Another really good use for rock study is to look at which animals call rocks home.

All you need for this activity is an outdoor area with both sun and shade, four brick-sized rocks, a magnifying glass and a bit of patience.

Grasses are more than dependable survival fare. Their uses include the simple, child-friendly grass whistle.

This nature-game is perfect for one or more players.

It never fails – every time I go foraging with “Wildman” Steve Brill, I learn something.

Today I learned I can do more with  jewelweed pods than simply pop them for the sheer fun of it.

I love to hike, but sometimes it’s just too hot and humid to move.

One way to practice nature observation skills is to choose a patch of lawn, forest floor, or even the trunk of a tree in deep woods, and study it closely. The list of what you need is short. There’s no end to what you might observe, but I’ve listed a few things you might look for while exploring the natural world. This technique works just fine if you have access to other habitats including wetlands, tide pools, gardens and transition areas.

This is a really good activity if you have ten minutes or more to explore. When you focus on the tiniest members of the natural world your perspective changes. It’s one of my favorite ways to beat the heat. It’s also a terrific mini-vacation any time of year.

My friend Marie turns 50-years-old this weekend.

Marie is the most resilient person I know. She has survived divorce, a serious horseback riding accident, being downsized, a house fire, a brain tumor, the challenges of being a single mother – and a whole bunch of other things I don’t even know about. Even my Dad hasn’t had quite so many challenges.

So welcome to the club Marie, here are a few shared old age realities. I’m glad you’re around to experience them.

Warm summer nights are one of the best times to enjoy nature.

All you need is a flashlight, the ability to count to 20 and access to a yard for an evening of fun.

I just returned from breakfasting on wineberries and Asiatic Day Flower.

This morning’s hike took me to Inwood Hill Park in Northern Manhattan. No, I didn’t hike here from home base. I’m here on an assignment for a few weeks, which is convenient because “Wildman” Steve Brill will be giving three or four tours during my tenure in this area.

On long summer days, especially nice-weather ones, a day hike can invite hours of meandering along trails. It’s easy to run out of water. I’ve even forgotten to repack my water bottle. Streams and ponds are everywhere, but don’t be tempted. You have no
idea if that water is safe to drink.

Potable water is available if you know what to look for.

Watching a thunderstorm form and unfold is dramatic. I am grateful to be spared the devastation that continues to impact people on the east side of the Hudson River.

Billowing cumulonimbus clouds crowd the sky like quilted fabric in every shade of gray.

This is a quote from Edward Duensing’s Talking to Fireflies, Shrinking the Moon: Nature Activities for All Ages

It’s not only a nature study, it a terrific application of math skills.