In the Garden of Irony

Check out this past article from City Weekly

It is sad to see our urban green spaces go unloved, especially in communities that have such potential to benefit and flourish from these areas. 

Give some love to your neighborhood parks and gardens folks!!

http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/in-the-garden-of-irony/Content?oid=2284325

Backyard Scavenger Hunt

This simple activity takes only minutes to prepare and can entertain kids for hours. 

Supplies:

List of items
Pencil
Clipboard
Bucket
An excited child




Take a minute to put together a simple list of plants, unique rocks, etc in your back yard. It can be anything from a leaf with a hole in it to a black ant.

Drawing pictures helps for kids still learning to read or for items they might not know the names of.


Add two spaces at the bottom for "extra credit."  Give your child the freedom to pick out something of their own that they find unique or cool. It lets them explore on their own make their own choices.


Scavenge Away!   

Backyard Camping

Want to get the kids outside but don't have enough time to plan a full-fledged camping trip? Try just camping out in the backyard! Here are so great ideas for games, meals and activities

http://www.parenting.com/article/14-ideas-for-camping-out-in-your-backyard

Free outdoor events!

Finding outdoor activities to do with the whole family can be hard to find and EXPENSIVE! Here is a list of some of our local (Salt Lake City) free outdoor activities! 

1) Salt Lake City Parks and Birds 

April 30, May 9

http://www.visitsaltlake.com/includes/calendar-of-events/Salt-Lake-City-Parks-and-Birds/21233/1148/

2)  Great Salt Lake Bird Festival 

April 20, 21

http://entertainment.sltrib.com/events/view/great_salt_lake_bird_festival

3) Little Naturalists 2014-2015: Story Time at Swaner

April 20, May 5

http://entertainment.sltrib.com/events/view/little_naturalists_2014_15_story_time_at_swaner

4) Check out the Spiral Jetty!

http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/spiraljetty

Stickers

Hey Guys! Check out the new stickers!

Camping Dinners EVERYONE Will Love

For many, the hardest part of camping is planning your food menu. Fear not! I have found some inexpensive meal ideas even the pickiest of eaters won't turn down!!

Remember, food preparation is the key. No one likes having to cook a full when they get into camp late or when you'd rather be spending time with the family.

1. Chili Never Fails

Prepping chili before you leave can be the easiest camping meal out there. Use your favorite recipe, and then transfer into a tupperwear or ziploc bags. Freeze. Don't worry grandma's famous chili recipe will stay good for your week long camping trip to Tahoe.

I like to put out a variety of cheese, sour cream and other toppings and let the kids decorate their own bowl. Tortillas also make nice sides, and making the ol' chili burrito is awesome for kids who can't sit still and eat at the same time

2. Lemon-Herb Chicken: 


Toss 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, 1/4 cup chopped mixed 

herbs and 3 

tablespoons each olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl. 

Divide among 



4 foil packets. Grill over 3 medium-high heat, 12 minutes.









3. Camping Pizza

1 store bought or homemade pizza dough
1 8oz can pizza sauce (or 8oz pasta sauce)
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/2 package of turkey pepperoni (less greasy and healthier)
sauteed veggies of your choice - optional (sauteing the veggies will keep the moisture out when cooking on the grill)
1 Tbsp dried basil

Roll out pizza dough to form a rectangle.  Spread pizza sauce over top of dough leaving 1 inch space on edges.  Top with 1 cup cheese, and additional toppings and remainder of 1 cup cheese, add basil.  Roll pizza up to form a log and tuck edges in.  Wrap in thick foil.  Place in freezer until ready for camping trip.  Place in cooler until almost thawed during your trip.  Place pizza log, still in its foil on hot grill or fire pit.  Cook for about 10-15 minutes flipping over and cook an additional 10-15 minutes.  Slice pizza for family & friends.  Enjoy!

-You can also bring pizza toppings and let the kids design their own

-Pitas can be used as a crust for a quick camp dinner as well!

And most importantly..... dessert

4. Banana Boats

Banana
Hersheys chocolate bar or chocolate chips
Marshmallows or mini marshmallows
Heavy duty aluminum foil

Cut your banana down the middle. Leave it in the peal. Stuff with chocolate and marshmallows. Wrap in aluminum foil and place in hot coals for about 5-10 minutes. Turn and rotate often.

Yikes!

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=34223288&nid=1009&title=police-again-pick-up-children-of-free-range-parents&s_cid=queue-9

Get Dirty!

Growing With a City

Every environmental studies student, urban planner, and city government official has been told the benefit of integrating nature into cities. Aesthetic value, ecological services, and increased biodiversity are among the many benefits that city green spots can offer.

However, one of the most crucial and under looked aspects of green cities is the effect on the youngest members of society. Robert Pyle’s article Free Range Kids discusses the effect of direct nature, or the direct immersion of kids in a natural environment without the interference of adults, and how it directly impacts the development and physicality of children.

This contrasts the all to common indirect experience in which kids experience nature through structured environments (aquariums, zoos, etc,),  or the experience of nature through the eyes of adults in which adults determine which experiences kids should be introduced to.

When planning green cities, embracing the development of younger citizens should be embraced. Creating areas where anyone of any age can feel safe and allowed to disconnect from other people and parental figures and make their own decisions should be taken into consideration.

Allowing children these experiences helps them develop as an individual and create a connection and feeling of belonging. Allowing kids the freedom of exploration develops problem-solving skills that might normally be compromised with indoor and directed activities.

Perhaps the most important aspect of providing green spaces is the provision of these areas in low-income neighborhoods. With a high percentage of parents working one or more jobs, kids in these areas are often separated from green city features.

Many of these kids lack the opportunity to venture into the mountains and national parks, and local green spaces often provide their only connection with nature. Building upon and improving these spaces are critical in creating safe and important community space.

 Creating safe and widespread green space where kids are able to access it without parental supervision has the potential to aid in the growth of lower income families promoting better health habits and developmental patterns.

Along with providing green space within cities is the needed education to partner with these areas. Offering free gardening classes and wildlife classes within green spaces creates a sense of uniqueness and connectedness within the community.

Swaner EcoCenter outside of Park City provides a vivid example of incorporating community groups to native green areas in the middle of urban areas.  Affordable summer camps for kids allow exploration within local wetland and provide lessons on local biota and processes on a kid friendly level. Ultimately this program allows kids to learn and grow through playing in the dirt.

Planners and city officials have the ability to empower kids through the development and improvement of city green spaces. Reflecting back upon nature experiences as a kid offers a relaxing reminder of the importance of keeping cities green for all future generatons.

Get the Kids Involved!

Looking to get the kids out of the house this summer? Swaner EcoCenter in Park City offers a variety of (cheap) camps to send the young ones off to! Don't fret! It's only a 25 minute drive from the University area.

 Focusing on letting kids explore and play within the natural wetlands on the outskirts of Park City,  Swaner offers classes jam packed with adventure time, science, art, and fun things for every young mind! 

Many classes let the kids explore on their own (still supervised of course) allowing them to develop critical problem solving skills as well as personal development.

Check it out!!

http://www.swanerecocenter.org/education-calendar/youth-programs/summer-camps.html

Imagination goes a long way!

Free Range Kids

What is the importance of direct childhood experience with the outdoors? Robert Michael Pyle offers his insight in this brief article!

http://www.orionmagazine-digital.com/orionmagazine/november_december_2014?pg=51#pg51