The Let’s Go Outside Revolution

Peace in the heart, vitality, awe…some of the things I want my kids to feel…things that nature nurtured in me…a cool breeze on a warm day, the sparkle of fresh dewdrops on early morning grass, the quiet reflection of the setting sun…and a powerful emotion evoked with the smell of dry earth after soft rainfall…  My kids loved The Lets Go Outside Nature Camps – thank you so much Marghanita to you and Christine, Jasmine and ‘cool dude’ Sam (as my son would say) for awakening this in my kids and setting their imagination free. The wonderment on their little faces after each new critter found under a rock in our garden..testimony of their happiness. We look forward to the ‘Lets Go Outside’ Revolution! Sue Robinson

It was a truly rewarding experience teaching your spirited children Sue, thank you for sharing your children with us.

I am constantly learning from the children in the nature classes and feel privileged to be able to work and play with them in nature. It is thanks to you and your spirited children, and other families, individuals and organizations supporting the REVOLUTION and believing in the importance of connecting children with nature, that are creating a better future for our children. YOU ARE THE REVOLUTION!

Let’s Go Outside Revolution in your neighborhood…

The Revolution nature classes and workshops take to the road in November. En route we will be making a documentary to share all the fabulous work individuals, parents, schools and organizations are doing to connect children with nature.  We hope to provide solutions to the problems we are all facing in this fast paced, electronic obsessed society in which we live.

Workshops In Your Neighborhood
Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre’s Annual Conference, Vancouver:  Sat 19th November 2011
Workshop: Connecting Children With Nature presented by Marghnaita Hughes:  scheduled for 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and continuing from 1:45 to 3:45 p.m.

Join us  – We would love to meet you : Let’s Go Outside Revolution

• Would you like to hold a Nature Event in your neighborhood, local park or school?
• Would you like to feature in the documentary?
• Would you like to volunteer?
• Would you like to sponsor the Revolution?
• Contact Marghanita : info@marghanita.com  or info@letsgooutsiderevolution.com

Let’s Go Outside…Together we can make BIG change!

My heart is full of love and hope, knowing so many care. I cannot express the joy it gifts me, meeting all these wonderful children who will one day become the stewards for our beautiful planet, thank you with all of my heart….Marghanita xx

Getting ready for my nature art classes is always very exciting.

Of course the real magic begins when the children arrive. When children and nature mix, something magical happens.

To celebrate the International Year of the Forest, I decided to hold my nature classes in a forest setting this year.

Finally got to hang up the Little Humbugs Forest sign today.

This week I’ve been busy painting signs

and pebbles

and making willow and dandelion wreaths for the classes.

Children have a natural love for all living things.

Teaching young children about compassion is one of the most important things we can do for them and the future of humanity – Dalai Lama.

Taking time to listen, to smell, to look up, to touch and to taste are all part of the magic and wonder when you play outdoors in nature. Children remind us of what’s been forgotten, somehow lost along the way. This is one of the joys of working with children, my inner-child is ever present. I am continually learning from my own children and the children I teach.

Sit Amongst The Trees And Listen With Your Heart. (Thank you Bernie -Natural Moments, for the inspiration for this sign).

This year the theme is all about the circle of life.

The simple, fun activities are based on the spirit of sharing and caring, and connecting with our natural environment. Hopefully the children will leave feeling a sense of belonging, having discovered they too play a part in this magical web of life.

Each child will contribute a piece of their nature art to a large “Circle Of Life” tapestry that we will be constructed out of cardboard and elements from nature.

I hope to share the magical journey with you in a new book ” Nature based Arts and Crafts from the Enchanted Gardens” later this year. Featuring 30 magical activities based on the spirit of sharing and caring, and connecting with our natural environment.

In the meantime I will post the childrens’ favourite activities each week throughout July.

Here are just a few of my nature friends who have fabulous blogs offering wonderful ideas for playing in nature this summer: Jeanene @ Earth Boys, Jenny @ Let the Children Play,  Kari @ Active Kids Club, Debi @  Go Explore Nature, Bethe @ Grass Stain Guru

Why not start a nature club, my beautiful friend Michele Whitaker started one up last year:  OCPlayParks

Wishing you all lot’s of fun and magical moments in nature this summer. Love and Peace, Marghanita x

For those of you who haven’t read this thought provoking story …

In Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007, a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk..

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:  If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made….

How many other things are we missing?

Not surprising  – all the children were instantly captivated, yet not one parent allowed their child a moment to appreciate the music!!!!

Wishing you a beautiful weekend full of magical moments in beauty. Love and peace, Marghanita x

On Monday evening the honeysuckle’s sweet smell enticed me to get closer. I was in awe of its scent, its texture, its glow in the late evening light. I lost myself in its beauty.

What magic is stirring in your garden?

Now that Spring has arrived, we spend most of our free time outdoors.

UNPLUGGED

On Saturday Sam built a mountain bike track with his dad.

Test run by foot.

Back to track building on Sunday…

With big brother…

Dusty work…

Kids just being kids…

Sam was thrilled to have his big brother help him.

They had a blast!

They would not have spent as much time together had they been indoors.

Outdoors, they were connected, they were a team, bikers together!

Children + Nature = Happy, Healthy Children!

Monday after dinner…Sam couldn’t wait for his brother to return home from college…and get back out on the bikes.

And what did we girls do….

We took Prince for a walk…Jasmine and I might try the bike jumps tomorrow!

What do you get up to outdoors now that Spring has arrived?

World Wetlands Day – Wetlands and Forests

This is the theme for World Wetlands Day 2011, especially chosen because 2011 is the UN International Year of Forests.

To celebrate World Wetlands Day – I am giving away FREE copies of Nika And The Painted Turtle

Just leave a comment below and I’ll send you your FREE ebook.

We cannot manage without forests and wetlands.

Forests and wetlands (mangroves, peat swamp forests, freshwater swamp forests) are vital to all human lives, freshwater availability on a global scale depends on our forests. So too, to a large extent, does freshwater quality.

Despite these many benefits that wetlands provide to people and wildlife, they continue to be destroyed across Canada.  As much as 70 percent have been lost in some areas of the country.

Here are a few cool facts about Wetlands:

• Wetlands keep our water clean
• Wetlands are a valuable wildlife habitat
• Wetlands can help reduce flooding
• Wetlands are a great place to have fun

Fun Outdoors (colouring sheet below)

Thanks to their natural beauty and abundant wildlife, wetlands make great places to relax and have fun. Activities like hiking, wildlife watching, fishing, camping and canoeing are just some of the things people do in wetland areas.

Help raise awareness for these magical places.

Why not visit a local marsh, mangrove, swamp forest this weekend and discover what lives in and around these fascinating wetlands.

Look what Sam found…

They are also great places to learn about biology and the environment. They are full of the ‘raw materials’ that make learning fun and effective.

As you know I love Dragonflies!

Dragonflies Need Wetlands Too!!!!!

Female dragonflies lay eggs in or near water. After about two weeks, the eggs hatch and an immature dragonfly, or nymph, emerges. Dragonfly nymphs live in the water. As they grow, they molt (shed their skin). Nymphs of some species may take as long as three years to mature. Most of a dragonfly’s life is spent in the larval stage beneath the waters surface, using internal gills to breathe. The life span ranges from about 6 months to over 7 years.
When the larva is ready to metamorphose into an adult, it climbs up a reed or other emergent plant at night. Exposure to air causes the larvae to begin breathing. The skin splits at a weak spot behind the head and the adult dragonfly crawls out of its old larval skin, waits for the sun to rise, pumps up its wings and flies off to feed on midges and flies.
HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!

Please use recycled paper when printing the Little Humbugs colouring sheet- many thanks.

DOWNLOAD PRINT HERE

My wish for you all comes from a beautiful moment I shared with my eighteen year old son a few weeks ago. I had just completed the illustration above of the deer in the snow with Nika.

It had just begun to snow outside too so I offered to give my son a ride to his part time job (he usually cycles). We had been driving for just a few minutes when we spotted a deer in the field. I slowed down and stopped so we could appreciate his presence and beauty. The deer stared right back at us.

As we began to drive off, my son turned his beautiful face to me and said, “look mum, the deer is running with us”. His eyes were so full of excitement and joy, it brought tears to my eyes. We both watched as the deer ran with us and for those few short moments, the deer, my son and I were connected.  My son was in the moment with me, a moment of pure joy, a magical moment, I will never forget. His expression of connection and joy was a gift from his inner beauty and Mother Nature.

My wish for you all this holiday season is that you are gifted at least one “Magical Moment” with a loved one. A gift that can be cherished and give you everlasting joy.

Peace and Love Always ……………Marghanita x

The night sky sparkled, bejeweled with a million exquisite stars. Nika and the deer were captivated by the magical beauty of the crisp winter’s night.

Let’s give children back their childhood.

Children are spending less time outdoors than ever before. “Let’s Talk” is a new online talk show asking QUESTIONS, getting ANSWERS so that YOU can take ACTION!

We ALL have a part to play in this revolution. Watch the videos:

Our first episodes in the series feature Dr Kristina Towill.

Dr. Kristina Towill is a Registered Psychologist and a member of the College of Psychologists of British Columbia. She began her career in the Lower Mainland, as a school teacher and school counsellor. She now has a large private therapy practice in Kelowna, BC, where she treats individuals and couples contending with a wide variety of life stressors.  Dr. Towill regularly lectures to professional and community groups, on a breadth of psychological topics.  Children’s development and welfare continues to be a passion for Dr. Towill, personally and professionally. She lives with her husband and young daughters in the Okanagan Valley.”

Thank you Kristina!

Videos produced by Wildwood Interactive

18 years ago our first child was ready and kicking to enter this beautiful world.

Baby David Montana entered our world and changed it forever.

Proud Father…

Proud Mother…

Words cannot express the joy David Montana has given us over the last 18 years.

What a beautiful journey it has been…In just a short space of time David has been…

The Naturalist…

The Rock Hunter…

The Musician…

The Sailor…

The Racing Car Driver…

The farmer…

The Builder…

The Park Keeper…

The Storyteller…

The Archeologist…

The Adventurer…

The lollipop man (Grandpa the postman)…

The Jockey…

The Camper…

The High Schooler… (First day of High school-Scotland)

The Construction Worker…

The Vet…

The Photographer…

The Referee…

The Mountain Biker…

The Footballer…

The Big Brother…

The Snowboarder…

The Graduate…

And as he heads off to college to become the Film Editor, maybe we’ll see him feature not just behind the scenes…

The Secret Agent 007…..

The little stranger that entered our lives not so long ago, has been transformed into a beautiful, loving, intelligent, sensible, affectionate and sympathetic young man.

We are so proud of you David. We hope your journey through adulthood is filled with joy, laughter and that you keep healthy, follow your dreams and stay true to who you are.

We love you with all our hearts….mum and dad xx

The Day of the Honey Bee

I had the pleasure of joining councilor Michele Rule, Casey Hamilton and other members of the Central Okanagan Food Council Booth at the local Farmers Market this weekend.

Spot the Queen Bee … was a big hit thanks to Bob Chisholm and his “Brainy Bees“.

We were helping to raise awareness for our amazing little pollinators on a very special day…The Day of the Honey Bee.

Finding the Queen Bee was a big hit for both kids and adults and a great way to get kids interested in learning about the bees.

Councilor Michele Rule, her mother holding onto Chloe and marghanita (photograph by Casey Hamilton)

More information about the COFC can be found on their website: Central Okanagan Food Council

The Mayor’s Environmental Expo and Awards

The environmental event featured 35 exhibitors with interactive displays and activities for adults and kids. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to handle a California king snake. (I’m usually terrified of snakes but after holding this beauty I didn’t want to put it down).

Watch the short video

And visiting from the B.C. Wildlife Park in Kamloops, Danielle Rogers and other members of staff showed off a Barn Owl and a Turkey Vulture, a species which can be found in the Central Okanagan in the spring, summer and fall. (We will be dedicating a  Little Humbugs video episode to the wonderful Birds of Prey from BC Wildlife Park next month).

Compost Fun

Kids got to play in compost. Another wonderful example of engaging kids by allowing them  hands on experience….thanks to Dean Dack and his classic compost.

Congratulations to Glenmore Elementary for winning the Mayors Environmental Award for the Greenest school. What a fantastic example for other schools to follow suit.

The Little Humbugs were thrilled to be awarded 3rd Place in the most Innovative Business Initiative Award.

Christine Collins (a green advocate) who nominated me for the award.

It was an honor to be part of the Mayor’s Environmental Awards this weekend. It was  a fantastic event and the speakers were inspirational. It is incredibly exciting to see so many dedicated to helping the environment.

The future looks GREEN!!

Central Okanagan Food Council

Brainy Bees

BC Wildlife Centre