Search Results for: blog the great outdoors

Great Green Reads

Earth Day’s mission to increase environmental awareness means very little to young children, unless you make it relevant. Fortunately, there are a slew of kid-friendly books available to drive home the importance of preserving our planet.  The following affordable titles prove that you don’t have to spend a ton of green to go green: The Berenstain Bears Go Green “Going green isn’t hard to do. It’s good for the earth and me and you, too!” Who better to show kids how to take care of the earth’s precious natural resources than the Bear family? After all, the cuddly clan not … Continue reading →

Great Math Apps for Primary Kids

It’s the time of year when outside becomes a lot more focus than inside, and so it should. It’s a beautiful time of the year, and the kids need to be outdoors. However, when they’re looking for down time on the computer, and they love math, where can you send them? Here are some of the top math apps that I’m looking at as teaching tools for the summer. My daughter and I both love Math Drills and Math Drills Lite. The lite version is free, and the paid version is only $1.99. While the app is not beautiful, it’s … Continue reading →

Summer Shooting in the Great Outdoors

Summer weather is finally here; time to celebrate with outdoor family adventures. Whether it’s a trip to the beach, a picnic at the park or a backyard barbeque with family and friends, there’s no time like the present to get your camera out of hibernation and start shooting a slew of summer memories. However, before you take aim in the great outdoors, there are a few tips to remember so that your photos don’t come back underexposed, overexposed or blurry. For starters, most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a preset white balance setting. If you are shooting on a cloudy day, … Continue reading →

Take It Outside – How To Use Your Computer Outdoors

While it is officially springtime, the season has yet to make a permanent appearance where I live. We got glimpses of it last week, with warmer temperatures, melting snow, and oodles of oozing mud. This week has been rather cold and we even got some more snow earlier in the week. I’m dreaming of spending more time outdoors, and since I work from home that means that I have the freedom to do my work anywhere I choose. I’m sure that I am not the only one who is looking forward to warmer weather, so I decided to round up … Continue reading →

The Great Outdoors

This year my family spent our Christmas holiday in Texas. Each year prior we had taken the long and icy (and potentially dangerous) trip to be with our families over the holidays. While we certainly missed seeing our families, it was important that we were able to spend much needed time with one another after our lengthy period of struggle in preparation for my qualifying exams. Not having to think about filling the tank, packing our bags, and how many sweaters to bring really made the holiday season less stressful over all and gave us the much needed time together … Continue reading →

Spend Earth Day in the Great Outdoors

Uncle Sam is jumping on the Earth Day bandwagon by encouraging you to head outside this week. It may just be coincidence, but National Park Week is taking place from April 17-25, just in time for Thursday’s Earth Day celebrations. From now through next Sunday entrance fees will be waived at 392 national parks. In addition, many parks have organized events, talks, demonstrations and volunteer clean-ups to encourage visitors to check out what Mother Nature has to offer at our nation’s most spectacular natural treasures. Some of the more interesting events include: April 18th-Get ready to cheer while you watch … Continue reading →

Springtime Fun in the Great Outdoors

After two days of near 70-degree temps, reality hit, and our sleepy Wisconsin city got slammed with six inches of snow last week. Fortunately, the snow only stuck around for a couple days. Unfortunately, we got dumped on during my young daughter’s spring break from school. Despite the crazy weather pattern (a.k.a. spring in Wisconsin), we managed to salvage spring break with a few outdoor adventures that got my daughter itching for summer vacation. Spring has sprung in most states, and if you are looking for ways to take advantage of the seasonal temps with your kids, then consider the … Continue reading →

Summer Fun for Kids in the Great Outdoors

I may be the only one in our entire county who is not praying for rain right now. Farmers need the precipitation badly and others are bemoaning the drought-like conditions as well, but I couldn’t be happier for the streak of cloudless days we’ve been experiencing. If you have kids, then you have to admit it’s much easier keeping them busy during the summer in the great outdoors than holed up inside. This summer we’ve tried to spend as much time outside as possible. We’ve been strawberry picking, biking, swimming, and hiking… and we have the souvenirs to prove it. … Continue reading →

More Free Family Fun in the Great Outdoors

If you get off the couch and out of the house this summer, you’ll find that there are a host of exciting events just waiting for your family to enjoy. Not only will you get the chance to have fun in the sun, but all of the following family-friendly attractions are free: MARYLAND Ocean City is making summer fun for kids and their parents with an array of free activities, from movie nights, concerts and storytelling around a bonfire to shows and demonstrations at the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum. Don’t miss Tuesday night “Beach Olympics” where you can go … Continue reading →

Home Blog Month in Review: October

As I sit here looking out my window at the backyard, the birds are hovering in the pine tree against a strong wind and steady rain. The temperature is chilly today, and the calendar reminds me that we have left October behind. October 1st Buy a Home for $1.75 It seems that the housing crisis has made some interesting news lately. Home Month in Review: September 2008 Has the weather turned cooler now that September has passed? Pretty soon, it will be time to get that heat turned back on! Meanwhile, check out all of the articles that were posted … Continue reading →