I've been reading a blog about a young couple who have moved to the Isle of Rum, one of the Small Isles of the Inner Hebrides in Scotland, population about 30. They have taken up crofting, which is a fascinating story. But they've also always home-educated their two kids. In the spirit of that they posted a link to a National Trust Program in the UK featuring
"50 things to do before you're 11 3/4" ( I don't know why they didn't just say 12). It's a wonderful wild list of outdoor activities you'd hope any child would get a chance to do, but probably today many don't.
I was pleased to see that I've done almost all of these (I haven't 'set up a snail race'). And I could easily think of another dozen to add to these. I hope our own children got to do most of these too. Check out the original list (it does have a bit of a UK bias), and see how many you've done.
My favourite was climb a tree. Well I've climbed many trees; my tree fort was my favourite place when I was about 14. Haven't done much tree climbing recently, but I've hugged this giant old Sugar Maple several times over the past few years.
Go on a winter adventure. I think our most interesting recent winter adventure was the year that the river below Indian Falls almost froze over. We could walk up the river on the ice to the base of the falls, a huge mound of ice from the spray right in front of us and bluish icicles all around the lip of the rock.
Go stone skipping. No problem with that one, we have the 'Stone Skipping Capital of Canada' just a few miles away. Can't say I'm very good at it though.
Wildlife watching. A porcupine I once encountered, eating a fallen apple. And parked right on the trail in front of me.
We watch birds avidly, especially in the winter. But this Blue Jay was at a cottage up near Algonquin Park.
Find fungi. Well, how many pictures would you like to see? Probably thousands if I reviewed all my pictures!
Spot a fish. these are salmon swimming upstream to spawn in the Beaver river.
Get up for the sunrise. This isn't exactly the sunrise, though we've seen many of those since the sun doesn't rise until about 8 a.m. in January), but this is one of my favourite 'sunny' pictures. That's our shed on a frosty late fall morning.
Explore a cave. This is one of my favourite crevice caves along the Bruce Trail. One of the narrowest I've seen, the Bruce Trail goes straight through and up those steps at the end.
Finally, go paddling. I could share so many memories, but this is an early morning on the French River in northern Ontario. I'm so glad I did all those canoe trips when I did!
Lovely images. The next to last trail is cool. The early morning scene is gorgeous! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe porcupine is my favourite. I've recently caught a couple of videos featuring one who's quite vocal.
ReplyDeleteYou've shared some wonderful photographs …
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
For all the ones you have listed, apart from exploring a cave, have done all of them, And if you could count a huge rock face on the shores of Lake Waikaremoana that overhung the shoreline by a huge cliff, have also done that. Will check out their blog, sounds fascinating. The sunrise, we had a Japanese student living with us for all of 2002, and she really wanted to be the very first person to see the sunrise when we went to a beach area for a few days.Up before daybreak, sat on the shingle,and waited and waited, Sure enough, up came the sun, over the South Pacific Ocean to Napier. So glad you have done all of these, as a younger person or with your family. I will not be tackling any right now, the BIG 80 is looming too fast!!!
ReplyDeleteI've done all the ones you listed.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed all the photos.
Great photos. I especially enjoyed the porcupine and the last one with the sun's rays. I'll go check out that website. :-)
ReplyDeleteI did most of those things in my youth. My parents were teachers and we went camping every summer. I was also in Camp Fire Girls and lots of experiences with them. I never played conkers, but did have click clack balls. Instead of pooh sticks I played mumbly peg. It used a pocket knife and pulling sticks driven into the ground with your teeth. Maybe not as safe as pooh sticks but in the days of my youth we got to do more things not considered safe for kids these days. - Margy
ReplyDeleteI did most of those things as a child, but without needing any adults or conservation organisation to draw up a list for me. It was just what you did if you lived in the countryside. I enjoyed seeing your photographs of some of the activities. The 11 and 3/4 thing is a reference to "The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4" by Sue Townsend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific group of photos. Everyone should have these experiences.
ReplyDeleteI think I too have done most if not all those things in one form or another as well but I still have never seen a real live Porcupine.
ReplyDeleteHave done them all, but it took until I was more than 11 3/4 to do some. There are a lot more neat things to do in the outdoors -- all of us should keep adding to our own personal list.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and post , I have done them all but not by 11 3/4 lol . The reference 11 3/4 is from the Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4" by Susan Lillian Townsend who was an English writer and humorist . I have read her books her middle name is the same as mine *smile* .
ReplyDeleteYou have met all of the criteria. I hope you keep on doing what you can to be on an adventure as many days as are possible.Great photos of great memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun. I am glad to say I did a bunch of stuff too and maybe could even add some. Anything outdoors---that is me
ReplyDeleteMB
Great list and yes I have done all those things too:)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos - love the trail through the tree - and anything frozen fascinates me. I could't get the link to work, maybe I'll try again later.
ReplyDelete