The nature center features a Natural Playground:
Bicycle Sculptures:
And an indoor space with educational exhibits on OWLS...and caterpillars and turtles:
Monday, June 30, 2014
Tour De Nature Centers - Houston, MN
While on a camping trip in southern Minnesota, we took the opportunity to stop at Houston Nature Center, home of the International Owl Festival and the World Owl Hall of Fame! Houston Nature Center is also the trail head for the Root River Trail, a 60-mile paved trail connecting the MN cities of Houston, Rushford, Peterson, Whalen, Lanesboro, Fountain, Preston and Harmony.
The nature center features a Natural Playground:
Bicycle Sculptures:
And an indoor space with educational exhibits on OWLS...and caterpillars and turtles:
The nature center features a Natural Playground:
Bicycle Sculptures:
And an indoor space with educational exhibits on OWLS...and caterpillars and turtles:
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Tour De Nature Centers - Richardson
On our way home from the Cleary Lake camping trip we stopped by Richardson Nature Center. The exterior building design AND the indoor interpretive center space blew us away! If you live in the city with children and you want a nature-filled place to go without driving far, this is your place!
From the indoor viewing windows, we checked out the four resident beehives, hummingbirds, bluejays, chickadees, and a wild turkey!
Outside we encountered a goose and her babies, a painted turtle, and a fort-building space!
Again, we are worried about the summer mosquito population, but we just might brave it anyway to bring Mane and a group of her homeschool buddies out for a day of fort-building.
From the indoor viewing windows, we checked out the four resident beehives, hummingbirds, bluejays, chickadees, and a wild turkey!
Outside we encountered a goose and her babies, a painted turtle, and a fort-building space!
Again, we are worried about the summer mosquito population, but we just might brave it anyway to bring Mane and a group of her homeschool buddies out for a day of fort-building.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Tour De Nature Centers - Cleary Lake
While technically not a nature/interpretive center, Cleary Lake Regional Park offers plenty of wide open space and nature-centered activities for nature-seekers like ourselves! The building features a "snack shop," fireplace, and indoor/outdoor seating.
We camped at one of the "hike-in" campsites in the Basswood Campground over Memorial weekend. There were carts for hauling stuff to the campsite. (Alas, if only we could have snagged one of those on this busiest of all busy camping weekends, though none of the sites were so far from the parking space that hauling everything was overly burdensome.)
We enjoyed a trip around the two islands in Cleary Lake on a paddle boat. The park rents out paddle boats, canoes and kayaks. (And there's a group camp site on one of the islands!)
The beach was a busy place during the daytime, but the chilly mornings & evenings found it still and quiet:
Cleary Lake also offers a Pavilion rental space for events. They were setting up for a wedding inside. Otherwise, I might have taken more photos! The round fireplace in the center of the building, along with the vaulted ceiling and windows overlooking the lake make the building both seem cozy and expansive...
A view from the campground peninsula of the beach & rental building across the lake:
We camped at one of the "hike-in" campsites in the Basswood Campground over Memorial weekend. There were carts for hauling stuff to the campsite. (Alas, if only we could have snagged one of those on this busiest of all busy camping weekends, though none of the sites were so far from the parking space that hauling everything was overly burdensome.)
The campground does not have showers, but it does have clean pit toilet buildings (solid wood structure, cement floors - not standard outhouses), and the main visitor center and beach building both have flush toilets and sinks with running water.
We enjoyed a trip around the two islands in Cleary Lake on a paddle boat. The park rents out paddle boats, canoes and kayaks. (And there's a group camp site on one of the islands!)
The beach was a busy place during the daytime, but the chilly mornings & evenings found it still and quiet:
Cleary Lake also offers a Pavilion rental space for events. They were setting up for a wedding inside. Otherwise, I might have taken more photos! The round fireplace in the center of the building, along with the vaulted ceiling and windows overlooking the lake make the building both seem cozy and expansive...
A view from the campground peninsula of the beach & rental building across the lake:
We are a little worried that the mosquitoes might be bad here in the summer. There are lots of little marshy areas and ponds. But it was a lovely place for a spring camping trip - less than 40 minutes from home and tucked back in the trees!
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Summer Fun 2014
It's that time of year again! There are so many things to do in our
beautiful city over the summer and so many of them are FREE! I need a
place to keep track of them all, and a blog post seemed like the natural
place to write it all down and SHARE it, too!!
Minneapolis Music and Movies in the Park:
There are free concerts and movies in the park EVERY night in Minneapolis all summer. The inflatable mobile movie screen makes an appearance at a different park each night. Bring your picnic blankets and/or lawn chairs, snacks, drinks, and bug repellent! We tend to go early to appreciate the playgrounds, pools, splash pads or large fields for flying kites! Lots of kids come in pajamas with their pillows for an easy transition to bed once the movie is over.
Nine Nights of Music:
Tuesdays, July 1st-August 26th. Dance instruction by the Tapestry Folkdance Center begins at 6:30pm. Concerts are from 7-8:30pm. Each night features a different culture and style of music.
Ordway's Summer Dance Series:
Offers free dance lessons and live music at Rice Park in St. Paul on Thursdays June 19th-July 24th. Lessons at 6pm, Music at 7:15pm.
Cromulent Shakespeare Company:
Presents free performances of The Comedy of Errors in various parks around Minneapolis and St. Paul throughout the month of June.
Minnesota Orchestra:
Presenting Symphony for the Cities June 30th in Hudson, WI and July 1st in Plymouth, MN. These are free evening outdoor concerts!
The Medalist Concert Band:
A group of 70 volunteer musicians from around the Twin Cities offer free concerts at various locations in June and July (including Como Pavilion, Lake Harriet Bandshell, and Centennial Lakes Amphitheater). We have a friend playing in this one!
MN State Fair Non Fair Events Calendar:
Check out the Non Fair Events Calendar and find horse shows, pet a palooza, car shows, book sales, jewelry shows, train shows, beer events, etc, etc, etc... all year round. (Note: some of these events are NOT free.)
Como Park Groovin' In the Gardens:
A free outdoor concert series at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory every Wednesday June 18th-August 6th 6-8pm. Entertainment includes, not just music, but a climbing wall, bounce house & lawn games!
Three Rivers Park District:
Visit a nature center! The Three Rivers Park District nature centers are phenomenal! Offering both indoor and outdoor exploration, for any kind of weather, these are some of our favorite places to get out of the city hubbub.
MN State Parks:
Check out the MN State Parks calendar of summer events! Most of the events are free, and there are a variety of parks within reasonable driving distance of the Twin Cities.
Minneapolis Music and Movies in the Park:
There are free concerts and movies in the park EVERY night in Minneapolis all summer. The inflatable mobile movie screen makes an appearance at a different park each night. Bring your picnic blankets and/or lawn chairs, snacks, drinks, and bug repellent! We tend to go early to appreciate the playgrounds, pools, splash pads or large fields for flying kites! Lots of kids come in pajamas with their pillows for an easy transition to bed once the movie is over.
Nine Nights of Music:
Tuesdays, July 1st-August 26th. Dance instruction by the Tapestry Folkdance Center begins at 6:30pm. Concerts are from 7-8:30pm. Each night features a different culture and style of music.
Ordway's Summer Dance Series:
Offers free dance lessons and live music at Rice Park in St. Paul on Thursdays June 19th-July 24th. Lessons at 6pm, Music at 7:15pm.
Cromulent Shakespeare Company:
Presents free performances of The Comedy of Errors in various parks around Minneapolis and St. Paul throughout the month of June.
Minnesota Orchestra:
Presenting Symphony for the Cities June 30th in Hudson, WI and July 1st in Plymouth, MN. These are free evening outdoor concerts!
The Medalist Concert Band:
A group of 70 volunteer musicians from around the Twin Cities offer free concerts at various locations in June and July (including Como Pavilion, Lake Harriet Bandshell, and Centennial Lakes Amphitheater). We have a friend playing in this one!
MN State Fair Non Fair Events Calendar:
Check out the Non Fair Events Calendar and find horse shows, pet a palooza, car shows, book sales, jewelry shows, train shows, beer events, etc, etc, etc... all year round. (Note: some of these events are NOT free.)
Como Park Groovin' In the Gardens:
A free outdoor concert series at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory every Wednesday June 18th-August 6th 6-8pm. Entertainment includes, not just music, but a climbing wall, bounce house & lawn games!
Three Rivers Park District:
Visit a nature center! The Three Rivers Park District nature centers are phenomenal! Offering both indoor and outdoor exploration, for any kind of weather, these are some of our favorite places to get out of the city hubbub.
MN State Parks:
Check out the MN State Parks calendar of summer events! Most of the events are free, and there are a variety of parks within reasonable driving distance of the Twin Cities.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Benefits of homeschooling...
School in bed! Mane organized her history binder while listening to her history book on audio...in bed!
Notice all the handy items scattered about: water bottle, lamp, speakers, notebooks, colored pencils, hole puncher, books, teddy bear...
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Power of Play
I recently finished reading Free to Learn by Peter Gray. The book's subtitle says it all: "Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life." The book has a very unschool-y bent, as it features the democratic school of Sudbury Valley. I don't "buy in" to unschooling, as it has been presented to me, though I've had a couple of other people state that they view us as unschooling. I don't see it that way, since we use curriculum, and I have certain expectations for covering material each week. On the other hand, I work for Mane's "buy-in" with the curriculum. I try something else if the thing we're doing is making her hate the subject matter.
But I do "buy in" to the power of play. Mane has clearly had artistic potential from a very young age. I've signed her up for art classes from time to time, and she's enjoyed them. BUT, she hasn't taken time with her artwork. She hasn't focused on creating a finished product that is truly the best she can do. She simply hasn't been interested. She wants to have fun and didn't see a lot of point in doing a great deal of work to turn out a masterpiece. Until Recently. Recently, she and her friends have developed a fantasy play game that they play regularly when they get together, and they needed a "blueprint" for a bronze dragon. Mane spent the better part of a day drawing a dragon blueprint, using the book cover of one of the Percy Jackson books and several images off the internet. I was totally impressed by what she turned out. I honestly didn't know she had THAT kind of potential. Once it fell into the category of fun, she far exceeded what I even thought was possible. I've also been seeing her read...and read...and read because she wants fodder for the same play mentioned in the above paragraph. Play is fueling her "work."
But I do "buy in" to the power of play. Mane has clearly had artistic potential from a very young age. I've signed her up for art classes from time to time, and she's enjoyed them. BUT, she hasn't taken time with her artwork. She hasn't focused on creating a finished product that is truly the best she can do. She simply hasn't been interested. She wants to have fun and didn't see a lot of point in doing a great deal of work to turn out a masterpiece. Until Recently. Recently, she and her friends have developed a fantasy play game that they play regularly when they get together, and they needed a "blueprint" for a bronze dragon. Mane spent the better part of a day drawing a dragon blueprint, using the book cover of one of the Percy Jackson books and several images off the internet. I was totally impressed by what she turned out. I honestly didn't know she had THAT kind of potential. Once it fell into the category of fun, she far exceeded what I even thought was possible. I've also been seeing her read...and read...and read because she wants fodder for the same play mentioned in the above paragraph. Play is fueling her "work."
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Tour De Nature Centers - Silverwood
While we are awaiting our next trip to a nature center (next Tuesday), I thought I'd post about the one we visit the most! Silverwood Park!!
We love Silverwood for it's focus on art, it's huge fireplaces (both indoor and outdoor), the kid's play items in the coffee shop, the COFFEE SHOP, the outdoor amphitheater, classroom buildings, kiln, lake, bridge... We love the kid's art activities every Sunday afternoon, folks playing music on the porch in the summer, free concerts in the amphitheater, homeschool classes and programming, the offering of pottery and photography classes, and the wide open spaces to run and play.
These photos make me totally miss summer!
We love Silverwood for it's focus on art, it's huge fireplaces (both indoor and outdoor), the kid's play items in the coffee shop, the COFFEE SHOP, the outdoor amphitheater, classroom buildings, kiln, lake, bridge... We love the kid's art activities every Sunday afternoon, folks playing music on the porch in the summer, free concerts in the amphitheater, homeschool classes and programming, the offering of pottery and photography classes, and the wide open spaces to run and play.
These photos make me totally miss summer!
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| Ship Sculpture on the Lake |
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| Classroom Building |
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| Kiln |
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| Banquet Hall |
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| Amphitheater |
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| Amphitheater |
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| Park Building |
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| Outdoor Fireplace and Rocking Chairs |
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| Coffee Shop Fireplace |
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| Coffee Shop & Kid's Play Items |
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Tour De Nature Centers - Eastman
Today's nature center visit was to Eastman, within the Elm Creek Park Reserve in Dayton, MN.
We LOVED everything about this place, from the kids play area:
To the quiet observation room where Mane could paint:
The binoculars and books provided for bird-watching:
The library with bird, wildflower and butterfly books:
The pond surrounded by all kinds of chipmunks, squirrels, and birds:
The rocking chairs overlooking the pond and birdfeeders:
And ledges where we can all sit in a row for lunch! LOL!
We LOVED everything about this place, from the kids play area:
To the quiet observation room where Mane could paint:
The binoculars and books provided for bird-watching:
The library with bird, wildflower and butterfly books:
The pond surrounded by all kinds of chipmunks, squirrels, and birds:
The rocking chairs overlooking the pond and birdfeeders:
And ledges where we can all sit in a row for lunch! LOL!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Tour De Nature Centers - Wood Lake
Today we visited Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, MN. We've been inspired to check out the nature/interpretive centers that are sitting right under our noses...also to get out of the house and into sunlight (even if it's just through big windows) after a hard, hard winter.
So, right in the middle of the city of Richfield, a few blocks from the freeway, across the street from apartment buildings and strip malls, we found a marshland and nature center!
Mane set up camp by the bird-watching window and painted. We all paged through bird books, identifying the red-winged blackbird, chickadee, grackle, sparrow, and blue jay.
So, right in the middle of the city of Richfield, a few blocks from the freeway, across the street from apartment buildings and strip malls, we found a marshland and nature center!
Mane set up camp by the bird-watching window and painted. We all paged through bird books, identifying the red-winged blackbird, chickadee, grackle, sparrow, and blue jay.
Nothing like sitting in the sunlight painting, reading books and learning letter sounds...
In a room full of animal displays, aquariums, play spaces and nature-themed toys...
We ate lunch in front of the windows over-looking the marsh, next to the round fireplace! We saw at least 1 coyote (maybe 2...we're not sure if it was the same one) while we ate.
Next up? Eastman Nature Center at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Dayton, MN (about 30 minutes NW of Minneapolis). We're headed there tomorrow!
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