Maturity doesn't give us an edge in observing the world around us. Especially in nature, the young often have the keenest eyes and ears, discovering details that older observers just don't see. Kids love the challenge of uncovering the secret world of a rotting tree trunk or identifying the lines of transport to an anthill, and then recording their findings in a handy notebook. Through this kind of intense inspection of the minutiae of nature, you and your family can begin to understand how plants and animals work and appreciate the complexity of your surroundings.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Unlined notebooks that are large enough to record observations and yet small enough to fit in day packs
Colored pencils or pens
Waterproof Ziplock bags to keep the soon-to-be-prized possessions dry
Field guides written especially for your location
Hand lens and binoculars for a close-up view of objects

ASKING QUESTIONS
In their journals, naturalists take detailed notes called species accounts, which are filled with observations about the behavior, size, shape and other characteristics of a particular species. Begin your species account by recording the date, time, weather and location of your setting. Select a subject that is very specific--an object like a patch of violets is easier to take in than a sweeping view. After you've decided what to study (and be sure to let your kids decide for themselves), ask yourself questions about it. If you have chosen a flower, for example, you might ask: What does it smell like? Are the leaves and stem smooth or fuzzy? What about its color? Is it bright or dark? Are the petals thick, delicate or velvety? Take a closer look with a hand lens--can you see pollen? What insects visit this flower?

Use the answers to these questions to start your species account. Don't worry about not knowing the names of plants and animals. You can even encourage your kids to create their own names, then compare them to the real ones in your field guides over lunch or at home.

CREATIVE NOTE-TAKING
Another way to record the details of what you see is by adding illustrations. Remind your kids that these sketches don't need to look beautiful--the important thing is for your children to record what they see, not what they would like to see. Have them label the drawings with specifics about the various colors, textures and behaviors they observe. Also, poetic reflections of feelings about the objects make wonderful complements to the more objective, scientific descriptions that fill most field journals. If possible, follow various species over time.

LEARNING TO SEE
A wonderful part of keeping a field journal is that it increases your awareness of all that exists, whether it is the budding apple trees in your backyard, a chickadee at the bird feeder or a trail of delicate deer tracks in the snow. As you and your children begin to become attuned with nature, your role will evolve from one of a leader to one of a fellow student and adventurer. The more they learn, the more your children will take the lead, guiding you to see the family of newts that lives in the decaying underside of a birch log, or to the fox den beneath the old pine tree. Together, you can fill your journals with a whole world of discoveries.



Kristi Dahl is a teacher and naturalist living in Boulder, Colorado. She instructs teachers on increasing environmental literacy in their classrooms.