A flash of orange caught my eye as I glanced out my office window. I was deep in thought trying to work out the intricacies of our fall schedule when I noticed a lone butterfly wobbling through the air floating from branch to branch, finally landing on a brightly colored stalk of goldenrod. It’s just … Continue reading An Incredible Journey: The Power of Place in our Daily Lives
Blog Posts
10 Creative Writing Prompts to Boost Your Nature Journaling Skills
Nature journaling should bring greater joy and creativity to your life. It is liberating to be able to express your inner thoughts and it's fun to experiment with different forms of writing to find your true voice.
Teach Green: Lesson Plan to Create an Illustrated Nature Journal
Illustrated Nature Journals for Kids Summary: Whether writing for scientific purposes or personal satisfaction or to convey personal experiences in the natural world to others, what better place to start a nature journal than on the Huntington Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. Students will explore Huntington Beach, Porter Creek and the flora and fauna of the … Continue reading Teach Green: Lesson Plan to Create an Illustrated Nature Journal
Nature Journaling for Environmental Awareness and a Balanced Life
The natural world is filled with seasons and cycles that provide predictability to life. Plants and animals depend on it. However, sometimes humans forget we are a part of nature too. We believe that the law of the land doesn't apply to us. That somehow we can outsmart Mother Nature, creating a man-made place apart from … Continue reading Nature Journaling for Environmental Awareness and a Balanced Life
Cleveland: Will the Republican National Convention Muddy the Waters of a Green City on a Blue Lake?
Delegates are beginning to arrive in Cleveland and party leaders have been meeting here to establish a platform for the general election. The 15-month $50 million renovation of Public Square is finished. The media has arrived and is broadcasting from the historic Cleveland Mall. Newly painted artwork has been installed along the Red Line tracks … Continue reading Cleveland: Will the Republican National Convention Muddy the Waters of a Green City on a Blue Lake?
Lake Views: Reconnecting with Life’s Essential Resource
Lake Erie was blue this morning, its glassy surface reflecting the clear sky above … one of the many faces of a lake that’s seen many faces. The Great Lakes. Six quadrillion gallons of fresh water. One-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water and 84% of the surface water supply in North America. In fact, … Continue reading Lake Views: Reconnecting with Life’s Essential Resource
(A Review) “Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman” by Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia
With a title like "Let My People Go Surfing" you wouldn't expect to find this book in the business section. However, as the saying goes … don't judge a book by its cover. Dive in and you will find that the unique and common sense business philosophy of Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, … Continue reading (A Review) “Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman” by Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia
The Home Team Advantage: Beware of the “Summer Slide”
We have reached the time during summer break when kids are bored and many parents struggle to find ways to entertain them until school starts again. This seems counterintuitive to me. It has been well established that American students have slipped in the international education rankings. As a result, the Common Core State Standards were … Continue reading The Home Team Advantage: Beware of the “Summer Slide”
The City of Shaker Heights: Going green can be gorgeous!
The weather in Northeast Ohio has been incredible this spring. Temperatures have been in the 70's, with cool nights and just enough rain to keep everything green. Mother Nature delivered another picture-perfect day for the 10th annual Gracious Gardens of Shaker Heights garden tour, hosted by the Shaker Heights Historical Society. The "Garden City" The … Continue reading The City of Shaker Heights: Going green can be gorgeous!
School’s Out. Now What? Teach Green Summer Reading List for Kids
I am the mother of four children, three boys and a girl. I will always remember the sound of the school bus as it came to a stop outside our front door on the last day of class. I still associate its screeching brakes with the energy that was unleashed in my household the minute my exuberant kids raced through the back door, shedding book bags and uniforms as they ran. I learned early on that the best way to channel an over abundance of youthful enthusiasm (and preserve the sane existence I had come to appreciate during the school year) was to get them interested and involved in stimulating activities as quickly as possible.
So, it became a family tradition that as soon as everyone was finished with school, we would load up the Suburban and head to my parents farm in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Here, they had 200 acres…
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