{"id":52497,"date":"2017-03-16T06:00:24","date_gmt":"2017-03-16T10:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplehomeschl.wpengine.com\/?p=52497"},"modified":"2026-02-12T09:55:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T14:55:11","slug":"nature-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplehomeschool.net\/nature-day\/","title":{"rendered":"How to host a Nature Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\"\" Written by Kari Patterson of Sacred Mundane<\/a><\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t“N<\/span>ow I don’t have to die to go to heaven,” my son grinned. “It’s right here.”\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWe were walking along the trails zig-zagging through the wild countryside of the property we would soon call home. Towering trees, low-hanging limbs laden with moss, a pond and trickling creek, old-growth stumps — it was all so lush and green and vast <\/em>— as far as the eye could see.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tBut even as spectacular as the scenery was, I couldn’t take my eyes off him<\/em>. Seeing his wonder–rapture really–as he explored and discovered, head tilted back, gazing straight up, pointing here and there, “Mom, red-tailed hawks!”\n<\/p>\n

\n\tI couldn’t believe this<\/em> was where, Lord willing, our kids would grow up. <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tI grew up out in the country, and took for granted the gold-mine that was my backyard. I grew up hiking through the woods, forging the river to a friends’ house, building forts from limbs and twigs, climbing trees, planting gardens, holding still and silent watching the deer creep by.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThese days, though, it seemed you had to choose between a roof over your children’s heads OR a piece of land, so I had long ago given up the idea of raising my own kids out in the woods.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\"\"\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSo, when we fell into this gift of a place, that had a roof and<\/em> land, I knew it was meant for more than just our own personal pleasure — I wanted the gift of nature to bless others as well.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n\tAll this was happening as I was reading Charlotte Mason’s The Outdoor Life of Children<\/em><\/a>. Of course other books like Simplicity Parenting<\/em><\/a> and Boys Should be Boys<\/a> <\/em>had said the same thing in a more contemporary context:\n<\/p>\n

\n\tRegular exposure to nature is critical for the mental, emotional, physical, and intellectual health and development of children. <\/em><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n\tSo, when my friend suggested that I host a homeschool co-op every Friday out here on our property, I enthusiastically agreed.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tActually I didn’t.<\/strong><\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSee, I wanted to bless others with our property, but a co-op made me cringe. I like the idea, and know they are a great benefit to many (Kris gives great ideas here<\/a>), I just couldn’t fathom adding another responsibility and commitment to our already full lives.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tSo imagine my relief when all the interested moms gathered together at our property, and as we brainstormed about possible ideas and structures, the one unifying theme that tied all our hopes together was simply this:\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWe all just wanted Nature. <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tMost of us had already dialed in the 3 R’s for our kids. They were already involved in scholastic activities and even outside lessons.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tNo one wanted another thing that required much prep. What we all wished for was simply this: time for our kids to freely enjoy nature, with other kids, every week. <\/em><\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd so, Nature Day was born.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\"\"\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIt is nothing impressive, just a time from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Fridays, for our kids of all ages to gather together for the sole purpose of enjoying nature together.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWe usually have a “Nature Mission” during the first hour, some challenge for the kids to do either on their own or together<\/strong>. Then we enjoy a sack lunch together outside, and allow the rest of the afternoon for the kids to play and explore outside.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen we began, I was bursting with ideas for potential nature missions:\n<\/p>\n