Getting the kids to learn about nature without the politics
Getting the kids to learn about nature without the politics
Author
Discussion

oldbanger

Original Poster:

4,328 posts

262 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
Is this possible?

I mean, unless you want to go it alone.

I'd love the kids to grow up learning to love nature and whilst we do a fair bit as a family, it'd be great to be able to join up with other people. My taxonomy isn't great, for a start, but it's also good to get the kids to mix. But the organised activities I've found so far seem to have the kind of eco-doom laden political focus that I'd rather avoid.

So where do all the "normal" natural historians go these days? Have they all got old and died?

DrTre

12,957 posts

256 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
Given David Bellamys stance on MMGW, have a look around him?

Chris_w666

22,655 posts

223 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
There are a few here http://www.swog.org.uk/

I plan to spend the next couple of years helping schools teach kids about nature and to respect it without spinning the usual global warming lines, I am pretty sure you can learn a lot from some of the eco stuff like recycling and composting, looking after animals and plants etc without the usual global warming agenda.

Mobile Chicane

21,825 posts

236 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
Great website and community here:

http://www.newhousefarm.tv/

It is a bit lentilist, but more from the perspective of sustainable living and saving money.

thumbup

anonymous-user

78 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
the best thing to do is take them out for the day and show them things.

if you could do something like pen y fan with them you can take a map with you and explain the principles of glaciers and how the ice shifting caused the landscape to look the way it is. that area of the breacons is good because the land is easy to follow. to get them to try to find points on the map etc. i think to get someone interested in nature, you have to take them to it. i know thats much easier said than done but with a bit of prep it would be an ace day!

oldbanger

Original Poster:

4,328 posts

262 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
Chris_w666 said:
There are a few here http://www.swog.org.uk/
I'm afraid woodland owner status would have to wait until after that lottery win. smile

oldbanger

Original Poster:

4,328 posts

262 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
pablo said:
the best thing to do is take them out for the day and show them things.

if you could do something like pen y fan with them you can take a map with you and explain the principles of glaciers and how the ice shifting caused the landscape to look the way it is. that area of the breacons is good because the land is easy to follow. to get them to try to find points on the map etc. i think to get someone interested in nature, you have to take them to it. i know thats much easier said than done but with a bit of prep it would be an ace day!
Well I live rurally, and have to walk the dog every day rain or shine (3 year old in tow) so that's not as difficult as for many people - at least to see a pastoral/agricultural landscape. I point out plants, insects and the easy birds as we go. I guess I'm really looking to find people more knowledgable than me.


Chris_w666

22,655 posts

223 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
oldbanger said:
Chris_w666 said:
There are a few here http://www.swog.org.uk/
I'm afraid woodland owner status would have to wait until after that lottery win. smile
I just borrow one wink

anonymous-user

78 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
pablo said:
the best thing to do is take them out for the day and show them things.

if you could do something like pen y fan with them you can take a map with you and explain the principles of glaciers and how the ice shifting caused the landscape to look the way it is. that area of the breacons is good because the land is easy to follow. to get them to try to find points on the map etc. i think to get someone interested in nature, you have to take them to it. i know thats much easier said than done but with a bit of prep it would be an ace day!
Thats how my folks taught my brother and i about nature, how to read maps etc etc. To this day i still use most of what i learnt when i was a kid, even if its just looking at the clouds to see what the weather might do, or explaining to that dingbat mrs slopes, why certain things are the eay they are, mountains and hills,valleys etc, so cheers mum and dad, very usefull and the best way to learn i think

Pigeon

18,535 posts

270 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
oldbanger said:
walk the dog every day rain or shine (3 year old in tow)... I point out... the easy birds as we go.
Isn't 3 years old a bit young for that?

oldbanger

Original Poster:

4,328 posts

262 months

Sunday 7th March 2010
quotequote all
Pigeon said:
oldbanger said:
walk the dog every day rain or shine (3 year old in tow)... I point out... the easy birds as we go.
Isn't 3 years old a bit young for that?
Badoom tish! laugh