The Very Next Thing | Organic Living Ideas and Discussions | Green Eco Friendly Products

Taking it to the Creeks!
June 16, 2011 at 6:00 am

I like putting Creek on the chalkboard. Mostly because I love watching my kids’ heads explode with excitement and anticipation.

My kids love visiting the creek … they happily pack up their backpacks full of nature guides, magnifying glasses, binoculars, notebooks, jars … you know, for specimens.

I used to bring a lot of gear too — hand sanitizer, wipes, first aid kit, flares, antivenom …

That is a slight exaggeration, although this week we did see a snake! And a toad.

I have scaled back a bit. I bring a big bottle of water. I leave the first-aid kit in the car.

Mostly I just follow my kids to this happy place, where there is always something new. The creek is kind of like an old friend now who we go visit.

As in, “Seriously? Who threw a beer can in our friend?”

But fishing out what doesn’t belong and checking in with what does helps us all connect to nature, and disconnect from all the other stuff. Like phones, computers, television …

There’s really not much you need to spend a day at the creek.

And “Don’t worry everybody!” Ellery told us. “I packed cherries if we need a snack.”

I love putting Creek on the chalkboard.

Posted in (activities with kids,family,homeschooling,nature) by Kara
Comments (4)

4 Comments »

My kids LOVE the creek too. Which one do you go to? I like ones where they can get right in the water in their rain boots.

Comment by Nicole — June 16, 2011 @ 11:08 am

We have a creek on our property. In the summer it’s a trickle, but in the spring, or when it rains heavily, there’s enough water in it to warrant calling it a creek. Marcus has never really noticed it before and I am a little reticent to show him how much fun it is, especially now that we let him play outside on his own and we don’t want him wandering off (as curious 4 year olds are bound to do). And, you know, there is the issue of the black bear that comes around from time to time… What’s a Mama to do?

Comment by Daphne — June 16, 2011 @ 11:23 am

That is a tough one Daphne! I would be a little nervous about a black bear too!

Comment by Kara — June 16, 2011 @ 12:31 pm

Kids are like magnets to water, rocks, and dirt. A creek is the perfect combination.

Comment by Kari — June 16, 2011 @ 1:33 pm