Tag: "Children and Nature"

Creating a Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard

Creating a Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard

When I first heard about the concept of establishing a backyard wildlife habitat, I thought, “Yeah, right. Nice for the folks who live down the in areas where trees and woodlands are an integral part of the landscape, but not for those of us living in more urban settings.” Sure, there are pockets of wildlife-friendly […]

Monarch Butterfly Watch and Tagging

Monarch Butterfly Watch and Tagging

The number of butterflies visiting my neighbor’s butterfly bush, which extends into our front yard, has been increasing steadily over the past couple of weeks. Especially the number of monarchs, which is particularly exciting. Somewhere along the way, I learned about the great migration of the monarchs, but I didn’t have a full appreciation of […]

Arlington Bat Festival & Save Lucy the Bat Campaign

Arlington Bat Festival & Save Lucy the Bat Campaign

Last month I recommended the Annual Bat Festival at Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington, Virginia as an event to attend. I had never attended the festival before (I simply was unaware of it) and had planned to attend for the first time this year. Unfortunately, my husband and oldest kid were out of town […]

Connecting with Nature: Walking in the Rain

Connecting with Nature: Walking in the Rain

With pots on the stove and dinner underway, I realized that we were out of barbecue sauce for our pulled pork. With a grocery store just a couple of blocks away, my typical response would have been to hop in the car, especially since it was raining. It would take just a few (dry) minutes […]

Great Green Escapes: Mt. Vernon Trail

Great Green Escapes: Mt. Vernon Trail

A version of this story originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. During the school year, I had a standing date with a friend whom I met 10 years ago at a new mom’s group at Alexandria Hospital. I had just had my first child and was in full-scale panic mode, […]

Feeling a Little Batty? Head to the Bat Festival

Feeling a Little Batty? Head to the Bat Festival

If you live in the DC metro area, here is a family friendly event that is sure to drive you batty. From the folks over at Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington: Enjoy a thoroughly batty evening and add to your knowledge of local night life at this bat conservation and appreciation program. See a […]

So Hot I Could Fry an Egg!

So Hot I Could Fry an Egg!

Yes, it was indeed 104 degrees just outside our nation’s capital last Friday afternoon, before the big storm that left hundreds of thousands of us without power for days. Some people are still without power! The powers that be stated that the heat index that day, which is what the air feels like, clocked in […]

From Mini-Farm Preschool to Traditional Kindergarten

From Mini-Farm Preschool to Traditional Kindergarten

A version of this story originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. Last week the youngest in our clan graduated from preschool, and I find myself feeling conflicted about the transition ahead. Our son has been at this school for his entire preschool life and has been pretty content for the […]

Connecting with Nature through Organized Soccer

Connecting with Nature through Organized Soccer

I recently wrote a column for Green and Simple about our family’s first foray into organized soccer. What was initially completely overwhelming with three kids having practice on three different afternoons and all with games on Saturday mornings, has turned into quite a positive experience, as I detail in Green and Simple: Does Soccer Count?  Not […]

National Parks Week, Native Plant Sales, and More Earth Day Events

National Parks Week, Native Plant Sales, and More Earth Day Events

Lots of green green events happening this month in honor of Earth Day. From Native Plant Sales to National Parks Week, opportunities to get out and involved abound! National Parks Week April 21 – 29 The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation are teaming up to host National Park Week, during which you […]

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