OHC – Evergreens

Well I am glad that we were able to squeeze in a final Outdoor Hour Challenge in 2011. With having been pre-occupied with moving, our studies have taken a bit of a back seat! But this week saw us easing back into the swing of things. I know, I know – Christmas has just passed, but DH is off for a week in January and no work gets done then, so it has to be made up somewhere ;o)

Come and join us for our walk…

Winter Walks as necessary as Summer Walks.––All we have said hitherto applies to the summer weather, which is, alas for us! a very limited and uncertain quantity in our part of the world. The question of out-of-door exercise in winter and in wet weather is really more important; for who that could would not be abroad in the summer time? If the children are to have what is quite the best thing for them, they should be two or three hours every day in the open air all through winter, say an hour and a half in the morning and as long in the afternoon. – Charlotte Mason Vol 1 Pg 85

It is a bleak and rainy day in Lancashire today, perhaps an easy excuse to remain indoors. But Charlotte Mason advocated walks in all sorts of weather. So we packed our Handbook and our Tree field guide, wrapped up warm and headed out into the drizzle. The brisk air was invigorating, and pretty soon all those ‘cobwebs’ were blown away, our cheeks where gently beginning to blush and our energy levels were on the rise!

Wet Weather Tramps.––But what about the wet days? The fact is, that rain, unless of the heaviest, does the children no harm at all if they are suitably clothed. – Charlotte Mason Vol 1 Pg 87

Our focus was ‘Evergreens’. As we walked along the wet, muddy country lanes, we found plenty of examples to study.

We would look closely at the shape of the tree, leaves, cones etc and then try to identify which was which. I have to say that I found it difficult to pinpoint exact species, but we managed to identify what was a spruce, pine and cypress.

The girls did some bark rubbing to add to their journals a bit later. Perhaps we can find a poem to note down too ;o)

Of course even though we have a focused area of study on our walks, we never ignore the other little treasures that nature puts in our path. We spied this beautiful little Robin in the hedgerow…

Spotted evidence of sheep having been near the fence…

And found some great Fungi!

I’m really glad that we ‘braved’ the elements and was pleased to see a whole lot of other people doing the same! As the saying goes, ‘There is no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothing’!

Looking forward to 2012 being filled with lots more OHC’s!