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Sharing Nature with Children, Volume 1
Section One: Close-up with Nature
Meet a Tree

In Ohio many years ago, a naturalist at an outdoor education camp led a group of children on a very special hike. I was a participant rather than a leader that day, and I still enjoy my memories of the outing. Our guide created dramatic, contrasting experiences for us that ensured that all of us would have deep, new, personal contacts with the natural world.

Most of the children had never been in an evergreen forest in their lives, and we were going to one of the few pine forests in southern Ohio. (This stand of pines was planted many years ago as part of an arboretum, a place where trees are scientifically studied.) The children were excited, and our naturalist-guide channeled their high energy skillfully to create a moving experience of the forest.

She first took us to a Christmas-tree farm, where she announced with a flourishing sweep of an arm and a twinkle in her eye, “This is the pine forest.” Groans and disappointed shuffling of feet -- the trees were barely taller than the children.

She then blindfolded all of us and led us through a sunny deciduous forest. Pretty soon we heard a stream and she said, “There’s a narrow bridge here, so you’ll have to cross one at a time.” The first child started across, then shrieked with nervous laughter. The rest of us waited uneasily, not knowing what was ahead.

My turn came and I groped my way forward, taking a first cautious step onto the bridge. Aha! No wonder there were squeals -- the bridge swayed dizzily from side to side, and bounced up and down at the same time. Between the creaks and groans of ropes and wood, I heard water rushing along far below. At the other side I was greeted by a flutter of small hands; the naturalist had let the children take off their blindfolds to watch me cross. I now removed my own blindfold and saw a safely-built suspension bridge, its handrails polished from much use.

We replaced our blindfolds and struck out on the trail again. After awhile the sound of our footsteps changed; we heard no more crackling leaves, only a soft, muffled crunching as we walked. Then there was a dark shadow all around us and we sensed a deep quiet -- fewer bird sounds, and no rustling of leaves in the wind. A child broke the silence: “Where are we?”

The naturalist said, “Lie down on your backs and try to feel what is special about this place.”

We lay for a long time experiencing the deep, restful quiet. Finally, the naturalist told us to take off our blindfolds. Shooting skyward were countless magnificent pine trees. My spirits rose with them, and I was overwhelmed with admiration and awe -- I had never seen a forest this way before. The children were completely stunned. Finally, we sat up and looked around at each other, quietly sharing our amazement. On our own we wandered through the forest, touching the trees and gazing up into the forest cathedral.

It takes a happy combination of setting and receptivity to have a really deep experience like this. That’s what the games in this chapter are for: to bring us that fresh and mysterious contact with other members of the natural world.
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 Section One: Close-up with Nature Meet a Tree

	In Ohio many years ago, a naturalist at an outdoor education camp led a group of children on a very special hike. I was a participant rather than a leader that day, and I still enjoy my memories of the outing. Our guide created dramatic, contrasting experiences for us that ensured that all of us would have deep, new, personal contacts with the natural world. Most of the children had never been in an evergreen forest in their lives, and we were going to one of the few pine forests in southern Ohio. (This stand of pines was planted many years ago as part of an arboretum, a place where trees are scientifically studied.) The children were excited, and our naturalist-guide channeled their high energy skillfully to create a moving experience of the forest. She first took us to a Christmas-tree farm, where she announced with a flourishing sweep of an arm and a twinkle in her eye, “This is the pine forest.” Groans and disappointed shuffling of feet -- the trees were barely taller than the children. She then blindfolded all of us and led us through a sunny deciduous forest. Pretty soon we heard a stream and she said, “There’s a narrow bridge here, so you’ll have to cross one at a time.” The first child started across, then shrieked with nervous laughter. The rest of us waited uneasily, not knowing what was ahead. My turn came and I groped my way forward, taking a first cautious step onto the bridge. Aha! No wonder there were squeals -- the bridge swayed dizzily from side to side, and bounced up and down at the same time. Between the creaks and groans of ropes and wood, I heard water rushing along far below. At the other side I was greeted by a flutter of small hands; the naturalist had let the children take off their blindfolds to watch me cross. I now removed my own blindfold and saw a safely-built suspension bridge, its handrails polished from much use. We replaced our blindfolds and struck out on the trail again. After awhile the sound of our footsteps changed; we heard no more crackling leaves, only a soft, muffled crunching as we walked. Then there was a dark shadow all around us and we sensed a deep quiet -- fewer bird sounds, and no rustling of leaves in the wind. A child broke the silence: “Where are we?” The naturalist said, “Lie down on your backs and try to feel what is special about this place.” We lay for a long time experiencing the deep, restful quiet. Finally, the naturalist told us to take off our blindfolds. Shooting skyward were countless magnificent pine trees. My spirits rose with them, and I was overwhelmed with admiration and awe -- I had never seen a forest this way before. The children were completely stunned. Finally, we sat up and looked around at each other, quietly sharing our amazement. On our own we wandered through the forest, touching the trees and gazing up into the forest cathedral. It takes a happy combination of setting and receptivity to have a really deep experience like this. That’s what the games in this chapter are for: to bring us that fresh and mysterious contact with other members of the natural world. 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