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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 that readers Observe, Take Note and Take Action, the author encourages kids and parents alike to use all their senses in bird watching as she suggests questions to ask and details to record. The book not only helps identify birds, it also suggests activities that will both spark conversations and inspire families to explore the hows…
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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 and circumstances. Ross’s narrative is interspersed with journal entries from her daughter Sierra and son Bryce. Each chapter concludes with a “Nuts and Bolts” section, a “How-to” that can help parents teach similar lessons in a way that is right for them. Avid backpackers, Cindy Ross and her husband Todd had hiked thousands of miles before…
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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 animals and weather are somewhat based in scientific fact. Animals have a more heightened sense of smell and hearing than humans, so they can pick up on environmental cues faster. This is why some animals seem agitated before major storms and earthquakes – they can hear them coming or feel the changes in air pressure. Cows…
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How to Become a Birder, Without Even Trying
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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 on the west side, starting just off Baylor Canyon Road. We chose the eastern 2-plus-mile ascent to Baylor Pass starting at and returning to Aguiree Spring. Alternatively, you can continue on the trail which ends on the Las Cruces side of the range, for a total of 6 miles one way. A possible side excursion takes…
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The Honest Backpacker Makes Hiking Accessible for All Ages
The Honest Backpacker, A Practical Guide for the Rookie Adventurer over 50, by James and Nicole Klopovic is an encouraging guide to those with the desire, though maybe not the confidence, to get on the trail. Written for older adults, it covers important information that will benefit anyone preparing for a long hike, no matter one’s age. It breaks preparations down into manageable steps and provides guidance on each details: conditioning before a long hike, selecting and using equipment, planning/prepping/cooking /storing food, how to pack, and overall trip planning including contingency plans for when something goes awry. Written in a conversational tone, the book is engaging and highly practical. Checklists,…
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Will You Know if Your Dog Has Lyme Disease?
Updated May 28, 2024 Every spring, we hear the warnings about ticks. Experts predict a mild winter leads to an increase in the number of ticks and an uptick (no pun intended) in tick-borne diseases to humans and dogs alike. The most publicized of these is Lyme disease, one of the few infections that afflict multiple species. Many people are unaware that dogs are susceptible to Lyme disease, but unlike with human cases, you won’t find a bullseye rash or other visible indication of infection. It is also common for joint pain or stiffness to be intermittent. This can mimic a mild injury, such as a sprain, and delay medical…
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Experiences and Giving Back
Sometimes the best gifts are experiences, not things. A good way to sample a new activity is to enroll in a class or participate in an event. Some local branches of national outdoor outfitters (including REI, LL Bean and Eastern Mountain Sports) offer classes in a variety of outdoor activities with all necessary supplies included. Sometimes these classes are in partnership with local environmental non-profit organizations. You can find classes in cross country skiing, snowshoeing, stand up paddle boarding, canoeing/kayaking and rock climbing. The American Canoe Association lists classes in various paddling sports on their website for beginners and instructors alike. Small local outfitters may offer lessons as well. Many…
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Books and Other Publications
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Books and Other Publications
Books and other publications always make great gifts. There are many options for the outdoor enthusiast or for someone you want to encourage to spend more time outdoors. Picture books depicting nature, especially those about animals are good for young children. You can find books on a particular animal or group of animals or about camping or other outdoor activities in the non-fiction section. Chapter books about surviving in the wild can foster an enthusiasm to get outside and explore. Memoirs or biographies about explorers can give a glimpse into the outdoor world and our relationship with it. Guide books can be found to cover any outdoor pursuit you can…
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Experiences and Giving Back
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Gear
While many outdoor activities require little or no equipment, or items you can easily rent or borrow, sometimes it is nice to have your own gear, especially if you plan to do these things more often. There are of course the big items such as a bicycle, canoe, kayak, stand-up paddle board or skis. These are easily rented and sometimes difficult to store, but frequent users may want to have their own. There are too many options to adequately list here and many things to consider when choosing a specific model. Each of these also has accessories (paddles, helmets, lifejackets, locks, etc.) that are standard as well as many extras…
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Gadgets and Toys
The number of gadgets seems to be endless. While many of these are not necessary, some of them can make things easier and/or more fun. Some you may need infrequently, but be glad you have when the need arises. When spending extended time outdoors, such as when camping, having a couple toys around can certainly make things more fun (and can keep the kids busy if the adults have tasks to tend to or simply want some time to relax or converse with other adults). You can find these things and more while wandering the camping aisle of many department stores or on collections of shelves and racks in outdoor…
