Nature Safari

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

09 Apr 2006 08:00 AM

The words nature safari brings to mind the wilds of Africa. However, you can take your family on a nature safari right here at home. All you need to get started is a notebook, a pen and a camera if you have one handy.

What kind of nature safari can you take your children on? An amazing one of the world that exists right where they are; you start by taking your supplies and your kidlets and head out the front door.

Available in most suburban areas for capture on film are birds, squirrels, rabbits and the occasional groundhog. The goal is for your kids to look at the world around them and point out the creatures they see. They can spot insects too, bees and the like.

If your kids are old enough to handle the camera, have them take the pictures. If they aren't, you take the pictures and then together using the notebook to write down what you saw and where you saw it.

Not far from here is a pond where fish, frogs and other watery creatures live. We can wander there and using the camera, we take pictures and write down the observations. Among the observations my five year old listed were:

• Frogs need water
• Frogs need cool shady spots
• Frogs eat bugs

You can actually spend two or three hours just exploring the area around your home. When you spread out to explore parks, riding stables and more - you can really widen your children's horizons to the nature that exists side by side with them. When you develop the photos or load them on your computer, you can help your kids look them up on the Internet.

Not only does the nature safari teach them appreciation for the natural world; it encourages them to keep an open mind about the world around them.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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