Category Archives: fall

Fall Wins.

autumn, fall, nostalgia

It happens every year.

After a blissful summer of friends, cocktails, and sand, we wrap up summer and round the corner towards cooler weather.  Fall calls to me, it whispers beguilingly, with its distinct smell of turning leaves and the delicious promise of hot cider.  Through the crisp, cool air, I swear I can hear the cheering in the football stadium; I feel the wool of my fisherman’s sweater.  I’m flooded with memories again and again.

As a child I looked forward to these memories, even though I didn’t have them yet.  Back then, tempura paint pumpkins in the school windows and sugar cookies with orange frosting comprised my autumn life experiences.   And I loved those, too.  But I was wide-eyed and forward-looking and I knew that my fall collegiate days would be filled with good things.

College didn’t disappoint.  The hills in central Pennsylvania are covered with brilliant foliage; the football games and tailgate parties were just as I imagined; the fisherman’s sweaters and conviviality, even better.  These things come flying back to me, year after year, as I look forward to another fresh start—even more than I do at the turn of the New Year.

Hope.  Renewal.  Home. 
As a mother, I wonder if fall will hold the same enchantment for my boys when they are grown and on their own.

How about you–what’s your favorite season?  What does it mean to you?
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activities for kids, fall

If you’re anything like me, the crisp, cool air of autumn draws you outside.  Fall has always been my favorite season and you can find me smiling through almost all of it.  The cider, the leaves, the pumpkins and squash, the soups, the football and soccer games…what’s not to love?

If you need some fresh ideas about where to explore the great outdoors in your area, check out this Nature Center Map.  You can enter your zip code and find great nature centers near you.

If arboretums are more your style, check out this list of arboretums by state.  Many of them have reciprocal or reduced admission privileges, so if you belong to one locally, you could take a fun day trip to visit another.

Zoos and aquariums can be fun in the fall, too.  Check with your local zoo to see what kind of activity and exhibits they have right now.  Check this listing of zoos and aquariums by state to find something close to you.  And don’t forget that zoos and aquariums, too, often offer reciprocal privileges for members.  Be sure to check around so you don’t miss out on a free or low-cost admission!

photo credit:  graybeard763

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Kids Can Learn a Lot from Nature

academics, activities for kids, fall, nature

When we think about doing educational activities with our kids, how often do we think about taking a walk through the woods?  As the leaves begin to fall, and animals scurry to collect food for winter, there’s plenty for kids to learn while they’re on the go.

One of the keys to growing kids who love to learn is to find the learning that’s available all around us.

As you walk through the woods, help your kids notice what’s happening during the fall season.

If they’re interested in the leaves, help them understand why leaves turn from green to the beautiful reds and golds of fall, and then drop to the ground.  Encourage them to gather leaves, and make a leaf print when you get home.  Talk to them about everything they see; help them to wonder.

If they go for the acorns, talk to them about seeds, and look for seedlings.  Talk to them about the different parts of plants, and how seeds grow.  Help them think about how seeds travel, and plant themselves!  Consider planting some seeds indoors together, so your kids can watch them grow during the winter.

Do they notice the animals?  If your kids are curious about how animals make it through the winter, talk to them about ecosystems and habitats.  Help them understand which animals leave for awhile (migrate) and which ones stay and hunker down (hibernate).

Your kids will be curious.  The key is to capitalize on their interests and keep the learning fun.

Happy autumn!

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