What's in our Nature Study Kit?

When I first started homeschooling, I knew that we would do nature studies. Yet, I had no idea what to take with us. Most of the time, nature study is done in our own backyard. If we need anything, we just run in the house and get it. Yet sometimes our nature study happens at our family's 400 acres and pond, the zoo, the nature center, or...just out in the woods somewhere. In that case, we only want to take what we need. I don't want to end up lugging everything we own.

I have a large backpack that we stuff everything in. Sometimes, the Snails fill their own little backpacks with stuff that they want to take (which, in Little Snail's case, is sometimes a baby doll or two). Here is what I bring:

Field Guides for Plant & Animal Identification

The guides above are called Fandex guides.

I am in the process of making some compact, pocket size, leaf identification cards and will offer them as a download on the blog. I can't wait! We also have a free guide to native Georgia trees that we use. You can find resources for your state here.


Art Supplies

We use watercolor pencils and bring a water bottle. It is much easier for my kids, because they are so little, to draw with the watercolor pencil and then add water on top of their drawing. I also throw in two washcloths to use to wipe our brushes. We also bring oil pastels. Little Snail is very picky about her crayons. They can't have paper and they can't be broken. We went through sooo many crayons until I discovered oil pastels. They are like crayons, only thicker and creamier. They don't break as easily and ours seem to last forever. (That is Little Snail drawing a sun with rain in the picture).

We also take acrylic paint. I put our paint in a little container that baby hair elastics came in, but you can also use one of those M-F pill boxes (they have them at the Dollar Tree). We also use the Canson watercolor and drawing papers. Watercolor paper is great because it can hold up to water. We take clipboards to hold the paper. We also take pencils and pens.

We also take binoculars, magnifying glasses, bug nets, a compass, and containers for sample collecting. We have taken several types of containers: mason jars, disposable ziplock food containers, zip lock bags, brown paper lunch bags, grocery sacks, old spice jars, old and clean medicene bottles, etc. We learn what is appropriate to take from nature and what is meant to stay in nature. For that reason, we also take a camera. We don't have a huge butterfly net...we just use those green little nets you use for a fish tank.

When the Snails get older, we will be taking a small field microscope, butterfly nets, blank field journals, and other "big kid" equipment.

Finally, I throw in bug spray and sunscreen. I also always make sure we have my cell phone....because Hubby Snail thinks we might get chased down by snakes or hunted by a Florida panther.

So, this is what we take on our nature study trips. We believe that kids should spend time outside everyday. If you haven't ever done nature study with your kids, don't be afraid to get started. For more information, check out:

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv (one of my all time favorite books)
Charlotte Mason and Nature Study: here and here with a good "how-to" here
Why Christians Need Nature Study (by Jimmie)
for a complete free '"curriculum", visit Handbook of Nature Study
and Nature Journaling for Kids

Get your kids outside! My one tip...don't be all "teachery" about it...give them the tools and let them explore the earth on their own.