Growing up in Michigan, during the spring months the weather was erratic at best. Within the same week in April or May we could hop from mittens to swimsuits and back again. It wasn’t until June rolled along that the outdoors truly opened up for us. Then we headed outdoors, only to be ushered back in again in September. My brothers and I were given great freedom to explore the acers woods and fields just outside our door. A freedom I now look on as a parent with awe, hoping I will be able to let my children experience a similar time of self exploration out in the world (and wondering how much panicking I will be doing at home until they return). We came home from these romps, or Walk-Abouts as we called them, adorned with scratches, bites, grass stains and stories of fort building and new nooks that we had discovered which we of course had named (Anne Shirley was indeed a kindred spirit of mine). We had our favorite wild blackberry patch, knew where the best climbing trees were and had hidden cubby holes of treasures all over the woods. As we got older this freedom of exploration expanded further and off we went on our bikes for several miles, down country dirt roads to the lake where we would meet up with friends.
Now when the summer months roll around I still have this immense need to explore. I cannot, CANNOT sit indoors on a sunny June day. My house is sorely neglected, my crafts go untouched and I wear my entire family out with daily romps and activities. My husband humors me although he doesn’t completely understand. My kids go along, sometimes reluctantly but with acceptance that this is perfectly normal behavior. And I revel in the outdoors. So while my mom takes to her garden (I am somehow missing the green thumb gene that both my mother and grandmother possess), I hit the nature trails. Unfortunately our housing situation doesn’t allow for the step outside the back door and explore freedom that I had growing up. Sadly even the house I grew up in doesn’t really allow for that any more as a subdivision now encompasses the bulk our old nooks and crannies but we are fortunate to live just a few short miles from a vast metro park, with miles and miles of nature trails.
After several long treks with my kids last summer their enthusiasm was beginning to wane when I mentioned a hike. That is when I discovered Letterboxing. Letterboxing has added a fun new twist to our nature escapades. Now not only are we exploring nature, we are off on a treasure hunt armed with our signature stamps, a journal, a compass and map of clues. Letterboxing takes us off the beaten trails and has allowed us to see things we would have otherwise missed. We’ve run into a flock of wild turkeys, seen a snake catch a toad inches in front of my daughter, and it has also helped us develop our way-finding skills sans-GPS. For more information on Letterboxing we suggest you visit www.AtlasQuest.com.
The projects we developed for June make the perfect companions for Letterboxing and Nature Trekking. You will learn how make your own signature stamp and how to make a little nature journal to record your finds. The appliqué collection of Creepy, Crawlers will remind you of summer days spent flipping over stones and collecting bugs in jars.
Book: Anne of Green Gables
Recipe: Grape Nut cookies