Outdoor classroom

This spring when I was the parent volunteer we decided to load the kids up in the back of my pickup truck and take them to the creek.  We had recent rains and the creek was full. The sunflowers were just starting to bloom and the cows watched our foray into the creek from across the pasture. The kids discovered several different types of rocks, some flint, some we think from underground aquifers. Some of the children threw rocks and others collected flowers, while others drew in their notebook of the surroundings and their finds. We left the creek and explored a nearby abandoned barn and vehicles. The kids found all sorts of flowers, weeds and caterpillars. We had so much fun we went out to the creek the rest of the week.
    

Reason #98

Reason #98 why I love our co-op and heavy parent involvement.

Where else would I find two mommies crouched over plants and insects trying to identify them and get macro shots of it all.

Landscapes and Plein Air Wonder

The beautiful is in nature, and it is encountered under the most diverse forms of reality. Once it is found it belongs to art, or rather to the artist who discovers it. -Gustave Courbet


Painting by the Acacia Tree

Recent landscapes with Megan

Doodling for Doodle Bugs

We noticed these interesting round pits clustered throughout the sandy areas of the driveway. The children and Clair were curious and investigated, and with a small twig they poked around at the bottom of the pit. Much to the children's surprise, something would fling a little bit of sand back.


What is it?


Doodlebugs!
Fascinating little insects that are harmless to humans and they are beneficial in that they eat other insects.


A photo from one of our earlier nature excursions in early spring. The ranch was bursting with color and these beautiful Yellow Acacia Blooms!

Let Them Explore

“An environment-based education movement--at all levels of education--will help students realize that school isn't supposed to be a polite form of incarceration, but a portal to the wider world.”

  ― Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

[Field Trip] ASNC: Trees and Plants

Austin has so many hidden treasures. We hiked into the Zilker preserve and I was taken with its beauty.






V is one of our budding naturalists. Here she's rescuing a trampled spider. Mark my words, this little one is going to grow up and work with animals, or insects, or something of that nature. :)



We tasted some edible native plants. One tasted like cucumber, broccoli, and a lemon flavored one. I'll have to update with the plant names as I've misplaced my list, but quite tasty I must say. We also were reminded how to recognize poison ivy and stay away.



As the children were leaving, I was reminded how fortunate we all are to have the ASNC and the opportunity to use it with our schooling.