More Than We Can Ever Learn From Books

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. ~ John Lubbock

Turning outdoor experiences into learning experiences is always a priority. One way we accomplish this is by starting each adventure with a plan to carefully look for examples of specific organisms or earth processes. On today’s hike, we focused our attention on wood decay fungi.

With camera in hand, we followed the 1.2 mile Rock Creek Trail at Furnace Run Metro Park. It didn’t take long for the boys to spot the first of many examples. Our favorite example of decay was the impressive sample shown in the fourth picture.

Limitless Opportunities

Of course, we never limit our exploration to the specific topic.  There are far too many things to see, enjoy and investigate.  Still, having a topic to focus on at the start of a hike encourages our little guys to be more attentive to details along the way. It also adds anticipation and excitement to every bend in the trail.