We are currently in the middle of our “Web of Life” class and are having a lot of fun learning about the food chain, including our part in it!

Making a food chain project

Showing off our walking sticks - masters of camouflage!

Just a reminder that we have one of our first free classes coming up, thanks to a donation from Novato-based Circle Bank. The session, called “Our Feathered Friends” will be held Thursdays at Ladybug Park in Rohnert Park from 10:00 to 11:00, starting 9/24 through 10/15. Class size is limited, and is on a first come first served basis (with pre-registration) so if you’re interested in signing up, please contact me at 707-333-1331. I have two spots left.

Thanks, and hope to see you outdoors!

Stephanie Derammelaere

Because we learned about animal camouflage in our current web of life session, I decided to expand on this subject at home with some more stories and a craft. To show the effects of camouflage, I had my children pick out an animal (I used old nature calendars, but you could also find some in old magazines), and then cut them out. (Older children can cut them out on their own, younger ones will need some help with this step). Then we found some construction paper the same color as the animals (both of my children happened to pick brown animals), and glued them onto the paper. We discussed what habitat they might live in and they colored in the rest of the scene – trees, a rock, grass, etc. Some of the additional books we read include: What Color is Camouflage? By Carolyn Otto, What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? By Steve Jenkins, and Hiding Out – Camouflage in the Wild by James Martin. The text in the last book might be a bit advanced for younger children but the pictures illustrate various types of camouflage really well. All three of these books are available through the Sonoma County library system.

Last month’s eco-tip discussed the importance of using non-disposable water bottles to reduce the amount of plastic in our landfills. To further this topic, this month’s eco-tip is on composting, another way to reduce the amount of garbage going to our local dumps.

Yard and food wastes make up approximately 30% of the waste stream in the US. Not only does composting divert a significant portion of your family’s garbage from landfill and water treatment facilities, it is a natural method of recycling organic materials and converting it into a product that is useful for gardening, landscaping, or even just house plants. Involving children in the process of composting and explaining why you do it provides a way of instilling in children a sense of environmental stewardship. Plus, it can be a great learning experience on a variety of levels. With composting, children can see the entire cycle, from “yucky” food scraps to something that is pleasant to handle and is good for the soil. Children who compost become aware of organic wastes as potential resources rather than just as something “gross” to be thrown away and forgotten. They learn through direct experience that they personally can make a difference and have a positive effect on the environment.

Worm bins are a popular form of composting with young children, who are fascinated with the worms’ feeding and reproductive habits.

Even if you do not have a garden of your own, and therefore do not have a need to make compost for your own use, you can still collect food scraps in a separate container that can be thrown in your “green bin”. This alone cuts down on a tremendous amount of garbage normally going to landfill!