Become a Backyard Naturalist
I asked my Mountain Mom and Tots patrons what challenge they’d like for July and they chose:
Identify five new plants or animals in your area.
I love it! Knowing what lives in your outdoor neighborhood makes getting outdoors so much more fun.
So in this Become a Backyard Naturalist monthly challenge I want you to discover and identify at least 5 plants or animals that you didn’t know before.
Nature Neighbors
Nature surrounds us, even in urban areas. Wherever you live there are birds, bugs, plants, and animals that live along side you, your nature neighbors. It’s important to know their names, just like you would your human neighbors.
Which trees, bushes, grasses, flowers or weeds are native to your area?
What species of birds fly in your skies?
What bugs do they eat?
Are there other animals that call your backyard home?
Recognizing species of plants or animals helps connect us and our kids to nature and the outdoors. Once you learn the name of yellow-tailed butterflies or Aster flowers they become like old friends that you welcome each time you see.
Plus learning new things is super fun. That’s why I’m excited for this July 2018 Become a Backyard Naturalist challenge.
Will you join me?
Monthly Outdoor Challenges
In case you don’t know what my monthly outdoor challenges are all about, here’s a quick run down.
Each month I host a different outdoor challenge. They all:
- Require you to get outside.
- Are something you can bring kids on.
- Cost little or nothing to complete.
- Are a little challenging. It is a challenge after all.
My Monthly Outdoor Challenges are completely FREE for participants.
Sign up and you’ll get outdoor inspiration delivered right to your inbox, tips to help you complete that month’s challenge, access to the FREE Helping Families Explore Outdoors facebook group, AND the opportunity to be featured on MountainMomandTots.com.
Plus there are awesome prizes! Once you complete the challenge if you want a 1 in 50 or better chance to win an exclusive gear prize, just sign up as a $3 or more per month Mountain Mom and Tots patron.
The best part? Your chances of winning are always 1 in 50 or better! 1 in 50!
How it Works
My Monthly Outdoor Challenge is very simple. Here’s how it works:
- Sign up for my Monthly Outdoor Challenges in the box right after this list.
- You’ll receive weekly emails from me announcing the challenge and sharing exclusive tips and tricks to accomplish it. You’re gonna love this month’s resources – I’m excited to share them with you via email.
- Post a photo of you completing the challenge in the Helping Families Explore Outdoors facebook group, on instagram or through email – susan@mountainmomandtots.com.
- Support MountainMomandTots.com on Patreon for just $3 per month.
- You’ll be entered to win an exclusive outdoor gear giveaway prize. Here’s the best part –your chances of winning will always be 1 in 50 or better.
Backyard Naturalist Prize Pack
I am really excited about this month’s outdoor challenge prize pack because it is sponsored by my tots’ FAVORITE on-the-go snack – Tree Top applesauce!
We often pack apple sauce pouches when we’re out hiking, camping and exploring because my kids all love them, they are easy and mess free. So when Tree Top asked if I wanted to sample their new clear pouches I said “YES PLEASE!”
These clear pouches allow me to see all the goodness my kids are about to enjoy, plus we don’t ever have to worry about the food going bad – we can see if it’s still good for ourselves.
My kids devoured the samples (mixed berry was their favorite flavor), but Tree Top’s apple sauce flavors aren’t the only reason they’re awesome. Here are four more awesome factors:
- Tree Top clear pouches use 100% USA apples.
- Their apple sauce comes in BPA-free packaging.
- Tree Top has no high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors or colors.
- Since 1960, Tree Top has used perfectly edible fruit deemed not attractive enough for grocery stores, aka ugly fruit, to create its juices and fruit-based products. I love that!
Tree Top is offering an on-the-go adventure pack to not one, but THREE Backyard Naturalist patrons as part of July’s Become a Backyard Naturalist outdoor challenge.
In addition to some great samples (apple, cinnamon, strawberry, mango, tropical and mixed berry), winners will get a see-through carry bag – perfect for finding and studying outdoor treasures.
On top of the Tree Top sample bag, one grand prize patron of the July 2018 Become a Backyard Naturalist challenge will receive these awesome prizes.
- Jake’s Nature Guide: Rocky Mountains by Mark Danenhauer – Psst…We love this pocket-size, kid-friendly guide book for the Rocky Mountains. Read my review and watch an author interview here.
- The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids, Families, and Classrooms by Clare Walker Leslie
- Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail – it comes with a magnifying glass!
- A pair of BlueCabi Shock-Proof Kids Binoculars by Bresser
- Colored pencils for drawing and taking notes.
- Nature Printable Pack from mothernatured.com – These outdoor printables are so fun! They combine crafting, games and outdoor learning in beautifully designed activities you can print right at home.
The grand prize prize pack is valued at over $85.00 and can really help you and your tots explore outdoors.
So go ahead. Become a backyard naturalist this month. Sign up in this box right here:
Psst…Thanks to TreeTop for sponsoring this challenge and to the authors and publishers listed above for providing copies of their books for this giveaway. The links here are affiliate links so I earn a few cents if you purchase something after using them.
June Invite a Friend to Hike Challenge
Before I leave you I have to share a few of the awesome entries from June’s Invite a Friend to Hike challenge. These ladies hit the trails with friends and inspired me along the way.
And a special congrats to June Invite a Friend to Hike winner Kelly K! She won not one, but two daypacks from Deuter – one for her and one for a friend.
Way to hike with friends. Now let’s get to know all those plants and animals you saw along the way.
I hope you’ll join me for my July outdoor challenge. We’ll see you in the outdoors.
~Mountain Mom
