I wish kids today could spend more time outdoors. Actually, not just kids. We all benefit from connecting with nature. As I taught science, it seemed the kids who had spent time in the woods, and in the deserts, and playing at the river or lake understood concepts better. The trouble with teaching science in a classroom is trying to make it an authentic experience.
I met my husband 2 and a half years ago. We both loved being outdoors. I loved hiking and camping and learning about nature. Biology has always been one of my favorite subjects. My degree is in biology and I loved my classes in college. My husband is an engineer and an avid hunter. As we dated and got married we have spent hours and hours in the outdoors together.
I find it funny how much "biology" I learn from him as we look for wild turkey tracks, enjoy watching a herd of antelope on the move, or stop to see a rare Gila monster on the side of a back road. He would tell me about how he talks to turkeys. I kind of laughed a little until I watched him communicate with a young turkey hen we came across while scouting one day. She was feeding and got scared as we pulled up in the truck. My husband, Ammon, made a few little noises on his mouth call and she calmed right down and kept feeding with in about 20 feet of the truck.
The other day Ammon came across this
video of Joe Hutto, wildlife artist and naturalist, and his experience hatching and living with young wild turkeys as their "mother." We loved the video so we checked out the book, Illumination in the Flatwoods. I'm really enjoying it so far. I feel like I'm hanging out with Joe and his turkeys in the woods as they hunt for insects and interact with the mule deer. I can't wait to get back to the book.
These guys are the regulars you can see there anytime.
