We changed gears and picked out our local parks and nature preserves with the most amount of shade or water fun for the children and adults. The Florida heat and humidity isn't something to mess with. We started meeting up earlier in the morning to avoid the high heat index of 100+ degree afternoons. The children are really starting to notice changes with trees and plants in bloom.
“We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the Marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things." Charlotte Mason
Nature's Snacks
We are all getting use to finding our common edible plants. We are sampling Spiderwort, Wood Sorrel, Caesar Weed, Dollarweed, Tropical Chickweed, Purslane, and our favorite BeautyBerry. The children definitely spot the Beauty Berries the fastest.
Our explorers are still never without their faithful palm frond or sticks
"At this point in the year Beauty Berries are everywhere and once one child starts snacking on them they all want to have a few berries. Even those who are new to join us try at least one. It is definitely a sensory experience as not all berries on the same branch or tree taste the same and it is definitely a topic of discussion as to who had the tasties one of all."
At some point in our daily adventures someone finds water to play in water to stay cool or a large tree to explore under.
Staying Cool
We found a new location for our forest school right along the intercoastal waterway. The children can find Pelicans, Laughing gulls, Anhinga, Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, mangrove crabs, Crowned Conchs, and Oysters among the Red and Black Mangrove estuary. We can all enjoy the shade of the large oak trees by the shoreline and stay cool playing in the water.
I wouldn't trade our adventures for anything.