Enjoying Nature... even in the City

"If we want a generation to protect the planet, we have to give them a chance to fall in love with it first."

The last line on this commentary entitled "Taking your kid outdoors doesn't always have to be a grand adventure" and written by Sarah Chan, Yingshan Lau, and Samuel Chng for Channel News Asia, is really striking, isn't it? The piece is written in time for Earth Day (April 22) and talks about getting little ones to love nature by giving them a chance to experience it, even in the heart of a bustling city state like Singapore.

I agree that teaching children to appreciate nature doesn't need to be a wildlife safari, a mountain trek, a beach bonanza, or a frolic in a geo reserve. (To be honest, while the Philippines offers many such nature adventures, I prefer a simpler kind of outing, especially as our four little ones are, well, still little.) There are plenty of natural wonders to see in a garden, a park... practically anywhere you go.

Garden fun

For instance, we can watch the different mango trees that grow around the area in which the school our children go to is located. As the months go by, we spy the flowers and observe their color, scent, and size. Then they fall off the trees and, a few weeks later, we notice the fruits! It's amusing that the trees don't flower and bloom at the same time, and that their fruits look different depending on the tree. We wonder why the mangoes that grow in the garden look different from those at the store—of course it's because people learned to cultivate the wild plants to yield the fruits that are yummy to eat.

When we walk around the city, sometimes we let the children pick up sticks, leaves, and flowers. Tactile experiences help stir the memory better. It's marvelous how each leaf or flower has a different design, feel, and heft.

We find insects as well (but we don't always pick them up!): praying mantises, carpenter ants, millipedes, centipedes, lady bugs, snails, grasshoppers, and beetles are easy to spot and identify. Others, like the longhorn beetle and the bagworm, we identified using bug books and a quick search on Google. Nature walks spark a curiosity that encourages children to read more.

Once, a praying mantis fell from a tree above us as we walked along a popular jogging path. we picked it up with a long stick and placed it on a bush because if we left it there, joggers on the path might step on it. (this picture is from unsplash—we weren't able to take a photo of that one!)

City wildlife

Animals like birds, squirrels, and cats pique their interest as well. Once we saw a blue macaw at a park; it turned out to be somebody's loose pet (note loose, not lost!). But there are wild animals in the city; you just have to be watchful and listen. Perk up your ears for orioles: their call carries over the titters of the sparrows.

Sharp eyes might see the lone heron that hangs around the village surrounding our school; it enjoys hunting in the school's football field. Once, we spotted it on the road early in the morning when there was no traffic. (Of course, it may not be just one heron, it's just more amusing if it really were!) A kingfisher shows up around noon and perches among the plants in the school chapel's garden. (Again, it is likelier that there be more than just one kingfisher.)

Another time, we drove to Manila Bay to see and smell the ocean. We saw gulls flying over boats, fish jumping out of the water, crabs crawling on the breakwater, and a mommy cat searching for her kitten among the breakwater rocks. (Fret not, it succeeded!) The scent of the saltwater in the air made the kids realize how close to the ocean our home really is—sometimes the wind carries the scent all the way to our part of the metropolis, a 30-minute drive away, assuming there is none of the usual traffic.

boats, still waters, orange clouds at sunset, and the cityscape in the distance: visiting the bay area is always an experience. there is also beauty in natural and man-made sights put side by side.

Another thing that fell from above: a complete nest that has recently been vacated by the little birds. we found it on a bush in the sidewalk.

Stargazing

Our latest nature adventure got the kids interested in stars and planets. Clear skies and walking outside are a good match, provided it is a safe place to explore.

Away from city lights, we identified Orion's Belt, Little Dipper, and Big Dipper. Now they like to check the star map and read books about the universe. The kids know that the lights that twinkle in the night are stars; if they don't twinkle, they are planets. You can confirm this by observing some more: planets are always aligned in the sky. A few times, we spotted artificial satellites moving among the lights of the stars. (Satellites move too fast to be an airplane and appear to be going in a straight line.)

The gift of nature

There are many simple ways to raise a generation that cares about the Earth. That's because nature is all around us, even in the "city-est" part of the city. Like moss and lichen growing on (and in between) cobblestones in the sidewalk, nature just finds a way to push through man-made creations.

While knowing where to look for fun Earth-y experiences is a great asset, the more important factor for me is having a sense of wonder. Because without it, one cannot see the marvel that is nature itself, and how amazing it is to be on this planet called Earth, with everything living and growing in it. Truly, our planet is a gift; so let's keep it beautiful.

"There are many simple ways to raise a generation that cares about the Earth. That's because nature is all around us, even in the 'city-est' part of the city."