Although the Summer’s heat keeps popping up to visit Mid-Missouri, these crisp mornings are welcomed with open arms for those of us who enjoy spending time outside without it feeling swampy. These cooler temperatures make it easier to get together outdoors, but this time of year brings with it a lot of events and celebrations.
It can be overwhelming trying to keep up with all of the obligations, the things you “should” do during this busy season. In these moments, it’s important to take a step back and figure out your priorities for your family in this season of the year and your life. An easy way to slow down and bond with your loved ones is by visiting a nature spot to observe the changes of autumn (or any season) and spend time just being in nature.
Recent scientific studies have found that contact with dirt, even short-term, can have lasting and profound effects on people of all ages. Children who are exposed to the microbes found in the earth have increased intestinal immunity, caused by playing in the dirt. Adults can benefit from getting down in the dirt too!
If you’re looking for ways to slow down and appreciate the beauty of autumn, you can try…
- Going on a leaf walk
- Bring a basket or bucket your child can hold, and try to collect a leaf fallen from every tree in your yard or along the street.
- Taking time to look at a beautiful tree
- Take a moment to enjoy the fleeting and gorgeous colors of fall.
- Getting out on the trail or going to a new-to-you park
- Visiting a place that will take you out of your routine can add novelty to the day.
- If there is not enough time to finish the whole trail, just turn back; there always will be more opportunities.
When you go through the day, there are a lot of demands to finish things, complete tasks, be on time, but nature does not ask you to rush. Nature can teach us to take our time, rest, observe and find ways to accept and maybe appreciate the changes that weather brings (whether in the sky or your life), and it does not ask us to perform for it.
One of the most important lessons that nature teaches is that things are always ending and beginning. You can find an acorn that has fallen out of the tree, an end for its life on the tree that created it and the beginning for the tree it could germinate into.
Here are some books showing how to spend more time in nature and create learning opportunities for your little ones. If you’re looking for more books on how to be in nature with your children, peruse this book list: “Books for a Gentle, Nature-Inspired Childhood.”
Our library has several branches, so I picked out some nature areas where our patrons can get out and explore nature with their loved ones:
- Ashland
- Cedar Creek Trail System
- These 22 miles of trail present a great opportunity to practice not finishing on purpose.
- Cedar Creek Trail System
- Columbia
- Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
- This park is big, but there are many trails of various lengths to choose from
- Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
- Fulton
- Stinson Creek Trail
- The bridge here makes for a fun photo opportunity, and you can get closer to the creek to observe the aquatic life
- Stinson Creek Trail
- Holts Summit
- Earthquake Hollow Conservation Area
- Here you’ll get to observe great examples of Missouri’s chert conglomerate cliffs.
- Earthquake Hollow Conservation Area
