Nature Hike Notebook

 

           

Today's Snack: What's a good snack to bring on a hike? Trail mix, of course. One popular recipe calls for a cup of Chex mix, a handful of raisins, a handful of peanuts and a handful of chocolate chips or M&M's.

 

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Supplies:

 

One piece of 8 ½" x 11" cardstock

Several sheets of two-sided, horizontally-lined paper

Scissors

Rubber band

Straight twig, about 8" or less

Zip-lock bag

Hot glue gun

 

 

Each child can make a notebook like this to take along on a nature hike and record observations and thoughts.

 

            Lay down a piece of colorful 8½" x 11" sturdy cardstock, horizontally. Top with several sheets of two-sided horizontally-lined paper, or other lightweight plain paper. The colored cardstock will make the "cover" and the lined paper will make the inside pages of our notebook. Make a neat book-fold.

 

            Here's how we're going to make the binding of our book:

 

Holding it closed, with the fold toward you, go one-third of the way down from the top along the fold, and with scissors, cut a hole into the fold that's about an eighth-inch wide. Go two-thirds of the way down the fold, and cut another hole.

 

            Stick a rubber band through the two holes so that one end sticks out of the top hole, and the other end sticks out of the bottom.

 

            Now thread a twig through both rubber bands on the outside of the book so that they secure the twig in place as the "spine" of the book.

 

            On the inside back cover, hot-glue the bottom side only of a zip-lock bag, so that the bag mostly hangs free and the zip still zips. Inside this pouch, students can put treasures such as small leaves, twigs, berries and moss.

 

            The child can draw a picture for the front cover, with the title "My Nature Hike Notebook," and his or her name. Or it's fun to collect small items such as leaves, moss and feathers, and make a collage with glue for the cover, after you're back.

 

As a child goes on a nature hike, he or she might carry a pencil along, and sit down and write impressions and observations in the notebook on the spot - things you didn't know before, animals or plants you saw, sights and sounds that were memorable. It's always helpful to draw a picture to illustrate your notes, too.

 

Or just sit the child down as soon as the hike is over, to get that nature appreciation captured on paper to re-read and enjoy another day.