Category Archives for "Great Outdoors"

Become a Backyard Naturalist

By Holly Giles | Great Outdoors , Nature Study

Become a Backyard Naturalist A naturalist is someone who studies living things in their habitat. Naturalists observes the same thing over time to see how it changes. Backyard naturalists appreciate nature, the life and behavior of plants, animals and other living things. You and your children can become naturalists by observing the changes in nature […]

Don’t Climb The Trees! A Case for Childhood Play

By Holly Giles | Great Outdoors , homeschooling

We recently attended a student day event at a beautiful state park. The day was supposed to be filled with demonstrations and hands on activities for students to learn primitive tool making. Grayson was most excited because this is one of his hobbies. Another family joined us for the event and as we walked from […]

Sunrise at Babcock Ranch, An Out of The Ordinary Quiet.

By Holly Giles | Family , Florida Treasures , Great Outdoors

It was 4 a.m. when the dogs began barking from the kennel. They knew it was time to get up and head to Babcock Ranch for the youth quail hunt. We wearily awoke to quite a chill in the air that made me want to stay snug in my sleeping bag. Then, pots began to clang and bang […]

National Park Volunteers, Thank You for Your Service

By Holly Giles | Family , Field Trips , Great Outdoors

Did you know that many National Park Volunteers are serving our country by keeping parks and historical lands open to the public? Many of the beautiful places we visit would be closed if it were not for volunteers.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

By Holly Giles | Family , Field Trips , Great Outdoors , homeschooling

Have you been to an aquarium lately? Grant, my 10 year old and I took a mini vacation together to see Winter, the dolphin who lost her tail. My sister recently moved to Clearwater which gave us the perfect excuse to scoot down to see her and Winter, who we have wanted to visit for years. […]

Prairie Boy’s Birthday Party

By Holly Giles | Boy Crafting , Family , Great Outdoors , handicrafts , homeschooling

Little House on the Prairie is just as much fun for boys as it is girls. When my sons decided on a prairie boy’s birthday party for their joint birthdays I knew I would be in heaven. Our homeschool year had been all about reading the Little House series.We enjoyed many activities and resources as […]

Nature Study Made Easy: Wildflowers

By Holly Giles | Great Outdoors , homeschooling , Nature Study

Now is the time to add wildflowers to your homeschooling nature study. Yes, it can be easy! For some reason studying wildflowers seems daunting. Where do you find them and how in the world do you figure out what they are? Start in your yard, or your neighbors. Most of our area does not […]

Nature Study Made Easy with an Egg Carton

By Holly Giles | Boy Crafting , Great Outdoors , handicrafts , homeschooling , Nature Study

Nature study doesn’t have to be hard. It can be as simple as a walk down your street or running around your backyard. A simple way to get outside and look at what is happening in the natural world is a scavenger hunt. Grab an egg carton, 6 colors of paint or markers and do a […]

Casting Off a Family Tradition

By Holly Giles | Boy Crafting , Family , Great Outdoors , homeschooling , Inspiration

What family traditions could you find in a dusty old keepsake box? Grayson and I discovered that that treasured gifts from our family members do not have to be expensive gifts. They can be wonderful handicrafts or memories that we can pass on from one generation to another. What treasures can you share with your […]

The Fire in My Heart From a Good Homeschool Day

By Holly Giles | Boy Crafting , Great Outdoors , homeschooling , Inspiration , Mama's Musings

It was going to be a good homeschool day. I had the planners filled out, the papers, books and necessary items within reach and the anticipation that THIS was going to be a good start to the week. The boys woke up a little late, which made them sluggish in getting to work on their chores, breakfast […]

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