• Birds, Hiking, Native Plants, Native Trees, Nature & Garden Journals, Nature Study, State & National Parks, Things to Do

How to Start a Nature Journal

I lead a homeschool hiking group that meets in nearby state parks and natural areas at least once a month. We’re working on nature journals this year and I decided to turn the student tutorial I was writing for next Friday’s hike into a blog post. When beginning a nature journal, you don’t need much. Prior to setting out, we…

• Beneficial Insects, Education, Hiking, Insects, Invasive Species, Native Plants, Native Trees, Nature Study, State & National Parks

How to Tell a Carolina Mantis Eggcase from a Chinese Mantis Eggcase (What’s an Ootheca?)

The Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve is one of my favorite late-day stops when I need to get a nature fix. It’s about 20 minutes from my house and offers a range of habitats to explore — including forest, rare wetland seepage areas, and maintained meadows. Meadow habitats have become so scarce in the Carolinas that DNR uses mowing and controlled…