Image by hortongrou

Like many people, we’ve been reviewing all our bills and looking for ways to reduce our spending wherever possible. Since we’re also trying to reduce our use of nonrenewable resources, finding ways to save energy are bonus items. The Koala Sisters (aka our daughters) got into the act so we bring you four family friendly ways to save energy.

(1) Have a PJ day. This is a favorite of both of our children. Rather than bathing and getting dressed on a weekend day, we all stay in our PJs and hang out at home. We save the hot water needed to bathe, the water needed to wash the clothes we would have worn, and gas for traveling around town running errands. We also gain a very relaxing day together!

(2) Snuggle time. When the temperatures drop, it is a great time to get cozy. We added a couple of blankets to our living room so it is easy to curl up on the couch and read. Rich and I will each share a blanket with the girls when we watch a movie together. Lately we’ve been finding them with a head at each end of the couch and a pile of art supplies in the middle. They also come in handy for fort building! We save energy on our heating bill since we can keep our thermostat set lower. We also gain lots of hugs and kisses.

(3) Use your shower for more than showering. No, not that – this is a family friendly site! If you haven’t already seen this video from Brazil, take a look. My kids think it is hilarious!

We save 1.6 gallons of water per flush saved. We also gain lots of giggles and great opportunities to talk about saving water and why it is so important.

(4) When it is cold outside, make yourself warm on the inside. I’m a big believer in making sure the girls are toasty warm inside and out, especially on those days that we need to head out early. Hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and chai are favorite drinks for us in the winter.

When it comes to hot chocolate, I highly recommend taking the few minutes needed to make it from scratch. It doesn’t take that much longer and it is SO much better! Here is the recipe we use:

1 cup warmed milk

1 1/2 teaspoon cocoa

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

While the milk warms in a pot on the stove, mix the cocoa, sugar and vanilla in the cup or mug you will be using. As soon as you see little bubbles begin to form in the milk, turn off the burner. Take one or two spoonfuls of milk and stir them into the cocoa mixture to make a paste. Then add the remainder of the milk, stir thoroughly, and enjoy! Makes one serving.

We save energy since we are warming up from the inside. We also save money since we avoid overpriced, and not very tasty, pre-mixed hot chocolate packets and all their packaging. We also gain a chance to hang out in the kitchen together cooking and then sipping our cocoa. Some of my favorite winter memories with my children involve hot chocolate!

Our conversation on this topic is ongoing so I’ll continue to add to these.

What are your family friendly ways to save energy?

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Photo by chidsey

Lucas Miller begins the new year with another fun and inexpensive activity that will get you and your kids out into nature. The Christian Science Monitor’s gardening section recently shared planting advice in Annuals and Perennials that Attract Birds to Your Yard so, if you have wee ones, know you can also explore the world of birding by bringing nature to you.

This month I’m thinking about birdwatching, or just “birding” as it’s usually called by the pro’s. Yes, there are professional birdwatchers.

I will freely admit that I’m a very poor birder. I was a reptile and amphibian guy in my college zoology days and completely obsessed with sea turtles. I loved seeing birds but didn’t have an overwhelming temptation to be able to identify them.

Since then, however, I’ve had the privilege to spend some time with some great birders and they have me paying more attention to our fine feathered friends. I’m still pretty poor at identifying them but I appreciate that it’s something I can do wherever I am: driving down the road, on a walk, paddling in my brand-new kayak (finally!!!!), or even sitting on the living room couch. Birds are just everywhere and, when you learn to identify the 20-30 most common species in your area—cardinals, mourning doves, red-tail hawks, turkey vultures, chickadees, etc., it helps keep you tuned into the natural world a little more. You’ll also be much more likely to notice when something unusual does cross your path and you might even find yourself a little excited by it all.

I’ve seen kids get positively obsessed with birding so it’s good to at least give your kids a chance to participate in the pastime. So here are a couple of quick points from a guy who likes birds but is never going to be a “pro:”

1) Get yourself a good bird guide. I like the Sibley Guide to Birds (there regional editions that are smaller/cheaper), but check out the guides by Peterson, National Geographic, National Wildlife Federation, and Audubon Society, too; you may find you prefer one of them (some have photos, others illustrations). These are just a pleasure to browse and your kids will do so if they’re close at hand. Just remember the adage, “look at the bird, not the book.” That is, take note of as many markings and features as you can while the bird’s before you. Open the book after it has flown off if you want to check yourself or learn more.

2) Give birding software a try. Our Birds from Thayer Birding Software is great. It allows you to see a number of photos and hear their calls rather than try to figure out the often baffling written descriptions in the books. There’s a wealth of other information and you can even take quizzes. I hear there are some good phone apps, too, although I have not tried any. Leave a comment if you know of any worthwhile ones.
3) Get some optics (a.k.a. “binoculars” to the non-birder). Kids just love looking through them so make sure whatever you put in their hands can be dropped and/or broken without too much heartache. A little magnification is fine; too much and it’s hard to get the bird in the scope and the more the view will shake. Another tip: maintain your gaze on the bird while you lift the optics up to your eyes. This way you’ll be pointed pretty much in the right direction already and you won’t look so much like the other bird-novices who look away, grab the binoculars, and then rubberneck like crazy while they try to find that bird.

4) Watch the birds. It sounds silly but birding should be about seeing what they’re doing and not just identifying them. I personally just feel like an ignoramous when the focus is on naming as many species as possible. I find it more fun to try and discover something curious about them. Take note of how they use their beaks and how they walk and perch. Do they soar or do they have to flap their wings a lot? Notice the different kinds of tails and wings they have and see if you can tell how they might affect their flight. Also, watch for the interactions between birds; they can be amusing and/or amazing. Have you ever seen a group of little birds mobbing and chasing off a great big hawk? Have you seen a male bird strutting his stuff to impress the ladies and show up another male?

There’s a good reason birding is one of America’s fastest growing pastimes—it’s just plain fun. So set your eyes on the skies and see what you can see!

Lucas is an award winning children’s author and songwriter from Austin, Texas. He’s heading into a busy year, so this will be his last article for Greening Families, but we’ll let you know when his new CD and new DVD (we weren’t kidding when we said busy!) are being released. In the meantime, check him out at www.lucasmiller.net.

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Photo by Ivan Rahn

With the days getting shorter and the nights getting longer, what is a nature-starved family to do? Once again, Lucas Miller has the answer! This month he discusses how to go on an owl prowl with your kids. With a little preparation, warm clothes, and patience, you are sure to have a good time. And the possibilities for learning about the world around us are owl-t of this world!

This month we’re going to talk about owls.  Owls have fascinated and humans for millenia (they appear on many ancient petraglyphs and artifacts) but, with Harry Potter and a number of other children’s books featuring them prominently, they seem to be especially hip at this cultural moment.

Most owls are non-migratory so, even in the winter, you can still hear and even see them. Winter’s actually a great time to go on an “owl prowl” because you won’t have to keep the kids up way past bedtime since the sun sets earlier.

What do you need? First of all, dress for the weather; it’s no fun searching for owls if your ears are going numb (but try to choose clothes that don’t make a lot of noise, too).  Also, choose a calm night because the owls will be more active and you’ll be able to hear them better when they call. A night with a bright moon’s good, too. Bring a good bright flashlight but use it as little as possible; you’ll scare away the owls if you use it too much and you’ll actually be able to see a lot better if you let your eyes adjust to the darkness. You really don’t need to take along The Sibley Field Guide to Birds but you can bring it if you want. It’s going to be dark and, for the most part, owls are pretty easy to tell apart.

The last thing you’ll probably want, and those tech-savvy kids are going to love this, is an mp3 player and some portable speakers. No, you’re not going to introduce owls to hip-hop—you’re going to play some owl calls and use their territorial instincts to draw them in. Don’t worry, as long as you don’t do this for hour after hour or night after night, you’re not going to stress them out or cause them to move out of the neighborhood.

Where do you get your calls and which calls do you choose? You can do some research to find out all the owls that live in your area but, in urban settings, the common ones are the great horned, barred, Eastern screech, Western screech, saw-whet, and to some extent, the barn owl.

You can learn about each species at Owling.com. There are other sites with different recordings and it may behoove you to have a few variants on your player. Each owl has a page and includes calls which you can listen to and download. Right-click, choose “save target as” and put them all in a folder called “owl calls.” You’ll need to import these into your mp3/iPod software and you might want to put them all in a playlist (accidentally playing “Crazy Train” would be a naturalist faux pas).

If you think all owls go “who-whoo,” you’re in for a surprise. The Eastern screech sounds a whole lot like a horse and prepare yourself before you click the barn owl’s call—their blood-curdling shriek might scare your socks off! If you live in barred owl territory, I encourage you to save that call in particular—they’re very territorial and you should have an easier time calling them in. When they really get excited they can make all kinds of crazy sounds!

Oh, and if you’re good at imitating some of the calls and you don’t want to haul along the speakers and player, you can just try calling yourself—some owls are pretty easy to fool (I’m thinking of you, dear barred owl).

Before you head out the door, think about some different types of habitats in your neighborhood. Is there a stream in the area? Some owls prefer to be near water. Are there areas that are more open or wooded than the rest of the neighborhood? Is there a park you feel safe walking by in the nighttime? Is there pastureland and/or a barn nearby? A little research about the specific microhabitats the various owls in your area prefer can really pay off.

You can play the call every thirty seconds or so. Wait quietly and have everyone look in a different direction so you’re more likely to notice if an owl flies in to check things out. Listen carefully and try to be patient, give it a good 10-15 minutes before giving up. If you do spy an owl, it’s okay to shine that bright flashlight on them; you and your kids will want to get a good look at your avian neighbor! The owl probably won’t stick around for long so follow the famous birder’s aphorism—look at the bird NOT the book. Try to make as accurate a mental picture of the bird as you can. Then, when to you’re looking at the bird book (or computer) you’ll be better able to determine what you saw.

A note: most of us don’t spend much time outside at night and your kids may be fearful. That’s certainly understandable so try and focus on the excitement of the search and this may be an experience that, once they’re used to it, is a whole lot of fun. If they’re just too scared, don’t force it—the last thing you want to do is make a lasting, memory of fear. Also, you could just stay right there on your porch; you’d probably be surprised just how many owls are out there in your own neighborhood.

Be safe, of course, and have fun. Let us know what you heard and/or saw! And it might be a great night to read Owl Moon….

Lucas is a professional children’s author and songwriter from Austin, Texas. Check him out at www.lucasmiller.net.

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This fall, the Child Nutrition Act is up for reauthorization. This Act provides the governance for several child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program. The National School Lunch Program supplies 30 million school children with lunch every school day. For many of these children, the meals they receive at school provide the majority of their nutrition during the school year.

The upcoming reauthorization process provides the opportunity to make postive changes for both children and the environment. The guidelines in the Child Nutrition Act can be amended to include firm guidelines for healthy, nutritious food for our children rather than the aptly named and all too available junk food. The already-created-but-never-funded Farm to Schools Programs can also, finally, receive funding to purchase food produced locally, thus reducing carbon emissions caused by transportation and ensuring children have access to produce while it is still tasty and full of nutrients.

As you finalize your plans for the upcoming holiday weekend, think about joining a Slow Food USA’s Time For Lunch Eat-In on Monday, September 7, 2009. To find an Eat-In near you, visit the searchable map. Or you can host your own Eat-In. Or sign the petition to get real food in schools. Check out the full policy platform for the Time For Lunch campaign to learn more.

Does your child’s school serve real food? Does it have a garden? What do you like best about the way your school’s food policies? What would you like to change?

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Our eldest began kindergarten last fall so I don’t have a lot of experience dealing with schools as a parent. We tried several schools before we found the right fit, which didn’t occur until the end of February, so I have even less experience with our current school. We love, love, love the school’s approach to teaching, the teachers, and the other families but are still learning how the business of the school is structured.

We received our student supply lists and my initial reactions fell into four categories. For items like pencils and notebook paper, I immediately started thinking about products that would be more eco-friendly, like pencils made from recycled wood and recycled paper. Other items came with very precise descriptions, leaving me to wonder if Fiskar scissors were really needed or if the non-Fiskar scissors we already have would suffice. A quick conversation with the teacher will resolve these issues and, since the school has encouraged folks to use items already on hand, I think I know how it will go.

Then came the items that I would prefer not to purchase but will because I understand why they are helpful in a group of small children – things like tissues are included here since I just don’t see 10 kids with hankies working out well during the winter. The last category is where I am struggling. The supply lists for both of my kids included plastic zip lock bags – one box for the youngest and two for the eldest. That means 10 boxes of plastic bags will be used one classroom and 20 boxes in another for a total of 600 plastic bags just for their classes! The very thought of that makes me feel ill.

I started looking around for information and ideas to help me begin a positive discussion aimed at creating a green school. Or at least a greener one! Along the way, I found Cool the Earth. Their program is so, well, cool that I wanted to share it.

Cool the Earth is

a grassroots, school-to-home program that provides climate change education through action. We engage kids and their families to take simple, measurable actions that collectively make a significant impact on global warming.

The program is volunteer-based so parents can shoulder most of the burden rather than asking (already busy) teachers or school administrators to take on an additional task. The program is comprised of:

• A Kick-Off Assembly to get things started.
• Action Coupons that allow families to take an action, turn in a coupon, and get a reward.
• Action Spotlights to highlight a particular action.
• An Action Banner so everyone in the school to see how all their actions add up to make a big difference.
• Team Assembly, which is simply creating the group that implement the program.

I love that the suggested actions are ones that families could implement together and that the program concentrates on what each individual can do to make a difference. I was also happy to see that the materials are available in English, Mandarin, and Spanish.

So far 204 schools are using the program and they have a saved a combined 50,315,555 pounds of carbon dioxide.

I’m still trying to figure out how best to talk with our school about the plastic bags and some other ideas I have to make it a green school (vermiculture is high on my list!). Do you have any suggestions?

In the meantime, I’m planning to start the discussion with a proposal to bring Cool the Earth to my girls’ school. I want to help make my kids’ school a green school. How about you?

This post was include in the Carnival of the Green at Recycle Your Day.

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The first is Nickelodeon’s Big Green Grants. Part of Nickelodeon’s Big Green Help program, these grants are available to public and private elementary schools and middle schools and after-school nonprofit organizations that serve kids from 5 to 15. The Big Green Grants provide up to $5,000 to support environmentally-friendly projects that educate and inspire kids to:

(1) take care of the environment

(2) be active and live healthier, and/or

(3) engage in community service.

To be eligible, applicants must host a Worldwide Day of Play event on September 26, 2009 (or an Earth Day event back in April). To receive a copy of the grant application and to see all the eligibility requirements, visit the Big Green Grant homepage.

Next are the Seeds for Education grants. This grant opportunity provides funds for schools, nature centers, and other nonprofit places of learning to purchase native plants and seeds. Projects should should focus on the enhancement and development of an appreciation for nature using native plants and must increase the educational value of the site and emphasize the involvement of students and volunteers in all phases of development. To learn more about the application procedure and requirements, visit the Seeds for Education page listed above.

These green grants for schools provide an opportunity to get involved with your child’s school and to encourage green efforts beyond your own home – what a great combination!

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Whether you have a .35 acre lot in the suburbs, a sprawling ranch in the boonies or a mere balcony in the city, you can attract wildlife that will intrigue and excite your wee ones with a minimal investment of work and money.  The National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program provides you with all the information you need to get started as well as the actual “certification.”  I don’t imagine your local bluebird’s likely to notice the certification sign that you can proudly display but, just perhaps, your human neighbors may ask you a few questions and convert their own piece of turf to a haven for native flora and fauna.

Our own efforts to get certified began about a year and half ago. As a family, we discussed the kinds of animals we wanted to see, or just see more of — butterflies, frogs, lizards, songbirds, and owls all came up. My wife mentioned hummingbirds but I wasn’t sure if we could expect to attract them because we live in north central Austin; a pretty urban environment. It would be nice, though…

The City of Austin was pushing the certified wildlife habitat pretty hard because it was trying (and has now succeeded!) to become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat. The parks department provided some planning checklists to help us provide for animals’ necessities: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and an environment relatively free of dangerous pesticides and fertilizers. This is all covered on the NWF site as well.

Cover was pretty easy — we had some old branches we stacked up in an out-of-view spot in the front yard and made some “toad abodes” from some broken flower pots (lots of toad in our yard but I still haven’t seen one in any of those abodes).  Native bushes and trees can also count as cover. (Ed. note, to learn more about native plants and how to find what is native to your area, visit our Book Review for “Bringing Nature Home.”)

We’ve been “chemical free” (emphasis on free) since we had a yard to care for so that did not cause any adjustments for us. NWF requires that you make at least two efforts to garden with “green” techniques such as drip irrigation, herbicide-free, “integrated pest management,” rainwater collection, eliminating non-native plants, and more. These are detailed on their Garden in an Environmentally Friendly Way page.

I thought providing water would mean having to make a major water feature replete with a fountain. It turns out that a plain old bird bath was adequate for certification. We purchased one at a store that sells discontinued merchandise for pennies on the dollar (okay, a quarter on the dollar) and I cannot believe how much activity it gets. We’ve had some funny moments with birds that apparently squawk, “Yo, buddy—this thing’s dry. Are you gonna fill it back up or what?!” Last week, at dusk, we even had a pair of screech owls belly-up to the bar! They’ve actually become regulars at the Miller waterin’ hole.

As far as a place for animals to raise their young, host plants for caterpillars certainly qualify. We had great luck with our milkweeds (see my previous post about that) and, of course, a birdhouse can be a fun project to make and thrilling when it becomes occupied. If you can leave a dead tree standing, they are highly sought after by a number of birds and other animals.

When it comes to food, shrubs, vines, trees and annuals can provide berries, seeds, pollen and nectar. A bird feeder is not required but, again, these are fun to make and a special delight when you see them being used. We put up a trumpet vine that has transformed our dated, 50’s-era columns and turned them into things of real beauty. And guess what — we saw our first hummingbird about three weeks ago! One darted by while I was working on this article just awhile ago. I guess we hadn’t seen them before since they had no where to go.

As you see, it really can be done with a minimum of time and money. Of course, you can really go wild and there are many houses in our neighborhood with majestic flower beds, verdant mounds of greenery and a variety of bird houses and feeders. If you’re like me, however, and you don’t have the time or skill to take it to that degree, don’t be ashamed to take it slow and keep it simple. The rewards may well surprise you and, I believe, you’ll be doing one of the best things you can do to help wildlife and keep your family connected with nature.

Lucas is a professional children’s author and songwriter from Austin, Texas. He recently released a DVD, called “Animals Rock,” which is available on his website.

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Then I found exactly what I needed to make sure we have lots of nature-related fun this summer on Nature Rocks.

As they share on their website:

Nature Rocks is a national program to inspire and empower families to play and explore in nature. Our mission is to make it easy for you to have fun in nature, and connect with others to do the same. We want all families in every city in America to see for themselves how much Nature Rocks. Your kids will be happier, healthier and smarter, and besides, it is generally free and a rockin’ way to create and share fun quality family time.

They want to make our lives easier. And help us get our families outside having fun. And they include free options. As we say in Texas, bless their hearts!

The group was founded by the Children & Nature Network, of Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods) fame, and ecoAmerica and has support from groups like The Nature Conservancy and the American Camp Association so you know they are passionate about connecting children to nature. (BTW, I love the ACA’s Green Spoken Here pledge!)

Their site features a searchable map to find nature in your area, which includes destinations ranging from arboretums to zoos, activities such as hiking and canoeing, and services including places to rent equipment. I did have an issue with the “Club/Group” feature under Services as more dance clubs than hiking clubs showed up in my search but it was clear this was an issue with Google Maps rather than their site.

My favorite feature was the tool to find activities. Here you can enter how much time you have available (from 30 minutes to a weekend), your location (including in your home, in your backyard, in your community, or your region), and the ages of your kids. They then suggest several activities you and your kids can use to explore, play, create, and be active. The ideas are thoughtful and each provides a way to invite friends to join you.

Other fun features include free nature e-cards, a link to The Nature Conservancy’s Eagle-Cam, and other resources to explore.

If you are looking for fun nature activities to do with your family, make sure to check them out because nature truly does rock!

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When we saw TerraBurger’s sign go up several months ago, we were curious but frankly more than a little skeptical. Lots of businesses have jumped on the green bandwagon for marketing and little else. We wondered how green Terra Burger’s operations would really be. We checked them out online and were impressed with what we saw.

From their website:

At TerraBurger, Rule #1 is “all natural”–we won’t serve anything that contains artificial ingredients, period. No artificial colors or flavors. No flavor enhancers. No trans fats. Nothing highly processed. No artificial additives. In fact, we have an extensive list of banned ingredients that don’t make the cut. For more detailed information on the practical meaning of “all natural”, go here: http://www.naturalingredient.org/naturalingredients.htm.

Next, we’ve chosen to go Organic for our core ingredients—our beef, produce, veggie burgers, cheese, milk, ice cream, fruit, among them—are all 100% USDA Organic. A list of our all natural and organic ingredients is here.

“All Natural Everything, Organic Where it Counts”.

For more information on the difference between All Natural and Organic, you can read about it here. We have spent literally hundreds of hours, vetting hundreds of suppliers who make the best all natural and organic food products in the market, and paring them down to who we think are the best of the best — our suppliers.

Their suppliers list includes some of our favorite local sources for food, such as Sweetish Hill, which made our wedding cake, and Richardson Farms, whose pork is some of the yummiest we have had in Texas.

That left two big questions – would the food be tasty and would the restaurant be a place our family would enjoy visiting? Like many families, we limit our dining out so really want to enjoy every aspect when we do make the trek.

Terra Burger delivered on both counts. The food was delicious. I had a TerraBurger, my husband and eldest daughter got the Hill Country Hickory Burger, and our youngest daughter got the kid’s meal with kid’s burgers. The Hill Country Hickory Burgers disappeared quickly and the kid’s burger was a big hit as it was deemed, “Just my size!” The TerraBurger was scrumptious and I really liked the fresh bun.

We also had the sweet potato fries with our meal. My husband prefers really crunchy food so thought the fries needed to be a little crisper but I thought they were great, as did the kids. (Richard didn’t leave the table until the fries were gone so he liked them well enough, I think!)

After seeing the posted comment cards contained many rave reviews for the milkshakes, the girls and I made a second trip just for shakes. As you can imagine, this was not a tough sell. And once we tried the shakes, we knew that would be the first of many ice cream only visits. We tried three flavors – chocolate, cookie dough, and mint chocolate chip. The latter was the favorite for all of us. Both it and the chocolate contained shavings of chocolate that made the flavor pop. Every last drop of all three disappeared and the girls are trying to convince me that we need to go back and try out the remaining flavors. I think they are right!

Turkey burgers and vegetarian and vegan options are also available if beef is not your thing. Check out their menu for more details.

The restaurant has both a drive-thru and an outside seating area. The owners built the latter with families in mind. There is a fun playscape, complete with swings, slides, and sandboxes. Oak trees provide shade to some of the tables and umbrellas are on the remaining tables. Shade covers have also been installed over large portions of the playscape. For those of you outside of Texas, shade is essential in the summer and early fall months so this is a big plus!

My kids’ favorite part was the splash area. Colorful sprinkers have been set up on one side of the eating area so kids can have fun and stay cool. The favorite feature for my husband and me was the fence around the outside area and the great sight lines in the play area. We could see the kids at all times, which allowed Richard and me to sit and talk while the kids played. An uninterrupted conversation with my sweetie – a true summer luxury!

The owners have definitely thought through many details. Employees’ shirts are made with 100% organic cotton, compostable cups held our drinks, easy-to-find recycling bins were placed by the playscape, xeriscaped grounds surrounded the building and playscape, and the used cooking oil is used to make biofuels.

Visiting TerraBurger and knowing all conscious choices that went into its operations made us feel better inside and out.

This article was syndicated on the AustinEcoNetwork. If you live in the Austin area, or want to learn about eco-happenings in Austin, be sure to visit the site.

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On our last campout, we did not take Lucas’ advice about avoiding marshmallows, as you can see from this photo of the girls. He is right about getting them off your shoes! But the s’mores were such a hit that next time we’ll just step more carefully.

Do you have an old tent lounging on the top shelf of your garage? Some sleeping bags up there, too? Well, air ‘em out! And pull that dusty six-string out from under the bed, too, because the National Wildlife Federation is declaring June 27 the Great American Backyard Campout! Oh, yeah, and grab a couple of different kinds of kid-friendly bug repellent.

I know a lot of parents worry that camping is going to be too scary or too uncomfortable for the wee ones (or perhaps the spouse). It could be a big problem if the kiddos decide they don’t wanna sleep in some silly tent if you’re out in the middle of Yosemite. Not so when you’re camping in the backyard. You can just scrap it all and go back to your cozy beds if it all falls apart.

The important thing here is to start small and make sure it’s a positive experience. It may not seem like much of an adventure to us adults but it will be a complete break from the routine and an unforgettable experience for the kids. That’s time well spent in my book.

So what do you need? NWF’s Great American Backyard Campout features some great resources to plan it all out.Here are some questions you could ask your family unit:

1) Do you want to stick to the backyard or, perhaps, be more adventurous and try camping in a park somewhere?

2) If you choose the high-adventure option, do you want to invite friends or just do this with the family. One of the highlights of our kids’ social lives was a school trip over spring break to a state park lodge. It’s fun for the adults, too!

3) Do you want to do the tent thing or perhaps stay in a camper or some kind of lodge? It’s really about spending some time in the outdoors with your family, not proving your mettle in the wilderness. Don’t be ashamed to take the posh route.

4) What do you want to have for dinner, snacks, and breakfast and how are you going to make it? I generally break my “keep it simple” rule and make sure my family eats well. It’s usually possible to marinate something and grill it in these situations and a good meal will do wonders for everyone’s spirits if they start to flag. S’mores are an obvious treat but, I must say, melted marshmallow is really hard to get off your shoes (especially in the dark). You might just want to make some cookies or brownies ahead of time.

What are you going to do when you’re out there? Here are some thoughts:

• If you love campfire a sing-along like I do, the songbook Rise Up Singing is an indispensible resource. You can find it on Amazon and I just saw it in my local sheet music store, too. It’s a classic with songs ranging from silly to spiritual and from traditional to ecological. You definitely don’t need to play an instrument; just sing what you love with abandon!

• Do you have a telescope tucked away somewhere, too? Or maybe just some binoculars. Gaze up at the celestial bodies and contemplate your tininess. It might be fun to get a simple star chart (Klutz press makes a family friendly one called Backyard Stars: A Guide for Home and the Road) and a book of legends that were inspired by constellations. (Note from Greening Families: We have found that A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends is particularly user friendly.)

• See what sounds you can identify. Can you hear an owl? They don’t all go “who-who,” you know. Check out owl calls at Owling. What kinds of insect sounds do you hear? How do you think they make those sounds?

• Make sure everyone has a flashlight. They’re fun, of course, and they make everyone feel safer. They’re also essential for a good game of flashlight tag

• If you’re crafty, try some projects. Kids don’t go to camp like they used to and they often miss out on friendship bracelets, dream catchers and the like. That should be enough to get you started. I hope you make some great memories. It’s all part of getting everyone comfortable in the outdoors and fostering your family’s love of nature.

Lucas is a professional children’s author and songwriter from Austin, Texas. Check him out at www.lucasmiller.net.

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