Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder: A Memoir by Julia Zarankin is an honest, entertaining look at the author’s transformation into a bird lover while “auditioning” mid-life hobbies. She shares reflections of ten years of observing birds, yet rather than claiming expert-status, she declares herself a “lifelong beginning birder.” The book moves mostly chronologically, reflectingRead More
Kimberly Yavorski
Lessons from Rachel Carson for a New Generation
Middle-schoolers and their families looking for engaging ways to learn about nature and ecology concepts will enjoy Rachel Carson and Ecology for Kids: Her Life and Ideas,with 21 Activities and Experiments. The book follows Rachel Carson’s life, from her childhood adventures growing up in the woods along the Allegheny River, through her environmental work forRead More
Books Make Great Gifts: A Dozen Book Titles for Nature Lovers
Books and experiences always make good gifts. While experiences may be tough to plan at this time, books can provide hours of entertainment (plus a bit of education too). These twelve books about nature and the outdoors are just a sampling of those published this year. For Children Morning, Sunshine! by Keely Parrack A seriesRead More
Easy Ways to Nourish Environmental Consciousness in Kids
With so many environmental concerns today, it’s tough to say which is the most pressing. It can be overwhelming to think about how to make a difference or what issue to start with. Toss in the daily activities that come with a couple kids, and the task may seem impossible. In Growing Sustainable Together, ShannonRead More
Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone, on a Paddle Board
Recently I took my first of what I expect will be many Outdoor Discovery School classes. Stand Up Paddle Boarding has increased in popularity in recent years, and the interest has increased the number of places one can buy a board or try one out for an hour or two. (Many waterfront outfitters that provideRead More
Get More Out of Your Swiss Army Knife
Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Camping & Outdoor Survival Guide: 101 Tips Tricks and Uses by Bryan Lynch is both history book and practical guide. Dating to 1891, the Swiss Army Knife is arguably the most recognizable pocket knife of all time. Whether purchased new or passed down through the family, many fans of the SwissRead More
With the Right Guidance, Bird Watching Can Be Contagious
I Love Birds! By Jennifer Ward is a charming, fun, and educational guide to the world of birds. This book provides information and suggestions for activities to help any parent (even those who know nothing more than a feathered creature is a bird) teach their child about birds and enjoy observing them. By suggesting thatRead More
The World Is Our Classroom
Part memoir, part guide for parents to insert more hands-on nature activities into their children’s lives, The World Is Our Classroom, How One Family Used Nature and Travel to Shape an Extraordinary Education, by Cindy Ross, is an entertaining and eye-opening look at how much children can learn through experience, given the right environment andRead More
What Can Our Animal Friends Tell Us About the Weather?
Humans have long used clues to forecast the weather. While it’s unlikely that a groundhog woken from its den in February can tell with any accuracy how long winter is going to last, it appears that some animal behaviors can provide some indication of the weather to come. A number of traditional beliefs about animalsRead More
New Mexico’s Organ Mountains Reward Hikers With Twice the Views
The Baylor Canyon Trail is a six-mile hike in the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument. The trail goes up and over the mountain range through Baylor Pass and is the only maintained trail that goes over the Organ Range. There are trailheads both on the east side, starting at Aguirre Springs Campgrounds and onRead More