Wonderfull Earth

Did you know April 8 is National Visit a Park Day ? We are lucky to have many great parks in the area of which you can take advantage. The City of Madison Parks Division Conservation Section has 14 different and unique conservation parks, which are excellent for hiking, observing native plants and animals, and searching for signs of spring! Dane County Parks Division  includes a range of recreational urban and rural areas and facilities for you to use. Because they strive to go above and beyond the requirements mandated by the American Disabilities Act, each of these beautiful parks are accessible to all. Find something for everyone! For example, the Lussier Family Heritage Center  includes a beautiful facility surrounded by numerous recreational opportunities including a boat launch, picnic facilities, campgrounds, hiking trails, and playground equipment. So, this week and weekend, gather your family and friends and be sure to visit our great local parks!

View the original newsletter here.   Nature Net News Your Source for Tips and Tricks for Exploring Nature with Your Kids  "We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one." -Jacques Cousteau  Dear Reader, This issue of Nature Net News is dedicated to the wonders of the water cycle--one of nature's recycling factories. From collection to condensation, this cycle is part of the natural wonder of this world that keeps us going! So sit back with a tall glass of water and get ready to learn about the timeless journey of this precious resource. Enjoy! Kathe, Sarah & Brenna The Folks at Nature Net Did You Know... There is no such thing as "new" water. All the water that ever existed on Earth still exists today and moves around the planet in an ongoing cycle. That means that the water you drink today could have been sipped by dinosaurs or dodo birds. It also means that the water around now is all we have, and it needs to be taken care of! What to Do...

   A spring hickory bud at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center .  Spring is on its way, and now is the time of year to start up  nature journals with your family or students. It's also a perfect time introduce them to phenology! Phenology, derived from the Greek word phaino , meaning "to show or appear,"  is literally " the science of appearance ." It is a segment of ecology focused on the study of periodic plant and animal lifecycle events related to climate and seasonal changes. Although these natural observations can be done year-round, spring is a great time to get started by recording all the "firsts" you see. From noting the first bud on a tree to spotting the first robin in your yard, observing and recording these events can be the beginning of a life-long relationship with nature. You can record observations from your classroom or family in a yearly journal, and use these to compare notes from the past or make predictions about what...

   Join families and winter romantics next weekend at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center 's Black Earth Campus to celebrate this month's program, Owl You Need Is Love ! The event, from 1pm-3pm next Sunday, February 13, will celebrate the winter courtship of Wisconsin's owls, who spend the cold dark nights of winter concentrating on romance, and are some of the few animals to be sitting on a nest of eggs by Valentine's Day! At ALNC's Black Earth Campus (about 20 minutes west of Madison), your family will participate in an owl watching hike, learn about different owl calls, meet a live owl and participate in owl craft activities. Learn more about the event on ALNC's Nature Notes blog. See you there!

Calling all photogs and shutter bugs! Send us pictures of your family or students enjoying nature, and you may win a Nature Net prize package. * Submit digital images (5MB or less) to info@naturenet.com . Include names and ages of photo subjects along with a brief caption. Submissions must be received by February 28, 2011. [*Winner will be selected by Nature Net staff. All photos become property of Nature Net and may appear on Nature Net websites, newsletters or other promotional materials.]

Welcome to the very first Nature Net blog post. Nature Net is a non-profit consortium of nature centers, parks and museums in south-central Wisconsin, devoted to integrating fun and learning with the marvels nature and the outdoors. Our members offer hands-on environmental adventures for families, children and teachers, and are dedicated to cultivating an appreciation of the natural world. Here we will share the same great resources found on naturenet.com , including news from our members, event updates , and information from our monthly Nature Net News . Plus, we will have frequent tips, fun facts about nature, and posts from special guest bloggers. We also hope this site serves as a meeting place for families, teachers, and others to share great ideas, fun activities, and special events going on in the Nature Net community. Most of all, we hope this resource is helpful to you. Please contact info[at]naturenet.com with suggestions, comments or feedback!