Below are notes from a nature workshop that my friend Cindy and I taught at the CHEK conference this past July.  I thought this might be helpful in aiding those who are trying to include regular nature walk and study time into their home schools.

Are you including regular, consistent nature study in your home school?  Here are some of the reasons I wasn’t:

• not enough time after regular studies
• I’m not sure I see the value to the children’s long-term education
• I can’t check off one of those little boxes on the grade appropriate checklists when we do it
• It’s too cold, too hot, too wet, too dry, too humid, I’m out of shape, I might sweat, I might be cold

If some of you are where I used to be, you’ll really relate with some of those reasons.  After you read an average Nature study article you may say that you’d love to do Nature Study, if there were time, but just how do you make time?  I read article after article and books that all recommended Nature study because kids need to be outdoors, it’s good for them and Nature Study is really fun.  I knew that, but just how was I going to get my children’s educational checklists done and then have time to go and do that!  So, perhaps if your like I was, Nature Study rarely happened.  I viewed Nature Study as being more supplemental to our regular education, and not required.

I’d like to challenge you today, to try to view Nature Study in a different way.  Can you possibly see it as being just as important as Math?  Language Arts?  How about MORE important?  Because guess what, today I certainly do!  Nature Study is now a pivotal launching point for many of our other studies.  

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? – Job 12:7-9

If seeking Him, we will find Him in His Creation.  His fingerprints are all over it!  If we walk into nature with this new vision and ask God to open our eyes, we and our children will find Him and grow from it.  What we gain from getting out into nature is simply priceless!

What are some of the benefits our family is gaining from Nature Study?

• we grow closer in relationship and knowledge of our Creator -  I can’t help but to feel reverence and awe of God as I closely observe things in Nature.  And I’ve been able to notice many symbolisms in Nature to teach us about our lives.
• develop a closer relationship with my children  - Seeing my children’s face light up in excitement as we discover something new and sitting with them to observe, spending time with them just having fun, it’s all wonderful.
• ignites a desire and need to know more about all Creation - Again, my children and I can’t help but to want to know more and discover more as we spend more and more time with His Creation
• cultivates a natural curiosity and love of learning - Because we find it so neat and exciting this drives our natural curiosity to know more which in turn makes learning fun
• provides fresh air and expends energy in children which benefits everyone - We always feel rejuvenated after a Nature Walk or Hunt or just spending time having fun out there
• can be used to teach other subjects - I was overjoyed to find how easy it was to incorporate other subjects using our experiences in Nature. 
• helps to gain focus and attention ability - my highly distractible day-dreaming daughter, and  overly-hyperactive and unfocused son suddenly have gained the ability to focus and pay attention better and not just in Nature Study but in regular studies as well.
• improves discrimination and comparison skills - as we are identifying wildflowers or anything else in Nature it is necessary to be able to notice details and be able to compare things to figure out what it is.
• improves memorization abilities - I am in awe at how much my children are able to memorize in Nature such as the names of things and where we found them, and it helps with other subjects too
• guaranteed to experience and learn more than you could imagine because God is amongst it!  -We can count on this fact because it is His Creation and because He tells us in His Word that we can learn from it, WE WILL LEARN FROM IT!

So, how do I start including more Nature Study time into our home school?

• start small and fall in love first (spend a few minutes a day just observing, go out with no other objective except to enjoy what you find) then gradually increase the amount of time you are outdoors, I have a feeling this will come naturally, possibly incorporate journaling and other small objectives - maybe take photos and observe them on your computer with your kids
• prioritize it, don’t treat it as supplemental, look at is as even more important than Math, carve out the time and honor it the same way you would your other subjects
• find specific inspiration (start focusing on something you or your children are interested in such as wildflowers, birds, etc.)
• make it personal, find out names of things by using identification books and websites, you will care so much more when, like a friend, you can call it by name
• incorporate ways to use nature for other subjects (L.A. – write about a nature walk, or something they found outside, use new terms for vocabulary/spelling, Art and Music – draw/paint in a nature journal while listening to inspirational music, etc.)  You will be surprised how easily it can satisfy other subjects, just be open to seeing the opportunities and they will come.
• Mom, get excited!  Be interested! Don’t be afraid to get a little hot or chilly or wet or dirty, I promise you if you let go and be joyful you will enjoy yourself! AND your children WILL follow.  My children have laughed for hours at me for some of the crazy things I do.  Evidently they’ve never seen another Mom pet an earthworm or talk sweet to a little toad, or take off her shoes and squish in the mud!