Tag Archives: nature

Camp Au Pair – Nature Exploration

This week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Nature Exploration.

Crafts, recipes, activities, and games can all be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Nature Exploration pinboard.

Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. You can start observing nature at any local park or in your own backyard. If you want to take it a step further,  Below is a list of other local places to go explore nature. Get permission from your host parents before any outings and check websites before you go for hours and information.

Safety note: When coming inside after you have been outside exploring nature, it’s always a good idea to check the children and yourself for ticks. For more information, take a look at this post.

  • Aviary
  • Farm
  • Natural History Museum
  • Nature Preserve
  • Park
  • Wildlife Rescue Center
  • Consider joining the Free Forest School to find outings near you.

Virtual Field Trips:

Webcams – You can do a Google search for websites with webcams that allow you to observe nature.

Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about nature.

Books – Check your bookshelves and/or stop by your local library and look for books on nature.  You can also find many read aloud book videos on YouTube. Here are a few to get you started.

Image: toddleratplay.com

Explore the outdoors

bug on handPhoto by D Sharon Pruitt

It is great to see the world through the eyes of children.  There are simple things in day to day life that can be a thrill for young children.  Below are a few ideas to get you started thinking.  Try to take time for them to marvel at the world and see new things.

  • A car wash (the drive through kind or a bucket and a water hose in the driveway at home)
  • Parking on the street near a construction site to watch the big trucks
  • Feeding ducks bread at the park
  • Collecting leaves, pinecones and rocks
  • Driving across a bridge where they can see the water
  • Driving past a place where you can see animals
  • Any place that has something out of the ordinary, like a fountain or sculpture

Take a walk today!

burkelakemain2

Take a Walk in the Park Day

Don’t miss out on ” Take a Walk in the Park Day”. It is an opportunity for exercise and relaxation. Are you stressed out? A walk in the park is just what the doctor ordered. Its calming and therapeutic. Taken after a busy work day, it helps clear your mind and re-energize you. Or, take the walk during lunch and you will find the afternoon of work goes by quicker and easier.

A walk in the park will likely be the most enjoyable part of your day. In addition to avoiding a fall, open eyes will allow you to take in the beauty of nature’s wonders: flowers, and trees, birds, and wildlife.

Take time to plan a Nature Scavenger Hunt for the kids.  It will be a great memory for them and will put a smile on your face.

Scavenger Hunt List of Items

  • Acorn
  • Animal Tracks
  • Caterpillar
  • Clover
  • Driftwood (small piece)
  • Feather
  • Fern
  • Flowers
  • Insect or bug
  • Items categorized by color or texture
  • Leaves (of trees native to the area)
  • Moss
  • Mulberries
  • Piece of litter left behind by someone else
  • Pine Cone
  • Pine Needles
  • Rocks
  • Sand
  • Shell
  • Snail
  • Tree bark from fallen branch
  • Worm

Visit a pumpkin patch!

pumpkinpatchinfield

Pumpkin Patches:

Belvedere Plantation. Pumpkin Patch opens Sept 29. This working farm celebrates the fall harvest time with pumpkin picking, bonfires, evening hayrides, and a cornfield maze! Pick pumpkins by light on Fri/Sat nights. Other attractions include pedal tractors, pig races, a pumpkin mountain slide, barnyard animals, and the fun barn with giant rope swings. Food and other specialty items sold on the premises. 1401 Belvedere Plantation, F’burg, 22408. www.belvedereplantation.com

Clark’s Farm. Opens Sept 22 – Oct 31. Open 7 days/week from 10am – 6pm. Activities include: farm animals, a hay mountain, large maze, face painting, pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, great cutouts for photos, a moon-bounce, and pony rides on weekends. Food, hot apple cider, and specialty craft items sold on premises. Price of admission includes a pumpkin! 712 Courthouse Rd, Stafford, 22554.www.clarksfarmusa.com

The Corn Maze. Sept. 29 – Nov 4 (Fri, Sat, Sun) 10am – 6pm). 5 acre corn maze, barnyard animals, hayrides, pumpkins, picnic area and more. 4501 Old Tavern Rd., The Plains, 20198.www.cornmazeintheplains.com

Cows N Corn. Sept 15 – Oct 28. Corn maze, tour the farm via hayride, learn how to make butter, visit with the animals, pumpkin picking. 5255 Catlett Rd., Midland, 22728. 540-439-4806.www.cows-n-corn.com

Cox Farms. Open Sept 29 – Oct 31 from 10am – 6pm. Hayrides, 5 giant slides, farm animals, rope swing, kid zone, pumpkins and more. 5621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, 20120. www.coxfarms.com

Great Country Farms. Sept 29 – Oct 28; 9am – 6pm. Come pick your pumpkins, visit the pumpkin princess, cheer for your favorite pig as they race around the track, and watch P-Rex as he chomps on pumpkins! 18780 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont, VA. www.greatcountryfarms.com

Liberty Mills Farm. Sept. 15 – Nov. 4. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, games and more. 9166 Liberty Mills Rd., Somerset, 22972. www.libertymillsfarm.com

Miller Farms Market. Opens mid-September. Free hayrides to and from the pumpkin patch. 12101 Orange Plank Rd., Locust Grove, 22508. 540-972-2680. www.millerfarmsmarket.com

Mt. Olympus Berry Farm. Pumpkin patch and hayrides. 23298 Jeff Davis Hwy, Ruther Glen, 22546. 804-448-0395. www.mtolympusfarm.com/home.html

Round Hill Farm. A tractor-drawn hayride carries your family or group to the Pumpkin Patch. Pick-your-own or select from pre-picked pumpkins at the farms open-air market. Other activities include the barnyard petting-zoo with more than 30 farm animals, two hay bale mazes, a corn maze, rope swings, kiddie zip line, pony rides, and picnic area. The farm is open to the public on weekends from October 1st to October 31, 3pm -6pm on weekdays and 10 am to 5 pm on weekends . 6347 Everona Rd., Culpeper, 22701. www.round-hill-farm.com

Snead’s Asparagus Farm. Open daily. This working farm has a huge pumpkin patch for pick your own. Other activities include, pedal tractors, rope swings in the barn, hayrides, farm animals, and a picnic area. Admission is FREE on weekdays; you pay for your pumpkin only. Admission on weekends is $10 per car. 18294 Tidewater Tr, F’burg, 22408. 540-371-1070. www.sneadsfarm.com

Ticonderoga Farms. Open Daily: 9am – 6pm. Hayrides to pick your own pumpkins, cow train, petting zoo, moon bounce, swings, tee-pee hut play, antique tractors and more! 26469 Ticonderoga Rd., Chantilly, 20152. 703-327-4424. www.ticonderoga.com

Westmoreland Berry Farm. Oct 1 – 31. 9am – 5pm. Pick your pumpkins in their pumpkin patch. Other activities include a goat walk, playground, picnic area, ice cream shop and more!. Seasonal food items available in the farm store. 1235 Berry Farm Lane, Oak Grove.www.westmorelandberryfarm.com