Our Summer Nature Basket

When we went camping a few weekends ago we spent quite a bit of time identifying things around us with our field guides. After we got back, I started wondering why we don't do this at home more often. It's fun to look something up in a book and learn it's proper name and a few things about it.It's real learning. And it sticks!

So to help us learn more about our own backyarrd this summer, I put together a summer nature basket to keep out on our screened porch. And it's already seeing some use! Grace caught several monarch caterpillars, looked up their nutritional and housing needs, and decided to keep a few to watch them turn into butterflies. James found an empty cicada shell and displayed it in a jar for everyone to see. We used the guides to figure out what strange animal got into our trash late one night-we think it was a gray fox! And we've identified lots of wildflowers- my personal favorite.

Swamp Candles

 If the basket continues to get used and inspire everyone, I plan to switch it out each season with different books and equipment.

Right now in our summer basket....

We have:

• Bug jars
• Binoculars
• A flower press
• Hand lenses 

And books!!

• Take-Along Guide to Nature Volumes 1 and 2
• Pet Bugs
• New England Audubon Guide
• Peterson's First Guide to Caterpillars
• Peterson's First Guide to Birds
• Nature in a Nutshell- nature activities for kids
• The Young Naturalist
• Monarch Magic

The best part of the basket is that it didn't cost anything. I just scouted around the house for books and other things that looked interesting.  I'm already thinking of a few things that might be in our fall basket in a couple of months.

Happy Summer!