Saturday, June 26th,  is the Great American Campout!

Celebrate with your tots and get outdoors this weekend.

Get out a tent and flashlights & let your creative and imaginative side be your guide.

There is so many GOOD reasons to celebrate nature…

” thousands of people across the nation will gather in their backyards, neighborhoods, communities and parks to take part in a one-night event that will provide an experience for all generations to connect with nature. You can join the Great American Backyard Campout whether you are an experienced camper or first-time campers. We have all you will need to get you ready to camp at your fingertips…”

(Click on picture to see a larger image)

Here are a few ideas:

- Go on a scavenger hunt for natures finest items: rocks, leaves, twigs etc.

- Play Tree Bark Match

- Don’t have a tent… build one! You can easily create one using just a few fallen/cut branches

- Roast marshmallows over the BBQ or if you have a fire pit… use it! Gotta have S’mores.

and the way we’ve always done it… if you have time make homemade grahamn crackers & nutella…

If you’re really ambitious you could do it all from scratch and make the marsh-y’s too!

(I know, I know! It’s a crazy thought to some…

Whatever the case may be either homemade or store bought; it will surely put a smile to everyone’s face.

graham crackers + nutella + marshy’s = CAMPOUT, BLISS!!!! ;P

- Make magic potions!

- Create a homemade sun jar.

- Play outdoor nostalgic games like Simon Says, Red, Light Green Light, Red Rover, Kick the Can, Steal the Bacon, Hopscotch, Freeze Tag;

- & need more ideas here are 10 Tricks to Get Kids Outdoors!!!!

Do you have any plans to take your kids camping  this summer?

We’re planning our yearly trip to Yosemite for next month…excited!

What are your favorite outdoor activities to do with your tots??

Hope you have a GREAT weekend, whatever your adventures may be!

Hope you’re all enjoying your weekend…

Friday, April 30th, 2010, was Arbor Day!

Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated holiday observance that encourages tree planting and care.

The benefits that trees provide are numerous and can be found at the Arbor Day Foundation site…

here are a few:

* One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people.”—U.S. Department of Agriculture

“If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in 5 years your energy bills should be 3% less. In 15 years the savings will be nearly 12%.”—Dr. E. Greg McPherson, Center for Urban Forest Research

“The planting of trees means improved water quality, resulting in less runoff and erosion. This allows more recharging of the ground water supply. Wooded areas help prevent the transport of sediment and chemicals into streams.”—USDA Forest Service

My favorite trees are the Giant Sequioa’s or the California Redwoods- I couldn’t even imagine life without these living beings. They’re so majestic and mystical. Deforestation is taking place all over the world – even in our National Parks. It is an unnatural process and takes many, many, years for the “cut” areas to grow back/ Besides, that, these area look so devastating!

Trees provide oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide…you know, the stuff, that causes global warming!!! So, the more trees we plant and the less trees we cut down- the better. Better for our atmosphere, our health, our soils, and what about all that shade they provide!

We celebrated, Arbor Day, in true  treehugger style…

This is the first time we’ve actually done anything in honor of. It was fun to talk about all the facts about trees with the eco tot and explain why trees are so important.

For our wedding, 4.5 yrs ago (5 in August- lol! ) we gave our guests a Tree In A Box as a wedding favor. We had a few leftover, so I went out to the garage and dug one out.

According to the little booklet which gives  facts about the “Flowering Catalpa” as well as some mythology on the tree, it’s a great tree for indoors.

Apparently, it’s like a bonsai tree and can be maintained like one.

Pretty rad, if you ask me. 

We planted 2 seeds inside the peet pot found inside the box…

The eco tot (Tristan) did most of the work!

Then we decided to celebrate the last day of Tristan and Clark’s birth month by planting seeds right into the ground!

The “tree of life” … I meant to stick in  two of my placenta pills one from each babe… but completely spaced it!

We buried the seeds next to one our peach trees to help the seeds get watered/started. So, maybe, when there’s a pool of water there again, I’ll drop in the placenta pills.

A few hours after giving birth to the eco tot, my midwife, brought in my placenta to show me where Tristan lived for nine months and explained all of the vein-y parts as “the tree of life”.

Breaking ground for new life to begin!

The boys (including my husband) celebrated by running around giving the trees in our yard a big HUG!

The official Arbor Day craft- lol! *wink, wink*

Future tree huggers in action!

We had fun tree plantin’ and tree huggin’

Doing so, helped me feel more connected to the Earth, my children, and giving back to nature helps me remember why I LOVE being GREEN.

Did you celebrate Arbor Day?

What’s your favorite type of tree?

On Friday, I took the boys to the Poppy Reserve again. It was a beautiful day and we needed something to do. I packed a lunch and we headed out. Living near the reserve is annual treat not to be missed. Once we were there my son, Tristan, immediately put on his bug gear (net and case) and we began our stroll along one of the many paths at the reserve.

Before getting too far away the picnic tables we learned the Painted Lady butterflies we set free a week ago were native to the area. I’d planned to chronicle the butterfly release with pictures but my timing wasn’t right and we left on a day that our camera battery wasn’t charged.

We decided to go anyway because the butterflies would not have survived in their bungalow box. It was time!  In any case, it was a great moment for the entire family. We traveled to the top of the fields had a picnic and released both butterflies, “Dino & Dina” at sunset. If, I get a chance I will upload the video from my cellphone and share it. Tristan was a little upset we had to set them free and was a bit teary … it was very sweet!

I

A kind gentlemen with his lovely wife  offered to take our pic. Nice!

magical and magnificent in all their glory…

my eyes can’t get enough of the beautiful “Cups of Gold”!

We’re planning our last visit out to the Poppy Reserve for some family pics.

{Anywho}

This weekend was jam packed with a few unplanned excursions (always the best kind).

On Saturday, we ventured out with my husbands mom, “Grandma Susan”  into Topanga Canyon for the Earth Day festival…

Main stage, picnic area and vendors

Solar ovens, for sale!!

The boys thoroughly enjoying fresh coconut water.

Clark (“Baby C”) would scream for a sip! It was funny!  He was also wearing a hat but refused to wear it after awhile. lol!

The straws were made from coconut and potato starch.100 % compostable- pretty cool.

This set up looked like lot’s of fun!

We didn’t stay for too long… it was a bit commercialized and not as family oriented as we’d hoped.

I meant to snap a pic of the trash signs made from recycled wood that were painted with words like “recycle” “glass” “plastic” etc. they were neat!

O’well.

Tristan (the eco tot)  had a good time playing in the kids area.

They were doing free craft s in this area but the eco tot wasn’t interested in participating.

He really liked this play set entering up this way, running across the rubber bridge and down the slide he’d go!

We left the festival with coconuts in hand but didn’t spend any $$$ on junk …. just entry fees and a couple of coco’s!

We brought snacks and a lunch which saved us from spending more than we needed to.  Overall, it was a good time.

Sunday, we headed out with my mom “Abuelita”  to “Devil’s Punchbowl”

This was taken at the end of the hike… the parking lot is about 1500 ft. from where I took this photo. You can start the hike from this point also but it is not considered the  entry to the ” One Mile Loop Trail”.  Devil’s Punchbowl sits at approx 4600 ft.

Can you see the Devil’s face?

Just looking at the eyes up close it also resembles owl eyes to me…

which is funny because owls are native to the area (learned this after the hike in the Nature Center).

Family shot! Baby C passed out about 5oo ft in! 

Gotta love the Ergo baby carrier & Kelty backpacks!

Nothing like nearing the end of a trail with a baby on your back.

Isn’t this picture deceiving? I promise you Baby C is not hanging over a cliff. 

The eco tot really enjoyed this moment… petting a Barn Owl named Ruth inside the Nature Center.

She was sooooooo cute! They also had two captive owls just outside the Nature Center, that were beautiful.

Between both of these adventures this weekend; I’m pooped!

Thankfully, my mom has the boys today so I can do some catching up.

If you’re celebrating Earth Week, by turning the t.v. OFF and nature ON …

here are a few places to visit for some wonderful ideas:

National Wildlife Federation

The Grass Stain Guru

Nature Rocks

Go Explore Nature

Little Humbugs

We have lots of unplugged time planned for this week (better get my energy up) as well as celebrating the eco tot’s birthday on Thursday…

the big 3!!!