The Care and Feeding of Born Naturalists
(Page 2 of 4)
ADVENTURES IN THE NIGHT
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Children don't necessarily take to trudging for miles with
"nothing to do" (grown-ups call it hiking). But add the
element of darkness and you have a different
experience—an adventure. The night is full of
mystery, of spooky rustlings in shadowy bushes and odd
twitterings in the treetops. Mix in starlight and
permission to stay up past bedtime, and what child could
resist?
Most back yards are perfect for exploring the
night—unless you're surrounded by glaring
streetlights. Of course, if you happen to live near, or are
camping in, a state or national forest, so much the better.
Each of you should carry a flashlight, but first cover each
lens with red paper. The colored light will illuminate your
path but won't startle nocturnal animals, most of which
cannot see color. Remember, though, that it's the dark
you're out to discover. Keep your flashlights off whenever
possible.
Quiet also is important. Most people, even children,
respond instinctively to the night's hushed stillness by
moving quietly and speaking in whispers. There's something
about the darkness that pricks up our senses,
too—some remnant of our primeval past as prey and
predator, perhaps.
Certainly, there's plenty in the night to see, hear, smell
and touch. If you have a garden, watch for night crawlers
stretched from their holes like long, gluey fingers, each
straining for a leaf to drag into an earthy pantry. Ground
beetles and webless hunting spiders stalk among the tall
plant stems of meadows and lawns. Voles and white-footed
mice skitter through the leaf litter. Hungry bats scour the
skies for buggy meals.
One of my favorite night-stalking activities, especially
with youngsters, is moth baiting. Many moths and other
insects feed on fermenting tree sap or fruit. You and your
cohorts can attract such creatures by mixing a bait, or
moth "sugar," approximating those natural food sources. Try
this trusty formula: 1 overripe banana (mashed), 2 ounces
of apple cider vinegar and a half pound of brown sugar.
Paint a half-page-size patch of this goo on trees, rocks or
fence posts before sundown, then return at night to check
out the patrons.
Also, of course, take time to look up . The big
dipper, Polaris, the Moon, shooting stars -there's a whole
universe out there. Go ahead lie down on your backs and
take it in.
A LINE AND A POLE
Fish, frogs, gooey algae, splashing water, worms and bugs,
something huge tugging on your line—fishing is just
plain made for kids. That most grown-ups like it
too—well, that's just the child in all of us coming
out to play. Nevermind that fishing teaches lessons in
conservation, aquatic life and food chains—fishing
is, first and foremost, flat-out fun.
