August 2009 Archives - 3/0 - The Grass Stain Guru

Monthly Archives: August 2009

Giving Back: The Family Eco-Challenge

August 24, 2009

“Man’s heart away from nature becomes hard.”

~ Standing Bear

As reader’s of this blog know, our relationship with nature is something I deeply believe is an important part of life. How we connect to the natural world, making time to get outdoors and play and enjoy time exploring our surroundings, watching wildlife, and experiencing the quiet and beauty that nature give us is a piece of life that should not be lost in our fast-paced world. From cradle to grave, nature’s beauty offers something that man’s heart needs.

A part of loving and enjoying our planet, is taking steps to take care of it. As my friend The Good Human says, “Good planets are hard to find.”

The great folks over at Play Outdoors are running an exciting Family Eco-Challenge that I encourage you all to participate in. It’s a great way to spend time together while giving back to your community, spending time outdoors, and learning to be good stewards of the Earth. It’s a win-win-win!

And speaking of winning, participants are eligible to win a Play Outdoors shopping spree for great kids’ outdoor clothing and gear. So get started! Check out the Family Eco-Challenge today and give something back to Mother Nature.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: Adam Jones, Ph.D.

By Bethe | Posted in Activities | Tagged family eco challenge, Grass Stain, kids, nature, outdoors, play, win | Comments (22)

Mystery Critter #19

August 22, 2009

Greetings, wildlife detectives! It’s time for our weekly round of Mystery Critter. Ready to put your curiosity and sleuthing skills to the test? I’ve picked a fun one today — a little shout-out to the kid in all of us. I distinctly remember being fascinated by these critters when I was a little girl.

So, let’s get to it. Put those thinking caps on and let’s play! And remember — no cheating.

CRITTER CLUES:

I am found throughout North America;
My habitat is gardens, meadows, and woods;
Aphids are my favorite meal (yum!);
I can lay up to 500 eggs in my lifespan; and
I may invite myself to be your house guest in the fall.

What am I? Make your guess, and then go here for the answer and more interesting facts. Did you get it right?! If not, no worries — you’ll have another chance next week!

If you live in North America, you have seen this Mystery Critter since you were a kid. If you are a gardener, you are no doubt on a first name basis with them. As always, it’s not about what you see, but simply making the time to get outside and connect with nature, and taking the opportunity to really notice the wildlife near you. Let Mother Nature show you a thing or two this weekend!

Don’t forget to let folks know about what you see! Join the Wildobs community and report your wildlife observations. It’s a great way to keep track of your wild adventures and share info with others.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: JoshuaDavisPhotography.COM

By Bethe | Posted in Activities, nature | Tagged family, fun, Grass Stain, kids, mystery, nature, outdoors, play, wildlife | Comments (19)

Frolic Friday: Barefoot Edition

August 21, 2009

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair.
~ Kahlil Gibran

By now, you have probably realized that I am a bit obsessed with going barefoot. It’s true. As a child, my mama called me the Barefoot Contessa — she could barely keep me in shoes.

So, in honor of the end of a frantic week and the coming of Frolic Friday, let’s kick off our shoes and relax.

Why not…

Grab the kids and catch fireflies or make a pitcher of strawberry lemonade and sit out on the stoop or on a blanket in the backyard and tell stories;
Turn on the sprinkler (early in the day!) or head to the nearest splash park. The kids can splash around while you enjoy a shady spot and a catch-up on that book you’ve been meaning to finish; or
Set-up old school games like Twister, croquet, or badminton in the yard or nearby park and have a ball!

As always, it doesn’t matter what you do — just kick off your shoes and have some fun. You’ve earned it. The birds will be singing, the squirrels darting to and fro — you’ll laugh and forget it all for a bit, which in my humble opinion, is a very worthy pursuit.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go get these shoes off.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: specialkrb