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A Natural Sense of Wonder: Connecting Kids with Nature through the Seasons
The technology boom of recent years has given kids numerous reasons to stay inside and play, while parents' increasing safety concerns make it tempting to keep children close to home. But what is being lost as fewer kids spend their free time outdoors? Deprived of meaningful contact with nature, children often fail to develop a significant relationship with the natural world, much less a sense of reverence and respect for the world outside their doors.
A Natural Sense of Wonder is one father's attempt to seek alternatives to the "flickering waves of TV and the electrifying boing of video games" and get kids outside and into nature. In the spirit of Rachel Carson's The Sense of Wonder , Rick Van Noy journeys out of his suburban home with his children and describes the pleasures of walking in a creek, digging for salamanders, and learning to appreciate vultures. Through these and other "walks to school," the Van Noys discover what lives nearby, what nature has to teach, and why this matters.
From the backyard to the hiking trail, in a tide pool and a tree house, in the wild and in town, these narrative essays explore the terrain of childhood threatened by the lure of computers and television, by fear and the loss of play habitat, showing how kids thrive in their special places. In chronicling one parent's determination (and at times frustration) to get his kids outside, A Natural Sense of Wonder suggests ways kids both young and old can experience the wonder found only in the natural world.
A Natural Sense of Wonder is one father's attempt to seek alternatives to the "flickering waves of TV and the electrifying boing of video games" and get kids outside and into nature. In the spirit of Rachel Carson's The Sense of Wonder , Rick Van Noy journeys out of his suburban home with his children and describes the pleasures of walking in a creek, digging for salamanders, and learning to appreciate vultures. Through these and other "walks to school," the Van Noys discover what lives nearby, what nature has to teach, and why this matters.
From the backyard to the hiking trail, in a tide pool and a tree house, in the wild and in town, these narrative essays explore the terrain of childhood threatened by the lure of computers and television, by fear and the loss of play habitat, showing how kids thrive in their special places. In chronicling one parent's determination (and at times frustration) to get his kids outside, A Natural Sense of Wonder suggests ways kids both young and old can experience the wonder found only in the natural world.
152 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2008
About the author
Rick Van Noy
5 books5 followersI grew up in Titusville, New Jersey, just up river from where Washington crossed on Christmas Eve. I went to college in Colorado (The Colorado College) and graduate schools in Bellingham, Washington (Western), and Cleveland, Ohio (Case Western). I worked for a time as a technical writer where I met the proprietor and sole-owner of A/E Marketeers, Catherine Copich. We moved to Radford, Virginia, for a position in the English Department at Radford University and have stayed for the clean waterways and lovely mountains, though I often wish they were the kind that held more snow. Telemark skiing is among my more feverish pursuits, but I also enjoy biking, canoeing and growing tomatoes. We live in an old farmhouse of revived lath and plaster and odd angles with two children, Sam and Elliot, and a menagerie of animal dependents. from http://rickvannoy.blogspot.com/
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 15, 2019
Not what I expected and I freely admit I'm a little disappointed. It's a general plea to get the kids out of the home, away from screen addiction and away from the demands of the media, the trends and fashions of our lives.
This era of hard chargers, earning enuf to keep up with friends, the need to conform leaves little time for appreciating and learning about Nature.
He takes the family camping, canoeing, and hiking. A sweet, modest tale every parent of young kids should consider reading (between checking internet sites). We are too connected to the cyber world and not at all in touch with the world that gives us genuine life.
The threats to Nature, our unwillingness to measure how our lifestyles affect that outer world barely get a mention, so this isn't a polemic on how we're hurting our children's future. All he asks is for adults to take kids out to enjoy the real world. For that request and the simplicity with which he makes his case, it earns 3 stars and a thank you.
This era of hard chargers, earning enuf to keep up with friends, the need to conform leaves little time for appreciating and learning about Nature.
He takes the family camping, canoeing, and hiking. A sweet, modest tale every parent of young kids should consider reading (between checking internet sites). We are too connected to the cyber world and not at all in touch with the world that gives us genuine life.
The threats to Nature, our unwillingness to measure how our lifestyles affect that outer world barely get a mention, so this isn't a polemic on how we're hurting our children's future. All he asks is for adults to take kids out to enjoy the real world. For that request and the simplicity with which he makes his case, it earns 3 stars and a thank you.
August 12, 2023
When reading "A Natural Sense of Wonder," you may feel like a bad parent because you're not always (or ever?) pushing your child to go outside and play, because you are a busy working parent or live in an urban area with no real woods nearby.
Even so, Van Noy makes suggestions, in his own way, for different kinds of family outings outside, like in the woods, on a float-canoeing-to-your-spot campout, exploring the neighborhood.
And he is creative in describing things you can encourage kids to do, things he calls "creek walking," "dirt world,"exploring, fishing with patience, working on building a proper treehouse. You "can" get your kids out of the house with some planning and effort, away from Social Media.
Explore your world.
Even so, Van Noy makes suggestions, in his own way, for different kinds of family outings outside, like in the woods, on a float-canoeing-to-your-spot campout, exploring the neighborhood.
And he is creative in describing things you can encourage kids to do, things he calls "creek walking," "dirt world,"exploring, fishing with patience, working on building a proper treehouse. You "can" get your kids out of the house with some planning and effort, away from Social Media.
Explore your world.
March 13, 2024
After reading a few chapters of this, I began to wonder what the point was of reading it at all. The writer makes some strange points with his "supporting" material for the different subjects he touches on. I was just very confused and annoyed by this book and did not finish it. No wonder I found a signed copy in goodwill.
April 23, 2009
I found this title to be much more informative and compelling than Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. This is more of a "how-to" manual rather than an in-depth discussion of why parents should get their kids outside...
The biggest, most important tip: Start ridiculously easy and make success an easy target on the first few outings. Walks to school or the store definitely count.
Broken up into 17 essays, each in the 4~11 page range, Van Noy makes it easy -- and fun -- to make it through this one.
The biggest, most important tip: Start ridiculously easy and make success an easy target on the first few outings. Walks to school or the store definitely count.
Broken up into 17 essays, each in the 4~11 page range, Van Noy makes it easy -- and fun -- to make it through this one.
May 24, 2010
I'll definitely be keeping an ear and an eye out for more books by this author... I love his down to earth style.... so easy to read...you gotta love a guy who doesn't shy away from writing about the more embarrassing parenting moment....this author just draws you in and you can't help but wish you were a part of his nature adventures.... but don't worry - reading about them is the next best thing... I had to request this book via the interlibrary loaning system.. but it was worth it!
March 19, 2014
A great book about getting kids outside and connected to nature. Memoir-style essays read easily and have a great rhythm. My favorites were Scorched Earth, Swimming Hole, and False Cape. If you enjoy Richard Louv you'll love this book.
Great quote from the book: "Before nature can become sacred, it must be accessible. It must be lain in and walked on, climbed up and run down. It must ooze between fingers and toes. It must be eaten, whole, and again."
Great quote from the book: "Before nature can become sacred, it must be accessible. It must be lain in and walked on, climbed up and run down. It must ooze between fingers and toes. It must be eaten, whole, and again."
February 6, 2009
Radford prof and outdoorsy dude Rick Van Noy published a fine collection of essays in 2008. Readable, enjoyable.
February 20, 2009
AMAZING BOOK written by one of my fave profs.
May 27, 2010
Anyone who's interested in getting their kids outside to play in nature should read this book and Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods. Louv's book tells you why and this book tells you how.
December 21, 2010
very good book written by a fellow Highlander, brought back some memories of my college days, still miss floating the New
Read
June 25, 2009written by a friend, finn listed in acknowledgements.
fun short stories
fun short stories
October 27, 2010
Good read. Interesting points without being overly preachy.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews