials for nature connection! All you really need are:

1. Your child, armed with curiosity (a given!)
2. You, armed with a sense of wonder (it might take practice!) 
3. A wildlife identification guide
4. Nature

That’s it. Of course, you’ll want water and other basic supplies if you’re hiking, but for the nature study part, that’s all you truly need. Really! It’s that easy.