Ice Sculptures for the Birds

Day 22: Ice Sculptures for the Birds

It was great to see snow the other day and continue to see it for several more days! We have a little tree near our house. I trimmed a few branches near the house that were a little in the way, though the extra trimmings of Christmas trees would work great for this!

I pulled cranberries from the freezer and a castle bundt pan--I'm excited to see how this will turn out! I placed the berries in the bottom of the castle pan in a manner please to my eye; however, when I added water, they floated wherever they wanted so just putting them in would work. 

I snipped some of my greens with my kitchen shears (which I love!) and arranged the greens with the berries. 

I put the pan in the freezer along with the pasture raised beef from down the street and our frozen pizzas from Sam's Club. Balance in all things, right? 

Natural Holiday Ornaments

Day 23: Natural Holiday Ornaments

We're working a little more on our 30 Days of Nature Art! Saturday, the planets aligned for us to arrive at the Nature Center at Pokagon State Park just in time for a class on Natural Holiday Ornaments! We were on our way to Ohio and Pokagon was right off the toll road for a quick stop.

The Nature Center staff had created several ornaments as inspiration--what great details, down to the skis! We heard Lauren will be leaving for Texas soon. She remembered us from our previous visits to Pokagon, such as our First Day Hike, Toboggan Run, Sledding, Winter Nature Center visit, and President's Day visit. We've gone other times, but haven't blogged about them all, enjoying bubbles, turtle sitting, and the Spring Shelter. 

I really appreciated how they had lots of supplies out and categorized to use!

There were many options, each in their own container. I may steal their set up ideas for future programs! :-)

Notice the jacket on the floor in the background? While this child immediately knew what he wanted to make, his jacket almost always ends up in a heap wherever he decides to take it off. Of course, we took a break to clear the pathways before he got too deep into the gluing. Tacky glue and glue guns were out. Both work well, but the glue guns set faster. They are also a little more dangerous, so the adults used the glue gun as the children directed our efforts!

I was very impressed with my husbands efforts for his "dude". 

There were a few items that didn't come straight from outside, like white cotton stuffing. My son used that to help with his Santa.

This younger guy tried the Tacky glue, but eventually realized the hot glue would keep it together better. 

Here is my creation--a snowflake of sorts! It's huge, though, so I will have to find a special place to hang it! The boys each made their own creation, with access to plenty of loose parts! I loved seeing what they came up with!

We spent a little time at the Nature Center before we headed on to Ohio. I like how this entry shelf always has seasonal items and changes most times when we visit. 

We always like checking out the bird feeders while at the Nature Center. There were plenty of Tufted Titmice while we were there and a big, fat squirrel! We also saw their wish list. I wrote a post about Wish Lists as part of the 31 Days of Nature Kindness series. They are in need of safflower seed. We purchased our 2014 State Parks pass as we entered--we're ready for plenty of outdoor exploration in 2014! I like that my husband suggested we go ahead and buy it! I'm usually the nature pusher, yet he recognizes that it is good for our family, too. I also like that having a park pass lets us just stop by the state parks for an hour if that is all the time we have. We don't feel like we have to get all our money's worth with just one stop as we know we'll be back numerous times. We have options and can just enjoy a small section at a time. 

Service Projects

Day 8: Service Projects

A great way to be involved in Nature Kindness is through service projects. We have been involved in many nature related service projects in the last several years. Many have been organized by another group, like our church, a nature center or other natural resource, or by an organization. We have organized others, gathering a few families to join us in our efforts. Watch the calendar at Inside Outside Michiana for service opportunities in the near future.

I will admit, there are a few grumblings from some of the kids at times; however, when they are "working" with other children, they often find that it can be fun. Of course, they need breaks, but it's fun to socialize and be with others during this time.

Here are a few service projects we have done in the past:

River Clean Up in Warsaw--organized by our church--fun in the water!

Invasive Species Pull--we organized this with a few other families. It was fun to see them and we accomplished more than we could have done on our own!

National Public Lands Day--This was part of a service project at Woodlawn Nature Center in conjunction with the opening of a new exhibit. Our family probably stuck at it the longest. It was good to have an opportunity for our family to work together, knowing we were involved in making this slice of woods better.

Litter Pick Up--I wrote about picking up litter last week--very easy to do and makes a big impact!

Work Party at my Grandparents' House--This was a blast to gather as an extended family and give back to our grandparents. I'll include some of the tips from this post below:

Who you might invite to help at a work party:

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Organizations (churches, schools, sports leagues, interest groups, scouts, etc.) 

4. Coworkers

5. Neighbors

Benefits of working together with others:

1. Accomplishing great things!

2. Have fun.

3. Socializing with others.

4. Getting more done than you could on your own.

5. Helping others and the environment.

6. Being the good in the world.

A few ideas if you'd like to host your own nature service party:

1. Many area agencies would love help clearing out brush or invasive species, working on a special project, or helping host an activity. Contact local nature centers, trail stewards, and other groups that could use help. Other options might be a neighborhood park, a neighbor who could use extra help, or  adopt-a-trail or highway sites. I suggest contacting the recipient to understand wishes before doing any service.

2. Encourage others to bring tools and other needed items. Make sure these are labeled to get them back to their owner. Gloves are helpful.

3. Have water available to keep people hydrated throughout the activity.

4. Keep a central list of things to work on so that when one option is finished, there are other projects to tackle.

5. Food is always a great addition! Having a potluck or sponsored meal or just good refreshments is a great way to refuel and a good time to socialize.

6. Think of activities for children to accomplish. They can be helpful in picking weeds up, moving rocks, etc. They need these experiences too!

7. Try to make it fun! A few harmless practical jokes or well placed water balloons can make things exciting!

8. Designate a brush pile or other ways of disposing of the accumulated natural debris. Planning ahead for this will make things go more smoothly. Some items, such as garlic mustard, should really be bagged and put in the trash. 

9. Thank you for helping! There are many ways you can make an impact! Be the good in the world!

Wish Lists

Day 7: Wish Lists

Area natural resource providers most likely have wish lists! You can be a part of nature kindness by helping fill some of these needs. We stopped at Pokagon State Park today and saw this list:

It mentioned the current needs to feed their animals and the wildlife outside. They could also use binoculars and field guides. In particular, they mentioned needing safflower seeds, as the squirrels don't tend to eat it. Let me say, there were pretty plump squirrels near the bird feeders! I understand where they are coming from!

Most natural resource providers need similar items. Check with organizations near you to see how you might help! 

I have been working on this project at Woodlawn Nature Center to build a natural play area where it is okay for children to play with nature. See what we need here. Maybe there is something you have that might be helpful. Thanks for paying it forward! 

By the way, while we were at Pokagon State Park, we went ahead and bought our State Park Pass for 2014! These are a great gift and I mentioned it on my post this week about giving the gift of nature memberships and passes. On my Facebook page, someone mentioned getting them for all the cars in their house! I like that my husband initiated this--I am usually the nature pusher in the family!

Bird Watches

Day 6: Bird Watches

Have you ever been involved in a bird watch? This is a neat way to get some time outside, observe birds, socialize, and contribute to citizen scientist projects. This is a form of Nature Kindness on several levels, as we are kind to ourselves as we socialize, get ourselves outside, and share needed information about the local birds. The information is used to understand trends and behaviors in birds better.

Last year, I participated in a couple of bird watches. There were several entry points for the beginner to the advanced birder. There are even options for children or from sitting in the warmth of your own home.

Here are a few Christmas Bird Counts coming up in the Michiana area:

Saturday, December 21st is a major day with both Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site and South Bend holding their Christmas bird counts. St. Joseph County Parks is also hosting a Christmas Bird Count for kids. I went to this last winter with my son. I must admit, it was just my speed! Read about our experience here. I enjoyed learning about the history of the counts, birding basics, getting outside, and discovering birds in more depth!

Here is information on the Gene-Stratton Porter State Historic Site Christmas Bird Count:
December 21st! Join us for some citizen science as we count the birds and participate in a national Audubon program started more than 100 years ago. Bird watchers of all skill levels are invited to participate in this free program. Please contact the Site for more information and to sign up (260-854-3790 or gspmemorialsociety@gmail.com).

Here is information on the South Bend Count:

South Bend Count - December 21, 2013

This will be the 70th consecutive count for the South Bend circle, centered at the intersection of Michigan and Washington Streets. Teams will count all the birds within a 7.5 mile radius of this intersection. The circle is divided into five sectors with each sector having a count leader. To join in the fun as a field counter, please contact one of the area leaders listed below or call (574) 272-8262 or email vriemens@earthlink.net.

Individuals who have home feeders and live within the count circle can participate by counting the birds that come to their feeders on December 21st and report them to Vic Riemenschneider at (574) 272-8262 or via email. Please leave your name, list of maximum number of birds of each species seen during the day, and your telephone number on the recorder if no answer. Please note the number of hours you watched the feeder during the day. All counts must be from within the 7.5 mile radius and counted on December 21, 2013. To learn more about NAS Christmas Counts, visit birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count. (from South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society's Leaves)

Here is info on the Christmas Bird Count for Kids:

• 21           Saturday
• Christmas Bird Count for Kids
• St. Patrick’s County Park: Brown Barn
• 9am to noon
• Free

Calling young birders! Join park staff for a program in conjunction with the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count. Kids, 3rd-8th grade, are invited to this FREE morning of birding. A count of birds at the feeders will be followed by birding on the trails. Snack and hot cocoa will be provided. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair from the park. Dress for the weather. Space is limited; registration is required by December 18.

On January 4th, Elkhart County will hold its 18th Annual Christmas Bird Count. I went on a hosted hike for the bird count in Elkhart County last year. Read about this here. It was nice to have guides who had a little more birding experience! I also enjoyed meeting together with others involved in the count at the end of the day. This was an excellent time to learn where to find different birds around the county, such as bald eagles. I ended up with a mental map of where birds are in the county.

Here is information for the Elkhart County Christmas Bird Count:

Elkhart County Count - January 4, 2014

The Elkhart County count circle extends from the state line on the north to Waterford Mills on the south end, and includes the towns of Bristol, Middlebury, Goshen, and the eastern portion of Elkhart. The center of the 7.5 mile radius for the count circle is the intersection of County Roads 18 and 23.

During the 18th annual Elkhart County Count, Field Observers will be assigned an area and given maps to count birds within a designated part of Elkhart County. Teams will bird by car and foot from dawn to dusk. Participants should dress for the weather and bring binoculars and field guides. Field observers will meet at Ox Bow House Shelter in Ox Bow County Park on Saturday, January 4th at 7:30 a.m. Ox Bow County Park is located at 23033 County Road 45 in Dunlap.

Feeder Counters can count birds in their yards. Participants must count the highest number of species seen at once in their yard on Saturday, January 4th. Feeder counts can take place anytime throughout the day.

The Elkhart Environmental Center will offer a Bird Hike at 9:00 a.m. for beginner to intermediate bird watchers who would like to experience the count. Lindsay Grossman will lead birders in a variety of habitats near the Elkhart River.

All participants are welcome to meet at the One Room School House from 5:00-7:00 p.m. the evening of the count to enjoy a bowl of soup, share stories, and compile species! Bring a dish if you wish; soup and drinks will be provided.

Please pre-register by contacting Ronda DeCaire with the Elkhart County Parks at (574) 535-6458 or e-mail rdecaire@elkhartcounty.com with your name, address, phone number, and e-mail to receive further directions for the bird count. (from South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society's Leaves)

There are also feeder watch options. It can take just a short time a few days a week to survey what birds you see at your feeder. Find details here. The South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society also regularly holds birding hikes, keeping tallies of the birds seen/heard along the way. I have appreciated these hikes as well!

Share Nature Art with Others

Day 5: Share Nature Art with Others

In the month of November, I looked at Nature Art on the blog! This can be a fun, creative experience to help us connect to nature. For our nature kindness today, why not share a little nature art with others? Think of the smiles on faces as people encounter a cairn (rock stack), nature face, or land art piece while out on a hike. Spread a little nature kindness by randomly or intentionally sharing nature art with those around you. Even snap a picture of what you have created and share it via social media. I know today, we did a couple of acts of kindness in the community (retrieved a lost glove--payback from someone recovering ours yesterday--and rang bells for Salvation Army). I shared pictures on Facebook and received tremendous response. We want to see the Good in the World. We can Be the Good in the World. Share the nature art you are creating with others! 

Source

I have linked to several options for Nature Art in this blog post, though my list is still growing, as we didn't quite make it to 30 in November. Feel free to get a little inspiration or share a little inspiration. Pay it forward! We love seeing what you are doing! Below are a few of the projects we highlighted in November. While it is great to give final products to others, I think giving the process to others is a great gift to share as well. 

Feed the Birds

Day 4: Feed the Birds

I'm not sure who this helps the most--the birds or us? Last year, my then three-year-old bought a bird feeder with his Christmas money. We put it out on the front yard where the rambunctious boys play all the time. I thought we wouldn't get many birds so close to the action, but they easily came. They returned after we didn't fill it up for a bit. They were quite forgiving. We have enjoyed watching birds come near our window--we can see nature in action! We get to know the characteristics and identify the birds through our interaction. Friends tell me stories of birds in their yard tapping on the window as they request a fill up for the bird feeder. Here is more information on how and why to keep bird feeders, though planting native plants that are beneficial to the birds and insects birds eat is important.

We made the following bird feeders recently, though there are numerous ways of making homemade treats for the birds, such as bird seed cookies (no sugar! We made some at Holiday at the Mill), suet balls, garlands, and other fun ways of sharing the bounty with the birds. These make great, no clutter gifts that help others spread the bird feeding love!

Snow sculpture bird feeder



Cardboard bird feeders



Spread a little nature kindness today--feed the birds or share your bird feeding stories with others!