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.
