Nature Study Immersion at CMI Eastern Conference 2018 by Marcia Mattern

Published by Carroll Smith at April 25, 2018

Tags

I’m currently sitting in the wild woods behind our property. Two little boys, one daughter and two dogs are discovering in the creek. The weather has been colder longer than I remember. Today it feels a little like spring. We have finally reached a place of barefoot in the creek. The coats have been shrug off and the wet places that used to be ice are now flowing swiftly. I’m hearing a woodpecker in the woods far to my left as it sends a stacato message to other birds (or perhaps the bugs hidden inside the log that he’s hoping to eat)! The chickadees are calling to each other through the brambles. Under the toes the ground is soft and the mud is amazingly smooth.

This can be the joy of afternoon nature discoveries. Having a perspective of rest and wonder allows us to know the woods and creek as an intimate friend. I feel so out of place with my laptop in the woods as I type this for my deadline. I long to be in the creek with the boys, but I just have to tell you about the Nature Study Immersion I’m offering at CMI East!

I’m hoping you will join me as we take a whole day to be in nature together. We will talk about ways to make nature study a regular part of your life experience. What are some reasons you might want to take the nature immersion? Do you feel like nature study is daunting? Does the idea of keeping a nature journal scare you? Would some systematic help get your special studies soaring? Do you understand things better having done it once with a little hand holding? Have you considered a Natural History Club or want to try regular outings with another family in nature together?

Our immersion day together will begin with a short exercise in the habit of attention. We will have a lecture on the impacts of nature study for us as mothers and for our children. The bulk of our morning will be spent outside where we will discover the flora and fauna of Virginia. We will look for wild spaces and allow ourselves rest of mind and heart. Together we will admire, wonder and question at all that we see and hear. It’s important that you check the current weather trends to be appropriately dressed for all kinds of weather! I will encourage wonder and model how to use open ended questions with your child in the field. I will also give space for rumination and narration.

After lunch we will return to our discussion of the impacts of nature study including ways to implement special studies with various Forms. We will have a time for journaling and have a lesson on brush drawing. I will share different products necessary and not so necessary to begin your family culture of nature study. My experiences with the Natural History Club in central Illinois will be explained as well as what I’ve gleaned from the Parents Review Articles.

Won’t you join me? I’m looking forward to meeting you!

Read more on my blog about our nature forays at www.motherwonderswhy.blogspot.com

Listen to my interview about Natural History Clubs on A Delectable Education (Podcast 96)

Marcia Mattern has been homeschooling with a Charlotte Mason approach since her first child was nearly 6. It all began with her husband ordering her the six volume series-Home Education. She has been part of A Continuing Conversation, the Peoria Illinois book group, as well as Sursum Corda the shared learning community. Marcia and her husband, Steve, live on 12 acres with a pony, goats, chickens, bees, cats and dogs as well as plenty of undomesticated animals. Each year adds another layer of understanding and implementation to their Charlotte Mason approach of learning with their six children. Before responding to the call to homeschool, Marcia worked as a Dietitian in the local hospital. Their first child graduated from homeschool in 2017 and attends music school. In the fall of 2018, there will be children in Forms 1b, 1a, 2a, 4 and 5 learning in their home. Any free moments Marcia has are spent searching for and rescuing the best books to use in their home learning.