Communion and Connection!

I read something this week that sparked my imagination and got me reflecting on the way in which today’s proliferation of social media, screen time, and constant connecting affects our deeper ability for communion and connection, with each other, and with the larger community of life.

The article, by David Spangler, alluded to him asking his daughter why she didn’t just call her friends instead of constantly texting them.  She replies sweetly,

“If we called each other, we’d have to have something to talk about!”

David responds, “But aren’t you talking to each other when you’re texting?”

“Oh, no”, she replied. “we’re not talking, we’re connecting.”  

The article continues with Spangler exploring the difference between communication for the purpose of conveying information and communication intended to create communion and to build connection.  You can read the full article at David's Desk.

In the face of such formidable and alluring competitors as the Internet, the cellphone and the video game, (not to mention the TV!), how can we re-ignite in children a sense of communion and connection to nature?  Basically, it’s going to take a lot of work, commitment and determination on the part of parents, teachers and grandparents!  Something that was once just a natural part of life (kids playing outdoors), has morphed into a scheduled activity!  The good news is that there are some wonderful resources to help you back onto the path of re-discovering the outdoors with your children!

Here are some Blogs and websites that I've found along the way that you might find helpful!

Teacher, Juliet Robertson’s Blog “I’m A Teacher, Get Me Outside here!” has some wonderful ideas!

Beth Almeras is The Grass Stained Guru and she shares lots of fun tips for immersing kids in nature!

The  Children & Nature Network  provides plenty of information as well as reminders of why it's so important for us to reconnect our children back to nature.

Out Bound Family provides fun ideas for family activities - a useful resource

Eartheasy – provides solutions for sustainable living has some very useful links to environmental websites for kids.

Songs! Well, of course it being my blog, I am bound to recommend a song or two to sing as you meander down the garden path! I Saw Butterflies Kissing Today, is a favorite, and it names lots of critters you can look out for along the way!

Stories! A short break on your hike provides the perfect moment for a story!  Here’s an easy one to learn that reminds us that each of us carries within the beauty of the universe: The Stars Inside

I am not able to write as many posts as before since I am working full time on producing a new half-hour Curious Kids TV Show for WGCU Public Media (www.wgcu.org)  There is a wealth of useful information and links in the archives of this Blog; I urge you to take a look.  I will be releasing my new CD and launching a companion website very soon, so stay tuned and thanks, as always for taking the time to read and share this Blog.

Have fun communing and connecting with/to this beautiful Earth!

In gratitude for life.

Rosie
Photo by Chip Hoffman

Setting Our Intentions!

I heard something this week that I just loved; it was someone describing how their mother arose each day before dawn just so that she could send out her intention for the day.  As if by witnessing the dawn, and sending out one’s prayers, one could partake in influencing the unfolding of that day in a positive way. 

Sages have long practiced such early morning meditation for exactly this reason; sending out their intentions and prayers to heal and inspire all beings.  

With kids heading back to school, I wanted to share this idea with teachers so that perhaps this semester they could gather their students together and collectively set their intentions to protect and preserve this very battered planet and help build a more peaceful, just, kind and harmonious world in which we can all live. 

So here are a few ideas of how it could be a fun and joyful experience!

Morning Circle:  People have gathered in circles since the dawn of time; sitting in a circle allows us to see each person’s face, to listen to our fellow compatriots on this journey and get to know them a little better.  Share a song, or a poem that will set the tone for the day.  Invite each child to share one thing that they might do that day to help protect the earth; or some action they could take to bring kindness to another person, or an animal.  Create a Talking Stick and use it each time you gather in circle.

Pledge to Act!  Margaret Meade’s famous quote “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” is empowering.  Each one of us can make a change in our daily lives that helps to reduce our footprint on this earth, brings peace to others and builds a foundation of trust and harmony; all it takes is our decision to do so.  Make it a daily, or weekly event, to make a pledge with the children.

The Little Earth Charter;  this program for children provides a fun springboard from which to create activities that focus on protecting the earth and being socially responsible.

Songs:  Friends of the Earth is a great song to learn – it is a wonderful song to incoporate sign language.  I have had numerous student bodies sing this song to me and sign it as they are singing.  You can hear it at  Little Animation For Kids Just go to the Music Section.  Dolphin Teach Us To Play is another one that illustrates the joy and harmony of life.

Photo by Tessa Emery

Campfire Fun!

There is something about a campfire that awakens memories of ancient times in us; we are drawn to stare into the golden flames, to reflect and imagine – at least that has been my experience from many campfire moments with adults and kids.

Storytelling comes alive as the flames flicker, and legends take on a whole new dimension, as well they should since many have been passed along on just such nights as this with everyone gathered in the glow!

I’ve shared some of my favorite stories and songs below, but here are a few fun ideas for campfire games too.  10 Campfire Games You Have to Play!  With younger kids the alphabet travel game is always fun.: you just go through the alphabet, each person choosing a different letter; start with a name, then a place and then something that comes from there.  So – my name is Alice and I come from Alabama and I am bringing apples, and so forth.

I find that just sharing personal stories can be a very moving and profound experience with children and adults.  We all have a story to tell and most good stories are the ones that recount the tale of an event in someone’s life.  Stories are as old as time and many cultures and indigenous peoples history is recorded only through their oral traditions.  Here is an interesting article  on storytelling.

Songs can add to the atmosphere, especially if everyone can join in and sing along.  Some of my favorite tunes to share with kids around a fire are the Mosquito song, Bats, bats, bats, and Slip Slitheree Dee.  I make up actions for my songs and that adds more fun for the kids – you can easily make up your own actions, or better still get the kids to!  You can fine all these songs on my MySpace page. 

  

Stories One of my favorite campfire stories is the Iroquois story of the Big Dipper.  Twice I have told this story and a shooting star has fallen at exactly the right moment! Amazing!  The legend of the Milky Way  is another good one.

I am back in Florida now, working on a brand new half-hour kids TV show for WGCU Public Media  We are in the midst of auditions, looking for children who will be our Curious Kids TV Hosts!  Due to this new workload my blogs will not be as frequent, but I will be posting from time to time and there is a wealth of information already written if you look through the archives.  Hope everyone is having a good summer (or winter, depending on where you are!).  Feel free to get in touch with me if you want a specific song back up on MySpace!  I will be launching a new website in the fall along with my new CD!

Stay tuned! In gratitude for life and this precious earth that sustains us all!

Rosie

  

Photo of Campfire Eric Dufresne

Traveling Back to Florida

If you're reading this, you will know that I am on the road again!  Traveling back to Florida, from Montreal!  I am beginning a fabulous new project, one which I have dreamed of doing my whole life!  I will be producing a Children's half-hour TV Show for WGCU Public Media (PBS) in Fort Myers, so lots of work, but an amazing opportunity to share knowledge, inspire kids to get outside and discover the marvels of the natural world, promote wellness and demonstrate our interconnectedness to the Earth and each other!

I will be resuming my Blog Posts in a few weeks, so please come back and visit!  In the meantime, if you scroll through the archives, you will find a wealth of information and ideas as well as links to some great stories and resources!

I hope your summer is going well and that we will connect again soon!
In gratitude for life and this precious Earth,
Rosie

The Boys Do Their Share!

It’s a weird thing, that three o’clock in the morning, wide-awake situation that happens every now and then.  Usually I just toss and turn, counting sheep and reciting every mantra I’ve ever learned ad nauseum; but this a.m. I was zapped with a sudden inspiration to write this Post.

Father’s Day’s coming up (June 20^th) and my interest in all things “father” was peaked by Natural Papa's Blog Post featuring the Good Men Project.    (Interesting that it is also World Solar Day June 19^th and the Sun is called “Father Sun”  by many indigenous peoples.)

  

Obviously I think it’s really important to nurture environmental stewardship in both boys and girls, however, through my experience visiting hundreds of schools I have noticed that girls seem to gravitate more toward eco-clubs and earth-friendly projects.   I am sure it all evens out as they all grow into adulthood, but nevertheless it can do no harm to share with kids some of the male role models in nature whose paternal attributes are worthy of notice.

Here are some examples to share with your kids or students:

1.  The Sea Horse:  This uniquely delightful fish is one of the only animal species on earth in which the male bears the unborn young!

2. Emperor Penguins: While the females make an arduous trek in search of food, it is the males who delicately balance and protect the eggs from the bitter cold elements.

3.  Emu:  The female emu lays the eggs, but it is the male who incubates them and once hatched, takes care of the chicks for up to six months!

If we are to overcome the challenges of the future, we need every boy and girl to understand that it is all of our responsibilities to care for and protect the living systems of this earth.  World Governments voted last week to set up an international body to spearhead the battle against the destruction of the natural world!  Imagine that we have to do such a thing!  One day, our children’s children will look back on this time and say “what were they thinking?”

Song: The Boys Do Their Share!– sing the song to celebrate this Father’s Day!

And here’s a Fun Video: Why's Daddy Crying? -  by JC Little of Little Animation Inc.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am writing shorter posts over the summer, particularly over the next week or so, as I am traveling and working on a new project.  I will, however, be writing from time to time and come the fall will continue with more prolific posts!  I appreciate those of you who are followers and anyone who happens to take the time to read my ramblings!  Have a great week!

In gratitude for life and this precious Earth!

Rosie

Photo of Penguins: Ian Duffy - Wikimedia Commons

The Ocean is Bleeding.

I was going to take a break from blogging over the summer, and I confess that my posts will be shorter and slightly less in-depth; however the practice seems to have seeped into my weekly routine and therefore I am going to try and write some short pieces and share information I find along the way!

Obviously the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has heightened everyone’s awareness of the fragility of the oceans, the vulnerability of our dependence upon its bounty and the devastating effects our reliance on oil has wrought.  With globs of red tar washing up on Florida beaches last week I heard a newscaster say that it was almost as if the ocean was bleeding.  As my heart breaks with every picture of an oil covered bird, marsh grasses tainted brown and fisher folk despairing over how they will survive the future, I wonder how we explain all this to the children.

Educator David Sobel cautions us to be careful of how much doom and gloom we expose young children to and yet with this recent incident it is hard to imagine that children have escaped the painful images.  Perhaps one way to talk to children about such events is to focus on the gifts and beauty that the oceans provide; and to remind them that while we are currently so dependent on oil, that in their lifetimes they will bear witness to an incredible transformation as we switch to clean Energy sources.  Get them excited about this, ask them about their ideas to become part of the Solution!! 

Learning about the ocean must also include learning the basics about water – here is a great website with Resources and links.  World Ocean Day is June 8^th – maybe a bit late to organize something this week, but plan for next year, although simply acknowledging and celebrating the ocean on that day is a start!  The Smithsonian’s  Ocean Portal provides a wonderful view into the ocean for anyone to explore with an Educators Corner providing resources.

Songs:  The Coral reef song and Dolphin teach Us To Play are up on my MySpace Page  and Raffi's Baby Beluga is always a favorite!  Sing one of them on World Ocean Day!

Story:  Here is an amazing website with Stories of the Ocean from around the world!

Yes, the oil spill is a terrible disaster that will have repercussions for years, but lets hope that out of it may come a stronger resolve to lessen our collective addiction to oil and work to bring clean energy solutions everywhere.

Have a great week everyone.

In gratitude for life and this precious Earth!

Rosie

More Clean Energy Resources:

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/

Drawings by: Rosie Emery

PS If you'd like to become part of my new Kids CD "I Saw Butterflies Kissing Today!", please pledge your support to be the first to receive it! Thank you!

I Saw Butterflies Kissing: Wrap Up!

A beautiful Swallowtail butterfly flew into my windscreen today as I was driving.   Zap, its short life diminished to a smear; there wasn’t much I could do but say a quick prayer of gratitude for its life, accept responsibility for its death, and be relieved upon exiting the highway to see lots more of them, fluttering in all their glory! Thankfully they seem abundant, unlike so many other species that are facing challenging times.

This is my last post in the series that has focused on the song I Saw Butterflies Kissing Today! since we have arrived at the last verse!  I hope it has provided some insight into of the abundance and diversity of species living all around us, even in urban centers and inspired ideas for introducing children to these neighborhood characters!

I know that I write from a place of privilege since much of my childhood was spent in nature.  For me, hours spent watching water bugs, tadpoles and dragonflies was the norm; collecting wild flowers and then carefully pressing them into books was a precious pastime and summer afternoons lying under the horse chestnut tree dreaming of the pony express riders somewhere in that vast land called America gifted me with a treasure chest of memories.  

My family was not wealthy; sure, we lived in the country, and our garden bordered on a forest and fields with ponds and streams, but my rich experience of the natural world came from the fact that I was not allowed to stay indoors.   I was told to go and play outside!  I’ve heard the excuses given by many parents today and I don’t dispute that the world is a different place now; it does appear scarier and there do seem to be more dangerous people around.  I am not here to diminish the very real fears that plague parents today. 

However, I do believe that we are robbing our children of a valuable lifeline if we do not find ways to connect them to nature; one that is inherently important to their own well being and creativity as much as it is vital for the future preservation of the planet.  Increasing research, particularly that of author Richard Louv, demonstrates that Nature Deficit Disorder is real and needs to be addressed.  

A recent article in Wired magazine illustrates how the Web “Shatters Focus and Rewires our Brains.” It certainly made me step back and assess how much time I spend a day online (I purposely kept myself off the computer most of this weekend!).  Kids today live vicariously through their screens; they text, surf the web and socialize on Facebook, Twitter and other networks and watch a lot of TV.  Lets get kids back outdoors!  It’s not about money, its about recognizing that we have a problem here and making a concerted effort to address it anyway we can; we owe it to our kids and to the planet which gives us all life.

  Verse 5

Well I didn’t go far, just stepped outside,

Cost no money to take this ride

It’s quite amazing what you see,

When you open the door and feel the breeze!

Lesson Ideas!

1.  Step outside! Gather up jars, tweezers, magnifying glasses and off you go!  Create a Scavenger Hunt, just begin!  Kids are naturally curious and nature is full of opportunities to nurture that curiosity!

2.  Take kids outdoors to the backyard, park or schoolyard (if it is not covered by concrete) and ask each child mark out a square of land approximately 3’ by 3’ (you can use something like cornmeal to demarcate the boundaries).  Have them study that piece of land, noting down every living thing that is there, or that visits the patch while they are observing. They can use their magnifying glasses and dig up a piece of the earth to see what is underneath.  In the Secret Life of the Suburban Garden you will see that quite the variety of species was discovered!

3.  A Day in My Backyard!   Write a “Backyard” Play all about the creatures that live there.  First identify some of the species that you see; learn about them; draw pictures of them and then collectively write a story about a day in the life of...the little brown rabbit...the little black snail, or whomever you choose!  You could make it a musical – I have quite a few songs about animals , (bats, spiders, skunks, raccoons, chickadees) and so do other artists!  Here is a great Critter Catalogue that can help to identify species.

Interconnections!

Urban centers have grown and sprawled across this planet.  Yes, there are thankfully still large tracts of land preserved as National Parks and conservation sanctuaries, but for wildlife, particularly migrating species, they must seem few and far between.  Creating Wildlife Corridors  is one way in which we can help many species. Once you have begun to learn what species live or travel through your neighborhood, explore what kinds of plants and trees could be planted to benefit them.  In doing this you will also create a beautiful oasis that lives and breathes in amongst the concrete! 

Songs!

Grandmother Spider, the Chickadee Blues, Bats, Punk the Skunk, Rocky Raquino and I Saw Butterflies Kissing Today!  All these are up on my MySpace page.  My new CD, all about the backyard, will be ready by mid July – if you would like to be the first to get a copy please sign up on my Kickstarter page! 

Story!

One of my most favorite books as a child was The Secret Garden  If your kids or students have not read this timeless classic, then I would recommend that they do so.  There is also the Secret Garden Movie, which would be a pleasant rainy day activity!

Have a great week, enjoy the days out under the trees exploring this magical earth!

In gratitude for life, and this beautiful planet upon which we live!

Rosie

Resources

Outdoor Games for Family Fun!

Photo of Swallowtail butterfly Mila Zinkova

Photo of young girl by Tessa Emery

Other photos by Rosie Emery