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A Life Better Than I Deserve
Oct. 4, 2009
Review: Nature Friend
I must confess that I have been impressed by Nature Friend magazine. This magazine, begun in 1983, is--as their website states--a "creation-based, monthly nature magazine for children that the whole family will enjoy." This truly lovely magazine is a feast for the eyes with its lovely photography; it is filled with photos, stories and educational activities sure to capture the imagination of the targeted age range of ages 7 to 16--in approximately 24 short pages per issue.
Our family has enjoyed receiving the September and October issues--including the optional Study Guides, which pack art activities, comprehension activities, writing activities and more into only 8 reproducible pages per issue. With permission to reproduce pages given to the family or classroom, these pages go along with that issue's stories and pack more educational enrichment into the individual issues. Although the magazine could be enjoyed without the optional Study Guide, most homeschooling families could honestly benefit from receiving it.
Probably appealing mostly to Christian, creation-believing families who love nature but who want to avoid the evolutionary references found in some children's nature-oriented magazines, this delightful magazine certainly fills a niche in the market. Articles and stories are short yet truly interesting--and drawing lessons, scavenger hunts, crosswords and other activities are also simple yet worthwhile. For this reason, this magazine will also likely appeal to Charlotte Mason-following homeschooling families as well.
Some of the features you will find within the pages of (nearly every issue of) Nature Friend magazine:
- pictures and poems
- drawing lessons
- invisibles (a picture with hidden objects to locate)
- stories
- puzzles
- scavenger hunts
- "learning by doing" (a science activity)
- creation close-ups (photos submitted by readers)
- the "story behind the photo" article
- "nature trail" for the month
- "caption this" (an invitation for readers to provide a caption for an interesting photo)
A one year subscription is $36 and the optional, recommended Study Guide is $2 an issue, or $24 for a year. Enter the code BLOG93 for $3 off until November 30, 2009. While this may be expensive for some families, the educational and wholesome entertainment value is high. This would likely make a wonderful Christmas present for children or grandchildren. Other products and books are also available, as well as a unique "Cheer the Children" program benefiting children's hospitals which you can read about on their website.
Another wonderful thing about this vendor is their willingness to share samples with prospective customers. (Warning: These color-intensive actual PDF version issues may take a moment to load.) Enjoy them!
Remember to see what the rest of the Homeschool Crew has to say about this, and other, curriculum and products.
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