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Haiku Hike

Activity

Exploring and Writing Nature Poetry

Take a walk around campus and feel the textures of plants and tree bark. Be careful with thorny plants like roses. Search for acorns and seedlings under the large oak tree. Listen for sounds like squirrels climbing or birds chirping, and take note of any animals you might come across. Reflect on what you touched, heard, or saw during the walk. Write a haiku with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the last.
blooming purple flowers in a meadow
water flowing under a stone
a women sitting outside in the grass writing in a journal

Science Seed

A haiku is a short Japanese poem with three lines. The first line has 5 syllables, the second has 7, and the third has 5. Haikus often focus on nature, capturing a moment or feeling in simple words. They do not usually rhyme but use vivid descriptions. Here’s an example: Sunshine on my face, Warmth that makes me feel so good, Nature’s loving hug.
botany jar illustration

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The Ecologist School Pocket Guide: TSBVI edition is a collaboration between Families in Nature and the Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired as an effort to help our community learn more about the TSBVI campus, while getting outside into nature together! This booklet has 80 lessons across 16 different branches of science to help you play, learn, and volunteer on campus!

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.
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