Where Did We Go Wednesday? RBNC Macro Invertebrates Class

Did you know that many nature centers offer a variety of classes for kids, adults, and Families? We used to be able to get more of the classes in when we were not as busy but as the kids grow older their schedules get busier. This class was a macroinvertebrate class at the river bend Nature Center in Faribault Minnesota.

It was quite an interesting class and we discovered many creepy things living in the pond.  they look even creepier when you look at them under microscopes.

Usually classes there are very low-cost or possibly even free. I encourage you to check them out and see what is available to you. Ours changes whenever we get different interns, so each year it might be different classes. Also oftentimes nature centers offer day camps so that might be an option to help round out your child summer especially if they are starting to complain of boredom.

Wordless Wednesday: Turtle Pond at River Bend Nature Center

The turtle pond at River Bend Nature Center is a favorite of my kids. 

Wordless Wednesday: Early Spring at Big Woods State Park

I wanted to share some pictures with you from our hike last weekend at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park in Minnesota near Northfield.

Fitness Friday: Go Hiking with Your Kids

This Labor Day Weekend, I encourage you to get outdoors with your children or by yourself and go hiking. This nature center that I went hiking at with my kids is the Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington, MN of the Twin Cities.

Please scroll through the pictures and see some of the amazing sites my kids were able to experience. This particular nature center is part of a park district, but you can find other non-profit nature centers, state parks, state trails, national parks just with a few clicks of the button.

You can see from this trail map that there are miles of trails to cover that view a variety of different water features, plus it also includes an ampitheater and a kids outdoor play area.

Some locations you might find will have trails for hiking but others may also have camping and swimming, playgrounds, and many other activities.

Every one is very different in it's landscape and offerings, and those differences will change with our seasons and just what nature has had in store for us that year.

The wonderment and amazement you will witness in your children when you take them out in nature will be so worth the minutes or hours you may drive to get to your destination.

Don't be afraid to get up close and explore. Slow down and really look at things. It's not a race to see nature, you have to experience it.

Some places may even have indoor interpretive centers with other activities to help teach them about nature in other ways. My children continue to surprise me with how well they can get along together when I get them away from the toys and the screens and in to nature. There is something about fresh air and dirt and creatures that brings them together.

Let your children have fun, and join in on the fun. Those memories will stick with them long after all the toys you bought them have broken

You never know what you may find, so keep you mind and your spirit open.

Thrifty Thursday: Naturalist Classes at RBNC

Today I am going to tell you about the Naturalist-led classes/walk (offered every Tuesday at 5pm through out the summer!!!) that my kids and I take for FREE (still, they are super cheap for non-members) at River Bend Nature Center, but honestly these classes could be offered at any nature center. This particular class we learned about insects that call the nature center home in the woods, prairie and ponds. I knew this one would be a huge hit with my kids since we can my son the Bug Whisperer, seriously this boy can can any bug or frog or whatever and does it gently too.

Nature Centers are a great place to take affordable classes. As members, many of our classes are free or we receive a member discount. And why not become a member it is a great place to support, as well as being tax deductible. This was the first "class" my son has taken with me there, but my daughter has been taking them with me for several years. In fact, one of our favorites was a insect class on a humid and hot almost 100 degree day. Last year I think one of our favorite classes was learning Slack Lining, which they are offering again this year. We also took this awesome class on finding edibles in the forest; we both learned so much from that class.

We have also taken classes on Natural Dying and Natural Old World Toys (yes, we did make some to bring home, like Corn Husk Dolls and Jacob's Ladder and a couple others) and Paper Bowl Making and a Drawing Class (so out of my comfort zone, but awesome to learn about). I could go on and on about all the things we have learned about at River Bend Nature Center, but what I want you to do is tell me:

Where is your closest Nature Center? 

Do you ever visit or take a class?

I am not sure what class we will be taking next, but my daughter will have a week of nature camp coming up next month.

Wordless Wednesday: Frank Woodfill Wildlife Refuge

Frank Woodfill Wildlife Refuge in Medford, MN 

Wordless Wednesday: Looking For Spring!

Seriously!!!! Where is spring in MN? I am confused considering we are under a winter weather advisory and snow is in the forecast Tu-Fri this week in MN. Ugh!

These were taken just a week ago.

We recently went hiking around River Bend Nature Center looking for signs for spring.

Can you see spring here?

Can you hear spring here?

Did you find spring under here?

Searching for spring.....

Hello? Spring?

I think we may have found it.....Or maybe not....

Wordless Wednesday: River Bend Nature Center

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES TO GO

#163 Make Fairy Potions

My daughter is REALLY into fairies these days, so we will probably have a series on crafts & activities to do with fairies. This one is making magic fairy potions. Really the magic involved in this is her imagination.

One night I told her this would be the activity we would be doing the next day and she was to create recipes that night. So, she diligently got to work. Got out her notebook & markers and began drawing pictures of things we could find in the yard to add to each of the jars.

Then we used 4 jars I had been saving (to use for whatever) and filled them with water & a drop of food coloring, mixed in up with a stick and added items according to her recipe. She ran around the backyard collecting items and putting them in the jars just as she had drawn them.

The magic part comes in with sprinkles & dust. I told her I had magic sprinkles (raw sugar) and magic dust (wheat germ). She asked what the difference was and I told her, "They do pretty much the same thing - make things magical - it's just that some fairies like to use dust and other fairies like to use sprinkles." So, she made her choice with each recipe if it needed sprinkles or dust.

Oh! And she decided what each potion did. So, now we have potions that: make big bubbles, make big carrots, make fairies life-size, and make the leaves fall from the trees.

Free Classes for Members @ RBNC

Check out the free classes (plus some pay ones) at River Bend Nature Center in Faribault, MN. Our family loves RBNC and have done many classes and special events (speaking of which, today is Winterfest from 12-4 and I am looking forward to it!)

I wanted to point out the Going Green class and even though I am not a beginning at being green, there is always more to learn so I plan to bring my daughter to do this class with me as long as we remain available that day.

Other classes of interest to me include: Maple Syrup Open House, Preschool Nature Play, Recycled Paper Making, Night Hikes, Frog Chorus, Pancake Brunch, Going Green, Intro to Fly Casting (for the hubby), aand Orienteering (maybe).