My Health & Safety

The Health & Safety badge is the most essential badge on the website. Topics will include first aid, safety, and the child's overall well-being. Here, I will provide learning materials relevant to building a strong foundation of self-awareness and to the safe exploration of their surroundings. Many of these activities will build on one another and foster independence and self-reliance. I will update our Facebook group when new activities are added, and I always welcome ideas for new projects to help our children grow and learn.

My Health & Safety: About Me

Link to My Health & Safety Information: Here

Here are some helpful tips on teaching your child to call 911 from a cell phone:

1. The child must locate the phone. 

2. Once the phone is found the child might have to unlock it or wake the phone. 

3. Next the child must find the keypad, which may not be up on the screen. 

4. Once finding the keypad and dialing 911 they still need to press call or send.

Practice this activity often with your child and let me know how it went in the comments. 

--Stacey

My Nature Toolkit

My ultimate goal as Treehouse Magazine progresses is to use this badge to address questions that an Earth Explorer might have, such as mushroom hunting, nature journaling, or even how to cook over an open fire. Each aspect of the badge requires an in-depth discussion of preparedness, the most appropriate tool for the job, and where to find such tools.

Please understand that your idea of My Nature Toolkit may differ from what I have presented on the website. Geographical conditions, time of year, etc., even things that might be relevant for your family, will help you make sound decisions based on your experience after you have completed the task a few times and get more comfortable with the subject matter. I will give an overview and present the most pertinent information to help you accomplish the task that you set out to do. I want this to be a place for the novice to come and find a blueprint for exploring the great outdoors with their children, family, and friends.

Above all, I want to build your confidence and help you succeed, because you have been given the tools to do so. I think many people would love to explore nature with their children, but are sometimes hesitant because they don't know where to begin or even how to ask for help. If I've posted something here about a particular subject and you have a stellar tip to pass on to the community, please do so in the comments. When you post a comment, please list it as such:

(Format) ***SUBJECT: Explanation***

(eg) MUSHROOM HUNTING: If you encounter Laetiporus sulphureus, aka Chicken of the Woods, high in a tree, use a utility cord to retrieve rather than a ladder; it's much safer.

Keeping tips organized will enable more productive discussions and better organization of valuable information. The more knowledge that we share with one another and pass on to our children, the more successful we will be when we set out to complete a task. Let us know how it went in the comments, and good luck!

-The Treehouse Family

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Mushroom Hunting

Venturing out of your comfort zone and into the forest to find mushrooms with small children might put some of you on edge. I am a firm believer that we need to educate our children on how to correctly identify mushrooms and what to do if they encounter one on the trail or in a play area. We must have an open, honest dialogue with them about the risks of misidentification to keep them safe and aware of their surroundings.

Different times of the year pose some very different challenges when you're trying to complete a successful hunt with your family. While winter isn't the best time to find mushrooms, spring, summer, and fall offer a colorful bounty of beautiful specimens for your child to study and explore. Certain animals and insects that might not be found in Winter and Spring, but are prevalent in the summer and fall months. (Think snakes, mosquitoes, bears, cougars, spiders; just to name a few.)

If you go into the forest prepared and ready to take on any challenge that might arise, you are sure to have a much better experience than a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants afternoon jaunt, whilst being carried away by 100's of blood thirsty insects looking for their next meal.

Whenever you're going out into the woods during the warmer months, I highly recommend some type of mosquito mesh; whether it be a hat, pants, jacket, stroller/kid carrier, you're going to want to protect the kiddos from having to apply excessive amounts of DEET from insect repellent if you plan on traversing any deep woods with heavy leaf litter. Spraying a waterproof suit with 15% DEET also helps limit skin contact. You might be asking why not a natural insect repellent. Trust me, I've tried this, and it just doesn't cut it in the deep woods. It will be a miserable experience for your family.

A high waterproof boot does wonders for protecting your child from possible snakes that might be hidden on the ground if they are running through the woods and not watching their surroundings. They are also easy to clean if your child walks/runs through poison ivy/oak/sumac, and you need to wash the urushiol off their boots with soap and water. Extra socks are like extra clothes; a must if your child plays hard, as mine do. Thick gloves offer protection from possible unknown mushroom residue on a cap or from poison ivy that could be close to specimens. It's often hard to keep an eye on your child when they are lost in the forest's excitement and the hunt. You want to make the experience fun, but also safe, without worrying about extraneous factors that might change a pleasant day into something unforgettable, and not in a good way.

A trekking pole or walking stick will allow your child to inspect areas where they might want to investigate. Snakes are one of my biggest fears when I'm in the forest with my girls, but if you teach them to go slowly and pay attention to their surroundings, then that might prevent a dangerous encounter with a venomous snake.

Some of you might be leery about giving a child a knife. You need to consider that if you want your child to be capable and prepared to go into the forest to hunt mushrooms, you will want to get them a good knife. Opinal France makes high-quality knives for kids, whether for mushroom hunting or the kitchen. You will not be disappointed by the quality or timeless design.

A few other things you might want to include are a guide for your area, a kids' shockproof/waterproof camera, a compass, and a utility cord. The split-willow creel is my go-to basket for foraging or collecting in the forest. It's better known as a fish basket, but it's got a small square hole in the top where your kiddos can drop all of their finds and forest treasures. It's also hinged and has a cross-body strap.

If you have some other really useful finds to add to my list, please do so in the comments. It's always so helpful when everyone shares practical knowledge. It fosters a stronger community for our children and builds their confidence in the wilderness. Happy Mushroom Hunting!

-Stacey

My Monarch Butterfly Garden

Monarch butterflies were something I had not previously considered until I was at the Milwaukee County Zoo with my family.

The Zoo has two lovely butterfly gardens full of flowers and native plants. While I was walking around with my girls, I noticed signs for the Monarch Waystation and the Monarch Habitat. I had never seen anything like that before, so I decided to do a little research. It has been observed that the Monarch butterfly population has declined significantly over the past decade. Milkweed and native grasses have been replaced with housing developments and urban sprawl. Monarchs need Milkweed to survive. 

I've included a nature craft activity, My Nature Press, which complements My Butterfly Sun Catcher and will require dried flowers.  Really think about the flora and fauna in your area and let that shine in the activity.

Treehouse S.T.E.A.M. -- Gardens / Bugs / Birds Classes

If your child received a Pocket Prairie Garden seed packet, here are instructions from The Ladybird Johnson Wildlife Center on how to go about starting your pocket prairie garden. The seed in this packet is for a 20 x 20 garden or 400 square feet. I'd start these seeds in early winter if you've completed your site preparation to ensure proper seed stratification.  

Site Preparation: You'll need an area where weeds have been removed via solarization (recommended), or, if herbicide application is used, ready to plant 6 weeks after application (recommended only if the weed/seed bank is high).  Soil will be prepared for seed planting 5 days after application. Bloom times are from spring through fall, and heights vary.  

The full list of species in your seed mix is as follows (seed weight varies): 

(A) = Annual (B) = Biennial (P) = Perennial 

Common Name | Botanical Name [link to plants information]

(P) Little Bluestem Grass

[Schizachyrium scoparium]

(P) Butterfly Milkweed

[Asclepias tuberosa]

(P) Common Milkweed

[Asclepias syriaca]

(P) Swamp Milkweed

[Asclepias incarnata]

(P) Blazing Star

[Liatris spicata]

(P) Purple Coneflower

[Echinacea purpurea]

(P) Lance Leaved Coreopsis

[Coreopsis lanceolata]

(P) Black Eyed Susan

[Rudbeckia hirta]

(P) Tall Verbena

[Verbena bonariensis]

(P) Autumn Sneezeweed

[Helenium autumnale]

(P) Snapdragon

[Antirrhinum majus]

(P) Wild Bergamont

[Monarda fistulosa]

(P) Obedient Plant

[Physostegia virginiana]

(P) Royal Catchfly

[Silene regia]

(P) Cardinal Flower

[lobelia cardinalis]

(P) Indian Blanket Flower

[Gaillardia pulchella]

(P) Purple Prairie Clover

[Dalea purpurea]

(P) Eastern Smooth Beardtongue

[Penstamon laevigatus]

(P) Partridge Pea

[Chamaecrista fasciculata]

(P) Mexican Hat

[Ratibida columnifera]

(P) Grey-headed Coneflower

[Ratibida pinnata]

(P) Stiff Goldenrod

[Oligoneuron rigidum]

(P) Grey Goldenrod

[Solidago nemoralis]

(P) New England Aster

[Symphyotrichum noave-angliae]

(P) California Poppy

[Eschscholzia californica]

(P) Red Corn Poppy

[Papaver rhoeas]

(B) Purple Phacelia

[Phacelia bipinnatifida]

(B) Parsley

[Petroselinum crispum]

(B) Siberian Wallflower

[Erysimum allionii]

(B) Sweet William

[Dianthus barbatus]

(B) Common Evening Primrose

[Oneothera biennis]

(A) Sunflower - Evening Sun Mixed Colors

[Helianthus annus L.]

(A) Baby Blue Eyes

[Nemophila menziesii]

(A) Linaria Fairy Bouquet

[Linaria maroccana]

(A) Calendula Fancy Mix

[Calendula officinalis]

(A) Mexican Lupine

[Lupinus spp.]

(A) Mexican Sunflower

[Tithonia rotundifolia]

(A) Cosmos

[Cosmos bipinnatus]

(A) Balsam

[Impatiens balsamina]

(A) Sulphur Cosmos

[Cosmos sulphureus]

(A) Borage

[Borago officinalis]

(A) Bachelor's Button

[Centaurea cyanus]

(A) Pincushion Flower

[Scabiosa atropurpurea]

(A) Sweet Sultan

[Amberboa moschata]

(A) Crimson Clover

[Trifolium incarnatum]

(A) China Aster

[Callistephus chinensis]

(A) Dill

[Anethum graveolens]

(A) Rocky Mtn. Bee Plant

[Peritoma serrulata]

(A) Lemon Mint

[Monarda citriodora]

(A) Bishop's Flower

[Ammi majus]

(A) Sweet Alyssum

[Lobularia maritima]

To download project sheets and print at home: Right-click the image, download as a JPEG and save to your desktop. Please note that most printers are not borderless, so you might have to cut around the edge to remove that annoying white border. So, print out your project/parent sheets and get outside!

Link: My Monarch Butterfly Garden PDF

Share your pictures with us on instagram: @treehousemagazine

Mention us on Facebook: @treehousekidsmagazine.

Send us a tweet: @mytreehousekids

We would love to know how it went!

The Treehouse Family

Link to PDF: My Butterfly Book and Life Cycle Wheel

Link to PDF: My Butterfly File 

Link to PDF: Finding Monarch Eggs and Caterpillars


Link to PDF: Monarch Instars


Link to PDF: Chrysalis to Butterfly


Link to PDF: Growing Checklist

Link to PDF: Glossary of Terms

The Fantastic Fox

Team Treehouse - The Spencer Family

Fox Tracing Sheets

Link to PDF: Fox Tracing Sheets

Fox Anatomy

Link to PDF: Fox Anatomy

Watercolor Nature Jornaling

Link to PDF: Sheet of Leaves

My Fox Puppet

Link to PDF: Illustrated Instructions  Paper Bag Template

Fox Den Terrarium

Link to PDF: Terrarium Diagram

Gratitude Card 

Link to PDF: Fox and Turkey Template

When searching for information about Red Fox anatomy, I found myself wanting more. There are not many kid-friendly anatomy charts that combine information on tracking and anatomy. 

Initially, I was going to do a simple exercise in which your child could cut out the template and glue the cotton swabs onto it. Still, I decided that I had to set the bar high and create something that truly captured the biological makeup of the Red Fox and a bit of Bushcraft. 

I greatly appreciate Bushcraft, and I am consistently underwhelmed when I search for illustrated explanations of topics that I want to explore further. Tracking is essential to understanding the habits and Biology of the Red Fox and other animals. This information helps your child connect with the subject matter and explore further when they are immersed in the forest school environment.

Cotton Swab Fox Anatomy Step by Step:

Gather your materials: 

• School Glue
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Cotton Swabs (not pictured below)
• Pencil
• Construction Paper (Black + White)

1. It will be beneficial to staple the Cotton Swab Fox Anatomy TEMPLATE to your child's piece of black construction paper. Do not staple inside the fox template; staple only in a few places along the side. Your child will now be able to cut easily around the temple. 

2. After your child has cut out the fox from the template, they will have two foxes; one will be the construction paper fox, and the other will be the blank. Your child may discard the blank or colored version and share it with a friend. 

3. Have your child glue their construction paper fox to their lighter colored construction paper, preferably in the center. They will want to leave a bit of room to add the tags and maybe draw a neat scene after the project. 

3. Now you and your child will need to decide if they want to do the beginner version of the anatomy or the more advanced. The more advanced anatomy is higher level (ages 10+), but with your guidance, you can really start to teach your child a bit of proper terminology + Biology.

4. Lastly, depending on the age of your child, you should cut different sizes of cotton swabs, so they can jump right into the activity and explore the skeleton. Larger parts of the swabs together make great skulls and pelvis, while the smaller sticks are great for the ribs and bones. You can also bend the whole swab in different ways to recreate the spine, tail, and neck. However your child decides to approach the activity, encourage exploration and talk with them about how the skeleton is the framework of the Fox, and without it, the fox couldn't run, jump, or play, just like them. 

Please share Treehouse with your friends and family, and if you feature us in your blog, please leave a link in the comments below.

To download project sheets for printing at home, right-click the image, select "Download as JPEG," and save it to your desktop. Or you can simply drag and drop. All files are 8 1/2" × 11" and are compatible with standard home printers. 

Share your pictures with us on instagram: @treehousemagazine
Please mention us on Facebook: @treehousekidsmagazine
Send us a tweet: @mytreehousekids

We would love to know how it went!

The Treehouse Family

Reindeer ADVENTure

Reindeer ADVENTure log: Day 3

Reindeer ADVENTure Day 5: Letter "R" Tracing Worksheets

Link to the PDF: Letter "R" worksheets

Reindeer ADVENTure Day 9: Reindeer Card

Reindeer ADVENTure Day 9: Reindeer Card

Link to the PDF: Hand and Footprint Reindeer Card

ADVENTure log: Day 10 -- Migration

Link to the PDF: ADVENTure log: Day 10

Link to the PDF: ADVENTure log: Day 13

Reindeer ADVENTure: Day 11 -- My Boreal Forest 

Link to PDF project sheet: My Boreal Forest

Reindeer Wood Slice Project Sheet
Link to PDF: Reindeer Wood Slice

My Treehouse: Power Drill BASICS

I have big news for you, Treehouse Family! 

We were treated to a very special surprise at the Milwaukee County Zoo after my daughters zoo class. While we were finishing our class at the reindeer exhibit, we saw a familiar face talking with the Zookeepers. 

Santa Clause seemed to be a bit distraught. Three of his reindeer were sick and he needed three strong reindeer to help pull his sleigh. Ms. Colette, the reindeer's Zookeeper, had no problem allowing the reindeer to go out for Santa's big run. Santa's only request was that we needed to leave reindeer food. 

I thought how I could help and remembered that Gingerbread House was our new way to cook food and share recipes with our family. It's an easy recipe and really tasty too! So, please make the reindeer food for the three reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh from the Milwaukee County Zoo. It's up to you to help keep them strong for the big journey, Treehouse Family!

Reindeer Food Recipe 

Announcing: Gingerbread House Cooking School

Link to PDF: Reindeer Food + Coloring Sheet

Our Treehouse Nature School Facebook group is a vibrant community of nature lovers from around the world and we are all rooted in our love of outdoor education for our children. Join our free Nature School and get featured in our magazine!
Please share Treehouse with your friends and family, and if you feature us in your blog, please leave a link in the comments below.

To download project sheets for at-home printing: Right-click the image, select "Download as JPEG," and save it to your desktop. Or you can simply drag and drop. All files are 8 1/2" X 11" and fit any standard home printer.

 Share your pictures with us on Instagram: @treehousemagazine

Mention us on Facebook: @treehousekidsmagazine

Send us a tweet: @mytreehousekids

We would love to know how it went!

The Treehouse Family