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Page 2 The OWL Connection Volume 2 Issue 1 The OWL Connection Volume 2 Issue 1 BIRDS WE SEE IN NORHTERN IDAHO IN WINTER Red breasted Nuthatch Male House Finch Female House Finch Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature There is evidence to suggest that spending time outdoors can have a number of benefits for children s education and development Some studies have found that children who have access to nature and spend more time outdoors tend to have 1 Improved attention and concentration Children who have the opportunity to play and learn in natural environments may be better able to focus and pay attention which can help with learning and academic achievement 2 Enhanced creativity and problem solving skills Being in nature can provide a rich and varied environment that encourages children to explore experiment and think creatively 3 Increased physical activity and improved physical health Outdoor play and exercise can help children develop strong bodies and improve their overall physical health which can have positive impacts on learning and achievement 4 Improved mental health and well being Spending time in nature has been linked to a number of mental health benefits including reduced stress and anxiety and improved mood 5 Increased social and emotional skills Outdoor play and learning can provide opportunities for children to interact with others develop social skills and build self esteem 6 While more research is needed to fully understand the link between outdoor time and children s long term achievement in education these findings suggest that outdoor experiences can have a positive impact on children s learning and development Interested in Donating Choose what of our learning topics or projects you would like to support with your donation Gardening Writer Danielle Cohen Continued from last month It provides different stimulation Nature may seem less stimulating than your son s violent video game but in reality it activates more senses you can see hear smell and touch outdoor environments As the young spend less and less of their lives in natural surroundings their senses narrow Louv warns and this reduces the richness of human experience Math Outdoor Lab Weather Monitoring and Data Collection Materials American Goldfinch Bird and Pond Native Plant Garden Environmental Study and Testing Materials Silvaculture Study Materials Reading Books supplemental and for independent reading General Use Donation It gets kids moving Most ways of interacting with nature involve more exercise than sitting on the couch Your kid doesn t have to be joining the local soccer team or riding a bike through the park even a walk will get her blood pumping Not only is exercise good for kids bodies but it seems to make them more focused which is especially beneficial for kids with ADHD It makes them think Louv says that nature creates a unique sense of wonder for kids that no other environment can provide The phenomena that occur naturally in backyards and parks everyday make kids ask questions about the earth and the life that it supports It reduces stress and fatigue According to the Attention Restoration Theory urban environments require what s called directed attention which forces us to ignore distractions and exhausts our brains In natural environments we practice an effortless type of attention known as soft fascination that creates feelings of pleasure not fatigue So while screen time is the easier more popular choice it s important to set aside time for outdoor play Page 2 Total Donation Method of Payment Check Name Bill Me Address Visa Steller s Jay MasterCard American Express Phone Credit Card CID Exp date Signature Natural Connections Academy Inc 5827 W Conkling Rd Worley ID 83876 Phone 208 428 6224 NCAI Email info naturalconnectionsacademy net Website naturalconnectionsacademy net

Na tu ra l C on ne ct i on s Ac a de m y I nc Na tu ra l C on ne ct i on s Ac a de m y I nc The OWL Connection 5827 W Conkling Rd Worley ID 83876 Natural Connections Academy Inc NCA is a private nonprofit outdoor school We provide a nature based educational experience for students in 3rd through 5th grades in Kootenai Benewah and Spokane Counties Phone 208 428 6224 NCAI Email info naturalconnectionsacademy net Website naturalconnectionsacademy net We are on the Web www naturalconnectionsacademy net In order to learn about their world students are immersed in the natural environment through their own inquiries and wonder Students solve real world problems through hands on learning opportunities The goal is to reconnect students with nature so that they can be good stewards of their local environment Natural Connections Academy Inc NCA mission is to connect children s learning to the environment Building connections between nature and academics we want students to learn responsibility accountability and ownership of their education Through these connections they will solidify their role in their local communities and become environmentally focused leaders Jan Feb 2023 Volume 2 Issue 1 Our Educational Partners Birds of Prey Northwest Stimson Lumber Idaho Forest Products Commission Project Learning Tree Idaho Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission Volunteer Opportunities As our school grows we will be looking for volunteers to assist us in various areas If you are interested in helping please call 208 428 6224 Trail Preparation Social Media Manager Grant Writing Marketing Associate Other ways to help We are searching for Bird bath bird feeders Square patio stones 100 Picnic Table Science Equipment Hand Warmers Binoculars Forestry Measurement Equip Kootenai Shoshone Soil Water Conservation District Coeur D Alene Tribe Dept of Education Project WET IDAH2O Kootenai County Noxious Weed Dept Updates and News With a new year comes new opportunities For the remainder of the school year and through the summer we will be offering opportunities for students including homeschool students to get outside We will be offering outdoor treks to students in our local area Treks will last approximately 2 hours and will either be snowshoe hikes or regular hikes based on weather and trail conditions During those two hours students will have the opportunity to hike on private land like Stimson Lumber land and in local parks like Heyburn State Park The treks will be offered twice a week in the morning and in the afternoon We are hoping to have Tuesdays for 9 12 year olds and Thursdays for 6 8 year olds If we have a large group of students for example from a consortium we will also do mixed age groups Each hike will have a focus topic As examples the first hike will focus on snowshoeing practice etiquette and history and the second will focus on local types of trees characteristics identification We also are exploring the idea of adding additional classes Garden Discovery and What s in Idaho Native Plants in the spring We will expand our offerings by also creating a summer program Included in the program will be some gardening some native plant i den ti fi ca tion and lots of hiking In addition there will be swimming boating games and local field trips Jack the school dog and I continue to explore nature We have been hiking on adjacent Stimson Lumber land and have seen many different animal tracks in the snow There are so many moose tracks on the property that it amazes me Coyote tracks and scat are fairly common but we re keeping watch for cougar tracks since one has been caught on a trail camera in our area We ve investigated the drainage that fills Squaw Creek from our land and the land around us Due to recent rains and thawing from our false spring the creek has been pretty full As we walk along the trail we can hear the creek roaring from the abundant runoff We are seeking a company to assist us in enhancing our marketing so that we can attract more students Currently we are in contact with companies that specialize in working with schools At this point we are unsure of which company to pursue or what path to take However it is evident that we should continue to expand our outreach We hope that our interactions with students will continue to grow as a result of our marketing efforts and our added offerings