If adults want to learn more about the benefits of nature for adults and kids, please read Last Child in the Woods and the Nature Principle by Richard Louv.
1st Lab - The City Nature Challenge 2020: The Wasatch Instructions to Participate
When: April 24- 27, 2020 Where: In your yard or neighborhood How:
Create an account on iNaturalist (and download the app for your mobile device)
Join the Project: City Nature Challenge 2020: The Wasatch (in the iNaturalist app)
Find wildlife in your area (any wild living thing or evidence of a wild living thing)
Take a picture (or several) of what you find
Tag the Project: City Nature Challenge 2020: The Wasatch
Share your observation on iNaturalist
There are lots of citizen science projects to participate in! Check out these websites to find some others: https://nhmu.utah.edu/citizen-science https://www.nationalgeographic.org/idea/citizen-science-projects/
Here is some great information from Project Learning Tree about creating a nature journal: https://www.plt.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Nature-Journaling-handout.pdf
Nature writing books recommended for adults this video: Terry Tempest Williams - Refuge and Edward Abbey - Desert Solitaire
YouTube only allows 15 minute videos to be posted. The combined Tree Imagery Part 1 & 2 is just over 16 minutes. Please watch both parts for a complete lab.
Tree Imagery reading from Sharing Nature Wtih Children II by Joseph Cornell.
Information for tree identification in Utah: https://forestry.usu.edu/tree-identification/index
Adopt a Tree lesson from Project Learning Tree: https://www.plt.org/activity-resources/prek-8-activity-21-adopt-a-tree/
My very favorite story about trees is called The Man Who Planted Trees, by Jean Giono. Adults please watch it to make sure it is appropriate for your children before your children watch it. Here is the link to the 30 minute movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvYh8ar3tc