Rachel Teaches

Nature Explorers

Family Nature Study Group

 

"Let them once get touch with Nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life. We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things."

 

Charlotte Mason

Vol.1 Home Education

 

Our Values

 

 

Habits of Kindness

 

 

At all times, Nature Explorers practice the habit of treating others with kindness according to the biblical principle:

 

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,

 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

 

 

Matthew 7:12, NIV

 

 

 

Explorers also understand the importance of treating all living things with kindness.

 

 

“Reverence for life, as a wonderful and awful gift, which a ruthless child may destroy but never can restore, is a lesson of first importance to the child:

 

 

‘Let knowledge grow from more to more;

But more of reverence in us dwell.’”

 

Charlotte Mason, Home Education

 

 

 

Habits of Discipline

 

 

We treasure Attention, Observation, and Curiosity!

 

 

“Besides appreciating the world, observing nature develops other mental powers--

 

ability to focus, to tell things apart, to patiently seek answers. These things are useful in every facet of life.”

 

 

Charlotte Mason, Home Education

 

 

Knowledge of Nature

 

 

“Let them once get touch with Nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life. We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.”

 

Charlotte Mason, Home Education

Fall 2023 -Spring 2024 Program

 

 

 

 

Assembly

 

 

Assembly is a time gather, say hello to one another, and share new experiences of what we’ve seen in nature! This is an excellent time to share a story, specimen, poem, or Nature Book entry with the group.

 

 

 

 

 

Nature Lore

 

 

“The real use of naturalists' books at this stage is to give the child delightful glimpses into the world of wonders he lives in, to reveal the sorts of things to be seen by curious eyes, and fill him with desire to make discoveries for himself. There are many to be had, all pleasant reading, many of them written by scientific men, and yet requiring little or no scientific knowledge for the enjoyment.”

 

 

Charlotte Mason, Home Education

 

 

 

Before every Nature Walk, we’ll read aloud a bit of Nature Lore to wake up our curiosity. We’ll read from a book written by a naturalist, narrate what we remember, and finish by answering any comments or questions. During this time we will split into an older and a younger group. Rachel will lead the older students (11+), while parents with younger students can form another group to read the easier Nature Lore. If the little ones are not able to sit for the Nature Lore lesson then their parents may take them to play in a different area.

 

 

 

 

Nature Lore books for 2023-2024:

 

The Fall of the Year by Dallas Lore Sharp (Ages 11+)

 

Trees Every Child Should Know by Julia Ellen Rogers (Optional, Ages 9+, read at home)

 

Wildlife in Woods and Fields by Arabella Buckley (Ages 6-10)

 

 

We have copies of the nature books that you can buy from us. The Fall of the Year is $10.40 per copy, and Wild Life in Woods and Fields is $11.20 per copy. You may buy a copy from us, find another online, print your own, or use the free ebook from gutenburg.org. Whichever format you choose, we highly recommend that there is at least one copy for every two students who will read from it. We read aloud during the Nature Lore lesson, and it is important that every child can see the book for themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

Nature Walk

 

 

“How shall one discover such things for himself? how shall we, too, read the secrets of the Wood Folk? There is no space here to answer, to describe the long training, even if one could explain perfectly what is more or less unconscious. I would only suggest that perhaps the real reason why we see so little in the woods is the way we go through them—talking, laughing, rustling, smashing twigs, disturbing the peace of the solitudes by what must seem strange and uncouth noises to the little wild creatures. They, on the other hand, slip with noiseless feet through their native coverts, shy, silent, listening, more concerned to hear than to be heard, loving the silence, hating noise and fearing it, as they fear and hate their natural enemies.”

 

 

John Miller Dow, Secrets of the Woods

 

 

 

This walk is not just exercise! We want to spend time training ourselves to be Attentive, Observant, and Curious. It’s a time to take a break from visiting with our friends and learn to keep company with Nature! We’ll walk for 30 minutes quietly, exploring an area or trail in the park before returning for a Brush Drawing lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

Brush Drawing

 

 

Brush drawing is essentially using watercolors to draw. We use only a little bit of water so we have more control and the medium dries faster. During Brush Drawing lessons we’ll practice handling brushes and paint, mixing accurate colors, and using different brush techniques.

 

 

 

 

 

Nature Notebooks

 

 

“We venerate life exceedingly, and are unwilling to destroy it in any form. We prefer that our children should study the flowers of the field, and reproduce, however feebly, their tender grace of gesture, their purity of tint, than that they should be prepared to pass a difficult examination in scientific botany — highly as we value the latter kind of knowledge in its due time, that is, after children have acquired what we may call a personal acquaintance with Nature.”

 

 

Charlotte Mason, 1896

 

 

 

A Nature Notebook is a personal collection of notes and drawings of plants, animals, and landscapes that you have spent time observing. These Notebooks may contain descriptions of nature walks or special studies, calendars of seasonal changes, lists of bird and flower sightings, poetry, quotes, and scripture. During this time we all (parents included!) work on adding notes or drawings to our nature notebook. It is never graded or edited, and we always encourage students to add to it as often as possible.

COST

 

 

The Membership Fee depends on the Nature Explorers group and program you apply for. Please see the available groups and programs below for specific fees. Membership does not include materials such as a Nature Notebook, Watercolor Set, Orienteering Set, or Nature Lore Books.

 

 

Explorers will need a watercolor journal for all programs to use as their nature notebook and watercolor supplies.We offer a nature notebook and watercolor set for $20 per set. The set includes a Prang Semi-Moist Watercolor tray with 16 colors, two brushes, a water dropper, and an 8x5 watercolor book. You're welcome to bring your own nature notebook and supplies.

 

 

 

 

Attendence

 

 

Come as you can! Attendence is flexible to allow families to come enjoy nature and still do other activities.

 

 

 

 

Age Range

 

 

Adults and children 11+ are welcome to sign up as participating Explorers. Children must be 12+ to come without a parent. Children under the age of 11 may come with a participating parent for free.

 

 

 

Available Programs

 

Summer Navigation 2024

- $20.00 per Student, not including materials

 

Nature Explorers Fall 2024 - Spring 2025

-Program details will be published on this page in June 2024

 

 

 

Available Groups

 

Cypress Nature Explorers

 

-Meets monthly on 4th Thursdays in Cypress, TX

 

 

Northeast Nature Explorers

 

-Meets Monthly on 2nd Thursdays in New Caney, TX

 

If you are interested in starting a new Nature Explorers Group, please email racheli@rachelteaches.com

Application Details

 

What you will need to apply:

 

 

1. Participant Application Form

 

2. Outdoor Liability Waiver

 

 

Once you have filled out these forms, please send it to racheli@rachelteaches.com. Please specify which Nature Explorers group you are applying to! You will recieve a confirmation email as soon as your Participant Application Form and the Outdoor Liability Waiver have been recieved.

 

If you do not already know someone who is a member of Nature Explorers, we also ask for a reference and an online interview.

 

 

Registration fee and any other material fees will be due on the first meeting that you attend.

 

We currently accept cash, check.

 

 

 

New families may join at any time during the year.