Fall is my favorite time of the year. I find the changing colors and crisp autumn air refreshing after the heat of summer. Blue skies and the call of waterfowl – geese, ducks, pheasants - are all especially treasured.

Growing up on the farm, autumn meant harvest season, including dusty oats, corn, and the hard work of filling the hay barn in preparation for the coming winter.

As a young girl, I looked forward to the beginning of a new school year. I loved the smell of a new box of crayons and tennis shoes not yet worn. I enjoyed school and spent hours during summer vacation pretending to be the teacher with my younger sister as the student.

Yet, about a month into a new school year my short attention span kicked in, and I found myself bored with the in-classroom routine. As a first-grader, the boredom caused me to intentionally color outside of the lines by the time Thanksgiving rolled around. 

There were several teachers who found ways to keep the material engaging. One science lesson that stays with me was a 6th grade field trip to a local city park. Our assignment was to collect leaves and identify them by describing the types of trees they came from in a written report. We spent several hours exploring the woods and found a wide variety of soft and hardwood species. After pressing the leaves between the pages of a thick book, I had a colorful array of specimens to write about. My report also included descriptions and pictures of acorns and caterpillars.

This school year brings challenges that were unimaginable decades ago. I have great respect for parents, teachers, and students as they adapt and navigate through the challenges of staying healthy while distance- or hybrid-learning.  Technology and traditional books are great tools. Creative activities including coloring books can break up the day as well. Fortunately the outdoors is always a wonderful classroom and offers an amazing array of learning opportunities too.

I still love being out in nature, especially strolling through "The Jungle" on our farm. “The Jungle” is an area that once served as a pasture for young Holstein calves that my husband and his family raised on their dairy farm. The parcel includes two ponds surrounded by woods, cattails and swamp grass. The overgrown area is covered with prickly bramble, sumac, and invasive Buckthorn. 

This summer I used a brush cutter to trim a winding trail through the overgrowth. The dogs and I are now able to enjoy a daily stroll on this trail. There are deer, bears, and coyotes that pass through the area as well. We find evidence of their presence but so far have only seen deer in person.

Below are some of the wonders of nature that we discovered on a recent morning walk. It always brings us joy to pay attention to the big and little things we find along the way.

Do you like taking nature walks? What kind of discoveries do you find? Share them with us in the comments below.