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Sharing Nature with Children, Volume 1
How to be an Effective Nature Guide:
A Few Suggestions for Good Teaching

Before we begin exploring nature with children, let’s think for a moment about our role as teacher/guides. What are the basic rules for giving children -- and ourselves -- a joyous, rewarding good time?

I would like to share with you five tenets of outdoor teaching that have helped me work with children’s lively energies -- channeling them away from mischief, and toward more constructive, and ultimately satisfying, pursuits. Underlying these principles are basic attitudes of respect for children and reverence for nature -- attitudes to which they will surely respond.

1. Teach less, and share more. Besides telling children the bare facts of nature (“This is a mountain hemlock tree.”), I like to tell them about my inner feelings in the presence of that hemlock tree. I tell them about my awe and respect for the way a hemlock can survive in sub-alpine conditions -- where water is scarce in summer, and mostly frozen in winter; where harsh winter winds twist and bend and scour its branches. And I tell them I always wonder how the roots of the hemlock ever manage to find enough nutrients to survive, in these solid-rock crevices.

Children respond to my observations much more freely than they respond to textbook explanations. Take the case of a hemlock tree that grew near a camp where I worked. This particular hemlock sits between two huge boulders, so it has had to send its roots down twenty-five feet to reach the rocky soil below. At the time, it was at least two hundred years old, and only eight feet tall. The children would frequently make a detour on their hikes just to empty their canteens by its roots. Several of them returned to the camp year after year, watching the tree’s stubborn struggle for life in its harsh environment. In fact, as soon as they arrived at camp, they would run out to see how it had fared through the dry autumn and cold winter. Their loving concern awakened in me an even deeper respect for the mountain hemlock.

I believe it is important for an adult to share his inner self with the child. Only by sharing our deeper thoughts and feelings do we communicate to, and inspire in others, a love and respect for the earth. When we share our own ideas and feelings, it encourages a child to explore, respectfully, his own feelings and perceptions. A wonderful mutual trust and friendship develops between the adult and the child.

2. Be receptive. Receptivity means listening, and being aware. It is one of the most richly rewarding attitudes you can cultivate while working with children. The outdoors brings out a spontaneous enthusiasm in the child that you can skillfully direct toward learning.

Be sensitive: every question, every comment, every joyful exclamation is an opportunity to communicate. Respond to the child’s present mood and feelings. Expand your child’s interests by teaching along the grain of his own curiosity. When you respect his thoughts, you’ll find your time with him flowing easily and happily.

Be alert also to what nature is doing around you at the present moment. Something exciting or interesting is almost always happening. Your lesson plan will be written for you minute by minute if you tune in with sensitive attention.

3. Focus on the child’s attention without delay. Set the tone of the outing right at the start. Involve everyone as much as you can, by asking questions and pointing out interesting sights and sounds. Some children are not used to watching nature closely, so find things that interest them, and lead them bit by bit into the spirit of keen observation. Let them feel that their findings are interesting to you, too.

4. Look and experience first; talk later. At times nature’s spectacles will seize the child in rapt attention: a newly-emerged dragonfly pumping blood into tender unfolding wings, a lone deer grazing in a forest clearing. But even if those special sights are lacking, the child can have an experience of wonder by just watching quiet ordinary things with close attention. Children have a marvelous capacity for absorbing themselves in whatever they’re looking at. Your child will gain a far better understanding of things outside himself by becoming one with them than he will from second-hand talk. Children seldom forget a direct experience.

Don’t feel badly about not knowing names. The names of plants and animals are only superficial labels for what those things really are. Just as your own essence isn’t captured by your name, or even by your physical and personality traits, there is also much more to an oak tree,
for example, than a name and a list of facts about it. You can gain a deeper appreciation of an oak tree by watching how the tree’s mood shifts with changes in lighting at different times of day. Observe the tree from unusual perspectives. Feel and smell its bark and leaves. Quietly sit on or under its branches, and be aware of all the forms of life that live in and around the tree and depend on it.

Look. Ask questions. Guess. Have fun! As your children begin to develop an attunement with nature, your relationship with them will evolve from one of teacher and fellow-student to one of fellow-adventurer.

5. A sense of joy should permeate the experience, whether in the form of gaiety or calm attentiveness. Children are naturally drawn to learning if you can keep the spirit of the occasion happy and enthusiastic. Remember that your own enthusiasm is contagious, and that it is perhaps your greatest asset as a teacher.
HOW TO ORDER:
All Sharing Nature Products are now available through secure online ordering.
Or call toll free to order through Inner Path at 866-665-7765

In the United Kingdom you can order our books from Deep Books, ltd.
Contact: David Birkett, david@deep-books.co.uk

Joseph Cornell's books are currently available in the following foreign languages: Chinese, Danish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, and Thai.

Excerpts from Sharing Nature with Children

Preface

How to be an Effective Nature Guide

Section One: Close-up with Nature- Meet a Tree

Section Six: Spotting and Attracting Animals- Bird Calling

Section Eight: Adventures- Silent Sharing Walk

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Sharing Nature Foundation
14618 Tyler Foote Rd.
Nevada City, CA 95959
530-478-7650
e-mail: info@sharingnature.com

			Home Flow Learning ™ Nature Activities Programs Calendar of Events Sharing Nature Worldwide Country Coordinators Joseph Cornell Books and Resources Connections and More Information
	Sharing Nature with Children, Volume 1 How to be an Effective Nature Guide: A Few Suggestions for Good Teaching

	Before we begin exploring nature with children, let’s think for a moment about our role as teacher/guides. What are the basic rules for giving children -- and ourselves -- a joyous, rewarding good time? I would like to share with you five tenets of outdoor teaching that have helped me work with children’s lively energies -- channeling them away from mischief, and toward more constructive, and ultimately satisfying, pursuits. Underlying these principles are basic attitudes of respect for children and reverence for nature -- attitudes to which they will surely respond. 1. Teach less, and share more. Besides telling children the bare facts of nature (“This is a mountain hemlock tree.”), I like to tell them about my inner feelings in the presence of that hemlock tree. I tell them about my awe and respect for the way a hemlock can survive in sub-alpine conditions -- where water is scarce in summer, and mostly frozen in winter; where harsh winter winds twist and bend and scour its branches. And I tell them I always wonder how the roots of the hemlock ever manage to find enough nutrients to survive, in these solid-rock crevices. Children respond to my observations much more freely than they respond to textbook explanations. Take the case of a hemlock tree that grew near a camp where I worked. This particular hemlock sits between two huge boulders, so it has had to send its roots down twenty-five feet to reach the rocky soil below. At the time, it was at least two hundred years old, and only eight feet tall. The children would frequently make a detour on their hikes just to empty their canteens by its roots. Several of them returned to the camp year after year, watching the tree’s stubborn struggle for life in its harsh environment. In fact, as soon as they arrived at camp, they would run out to see how it had fared through the dry autumn and cold winter. Their loving concern awakened in me an even deeper respect for the mountain hemlock. I believe it is important for an adult to share his inner self with the child. Only by sharing our deeper thoughts and feelings do we communicate to, and inspire in others, a love and respect for the earth. When we share our own ideas and feelings, it encourages a child to explore, respectfully, his own feelings and perceptions. A wonderful mutual trust and friendship develops between the adult and the child. 2. Be receptive. Receptivity means listening, and being aware. It is one of the most richly rewarding attitudes you can cultivate while working with children. The outdoors brings out a spontaneous enthusiasm in the child that you can skillfully direct toward learning. Be sensitive: every question, every comment, every joyful exclamation is an opportunity to communicate. Respond to the child’s present mood and feelings. Expand your child’s interests by teaching along the grain of his own curiosity. When you respect his thoughts, you’ll find your time with him flowing easily and happily. Be alert also to what nature is doing around you at the present moment. Something exciting or interesting is almost always happening. Your lesson plan will be written for you minute by minute if you tune in with sensitive attention. 3. Focus on the child’s attention without delay. Set the tone of the outing right at the start. Involve everyone as much as you can, by asking questions and pointing out interesting sights and sounds. Some children are not used to watching nature closely, so find things that interest them, and lead them bit by bit into the spirit of keen observation. Let them feel that their findings are interesting to you, too. 4. Look and experience first; talk later. At times nature’s spectacles will seize the child in rapt attention: a newly-emerged dragonfly pumping blood into tender unfolding wings, a lone deer grazing in a forest clearing. But even if those special sights are lacking, the child can have an experience of wonder by just watching quiet ordinary things with close attention. Children have a marvelous capacity for absorbing themselves in whatever they’re looking at. Your child will gain a far better understanding of things outside himself by becoming one with them than he will from second-hand talk. Children seldom forget a direct experience. Don’t feel badly about not knowing names. The names of plants and animals are only superficial labels for what those things really are. Just as your own essence isn’t captured by your name, or even by your physical and personality traits, there is also much more to an oak tree, for example, than a name and a list of facts about it. You can gain a deeper appreciation of an oak tree by watching how the tree’s mood shifts with changes in lighting at different times of day. Observe the tree from unusual perspectives. Feel and smell its bark and leaves. Quietly sit on or under its branches, and be aware of all the forms of life that live in and around the tree and depend on it. Look. Ask questions. Guess. Have fun! As your children begin to develop an attunement with nature, your relationship with them will evolve from one of teacher and fellow-student to one of fellow-adventurer. 5. A sense of joy should permeate the experience, whether in the form of gaiety or calm attentiveness. Children are naturally drawn to learning if you can keep the spirit of the occasion happy and enthusiastic. Remember that your own enthusiasm is contagious, and that it is perhaps your greatest asset as a teacher. HOW TO ORDER: All Sharing Nature Products are now available through secure online ordering. Or call toll free to order through Inner Path at 866-665-7765 In the United Kingdom you can order our books from Deep Books, ltd. Contact: David Birkett, david@deep-books.co.uk Joseph Cornell's books are currently available in the following foreign languages: Chinese, Danish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, and Thai.

	Excerpts from Sharing Nature with Children Preface How to be an Effective Nature Guide Section One: Close-up with Nature- Meet a Tree Section Six: Spotting and Attracting Animals- Bird Calling Section Eight: Adventures- Silent Sharing Walk

	\| Flow Learning™ \| Nature Activities \| Programs \| Calendar of Events \| \| Sharing Nature Worldwide \| Country Coordinators \| Joseph Cornell \| \| Books and Resources \| Connections and More Information \| Mailing List Sharing Nature Foundation 14618 Tyler Foote Rd. Nevada City, CA 95959 530-478-7650 e-mail: info@sharingnature.com