The No Sweat Nature Study Podcast

We should all be aware of poisonous plants on nature walks. You don't necessarily need to be afraid of most of them, but you should know which plants are poisonous and how they can be hurtful. You'll learn a bunch about plant defense mechanisms during this interesting episode! Supplies for the nature study challenge: Nature journal or blank, white paper Colored pencils For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/poisonous-plant-nature-study. ←Find images of poisonous plants here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Explore more about the topics of plant defenses using the Defense Mechanisms of Plants study found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Other studies found in the Our Journey Westward Shop that would be nice go-alongs to this topic include Wonderful Wildflowers, Flower Families, and The Life Cycle of Flowering Plants. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the poisonous plants show notes page. The packet includes this season's podcast schedule, reference pages to the Handbook of Nature Study, supporting curriculum suggestions, and a list of Mrs. Cindy's most used nature study supplies. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the poisonous plants show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Wasp nature study isn't so scary when you're talking about mud daubers and their amazing nests built of mud. In this science lesson for kids, learn about the amazing mud dauber life cycle and preferred habitats. You find four options for this week's nature walk challenge and nature journaling, too! Supplies for the nature study challenge: Nature journal or blank, white paper Colored pencils brown play dough or clay (optional) For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/mud-dauber-nature-study. ←Find images of mud daubers and nests here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Explore the topics of animal habitats and animal life cycles using the Habitats unit study or Animal Life Cycles unit study found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Enjoy finding animal signs in nature with help from the Animal Signs NaturExplorers guide found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the mud dauber show notes page. The packet includes this season's podcast schedule, reference pages to the Handbook of Nature Study, supporting curriculum suggestions, and a list of Mrs. Cindy's most used nature study supplies. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the mud dauber show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Slide on in for a slithery and sensational episode about water snakes. Bring along your nature journal with some colored pencils and choose from three different (and not-so-scary) nature walk challenges! For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/water-snake-nature-study/. ←Find images of water snakes here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Enjoy water-based nature study with help from the Incredible Creeks NaturExplorers guide or Peaceful Ponds NaturExplorers guide found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Explore the topics of animal habitats and animal life cycles using the Habitats unit study or Animal Life Cycles unit study found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the water snakes show notes page. The packet includes this season's podcast schedule, reference pages to the Handbook of Nature Study, supporting curriculum suggestions, and a list of Mrs. Cindy's most used nature study supplies. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the water snakes show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Look up into the night sky this summer season to enjoy a nighttime nature walk and nature journaling challenge! Bring along the app that Mrs. Cindy mentions in the podcast, some dark-colored construction paper, and white or yellow crayons, gel pens, or acrylic paints. Don't forget something hard like a clipboard to use as a surface for drawing or painting. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/stars-nature-study/. ←Find images of some constellations here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Explore even more about objects in the night sky in the Space Observations unit study found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Keep the nighttime nature study theme going as you learn about some nocturnal animals in the Flying Creatures of the Night NaturExplorers curriculum or Nocturnal Animals unit study found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the stars show notes page. The packet includes this season's podcast schedule, reference pages to the Handbook of Nature Study, supporting curriculum suggestions, and a list of Mrs. Cindy's most used nature study supplies. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the stars show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

The summer season is perfect for visiting a brook (or creek or river) to observe life in and around the water! Learn about this unique aquatic habitat and enjoy a nature walk challenge in this episode. Bring along a nature journal and watercolors/paintbrush/bottled water or colored pencils. A blanket or folding chair will help you to be comfortable while nature journaling. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/life-in-a-brook-nature-study/. ←Find still images of brooks and brook life here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Explore even more about brooks, creeks, and rivers in the Incredible Creeks NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Frogs can often be found in and around brooks. Learn all about them in the Frogs and Toads NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Erosion is so much fun to study when taking nature walks near running water. Have fun with this unique topic in the Ever-changing Erosion NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the life in a brook show notes page. The packet includes this season's podcast schedule, reference pages to the Handbook of Nature Study, supporting curriculum suggestions, and a list of Mrs. Cindy's most used nature study supplies. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the life in a brook show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Flowers are so much fun to study during nature walks! In this episode, learn about daisies and the Asteraceae family as you enjoy a wildflower nature walk challenge. Bring along a nature journal and colored pencils. Feel free to also bring a magnifying glass if you want. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/daisy-nature-study/. ←Find still images of daisies here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Explore even more flower families in the Flower Families No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Learn about all types of flowers in the Wonderful Wildflowers NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Learn about flower life cycles in The Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the daisy show notes page. The packet includes this season's podcast schedule, reference pages to the Handbook of Nature Study, supporting curriculum suggestions, and a list of Mrs. Cindy's most used nature study supplies. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the daisy show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes. :)

Have you seen hummingbirds? They are so much fun to watch as they zip around at speeds that are so fast we can hardly keep up with them. In this episode, learn about their agility and the foods they eat - and enjoy a fun nature walk challenge. Bring along a nature journal and colored pencils or watercolors. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/hummingbird-nature-study/. ←Find a slow-motion video and still images of hummingbirds here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Learn more about birds in general in the Beautiful Birds NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Or, turn to the topic of those beautiful flowers that hummingbirds love so much in the Wonderful Wildflowers NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Learn about flower life cycles in The Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Or, explore flower similarities in the Flower Families No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the hummingbird show notes page. The packet includes this season's podcast schedule, reference pages to the Handbook of Nature Study, supporting curriculum suggestions, and a list of Mrs. Cindy's most used nature study supplies. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the hummingbird show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

It's hard to believe, but you can find a lot of life under those amazing rocks in nature! Bring along a nature journal and colored pencils, and grab a magnifying glass if you like. Then, head outdoors for a fun nature walk challenge. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/life-under-rocks-nature-study/. ←Find pictures of some life under rocks here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Learn more about rocks and life under rocks in the Hard as a Rock NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Or, explore rocks and other things found in and around creeks in the Incredible Creeks NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Have fun with fungi in the A Fungus Among Us NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. See spiders with fresh eyes in the Spectacular Spiders NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Learn about other places animals live in the Habitats No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the life under rocks show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the life under rocks show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

Fireflies (or lightning bugs) are wonderful insects to study in late spring or early summer! Bring along a nature journal and colored pencils or markers. Grab a trowel and a glass jar as you head outdoors for this episode's TWO nature walk challenges. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/firefly-nature-study. ←Find pictures of fireflies and firefly larvae here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Learn more about nocturnal animals in the Flying Creatures of the Night NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Or, try a different study of night creatures in the Nocturnal Animals No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Fireflies are insects. Learn about another amazing insect in the Butterflies Flutter By NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Learn more about the life cycles of all sorts of animals in the Animal Life Cycle No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the fireflies show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the fireflies show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

Pollinators are arguably some of the most important animals in the world. This episode will explain why! Bring along a nature journal and colored pencils. Grab a pipe cleaner (or q-tip), some scotch tape, and maybe even a magnifying glass as you head outdoors for this episode's nature walk challenge. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/pollinator-nature-study/. ←Find the flower diagram here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Learn more about one important pollinator in the Butterflies Flutter By NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Some birds are pollinators. Learn about birds in the Beautiful Birds NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Wildflowers are the perfect go-along study when learning about pollinators. Enjoy the Wonderful Wildflowers NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Fruits and nuts are a direct result of the pollination of flowers. Study them in detail in the Fruits and Nuts NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Pollinators go through amazing animal life cycles. Learn about them in the Animal Life Cycle No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the pollinators show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer the current season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the pollinator show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

Ants are wonderfully industrious social insects that are usually pretty easy to find on a homeschool nature walk! Bring along a nature journal, colored pencils, and a magnifying glass as you head outdoors for this episode's nature walk challenge. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/ant-nature-study/. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Enjoy more insect nature study with the Butterflies Flutter By NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Focus on animal life cycles with the Animal Life Cycle No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get this season's Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the ant show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer this season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the ant show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

Rocks might seem like a boring nature study topic, but sedimentary rocks are full of treasures to find! Just a few rock specimens, and nature journal, and a pencil are all you need to enjoy this homeschool nature study and the nature walk challenge. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/sedimentary-rocks-nature-study/. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Enjoy more rock-themed nature study with the Hard as a Rock NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Focus on a go-along study of erosion with the Ever-Changing Erosion NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Deserts are full of sedimentary rocks. Enjoy a desert habitat study with the Desert Biomes No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum. Get the Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the sedimentary rocks show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer next season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the sedimentary rocks show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

Get ready for a windy homeschool nature study with Mrs. Cindy! In this episode of the No Sweat Nature Study podcast, learn about the wind and notice its movement in nature. Before heading outside for the nature walk challenge at the end of the episode, grab a nature journal and some colored pencils. For show notes and downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/wind-nature-study/. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Learn more about earth and weather science with the NaturExplorers Captivating Clouds and Remarkable Rain curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get the Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the wind show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer this season's question! Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

This homeschool nature study episode might result in some dirty hands and clothes, but the fun learning will be worth it! Come dig in the soil with Mrs. Cindy and learn about various types of soil and some of the materials you can find in it. Bring along a nature journal, pencil, trowel or shovel, and a few other easy supplies you'll hear about in the episode. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/soil-nature-study/. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Learn more about earth science with the NaturExplorers Ever-Changing Erosion and Hard as a Rock curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Make an interesting connection to soil with the Desert Biomes No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get the Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the soil show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer this season's question! Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

Bracket fungi look like beautiful shelves that you can sometimes find growing on deciduous trees in woodland areas. They come in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes that are pretty easy to spot on a nature walk. Bring along a nature journal, colored pencils, (or watercolors), and a ruler for this fun homeschool nature study challenge! For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/bracket-fungi-nature-study/. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Learn more about fungi with the NaturExplorers A Fungus Among Us curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get the Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the bracket fungi show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer this season's question! Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

Now that it's spring, wildflowers are beginning to grow just about everywhere. Did you know that wildflowers don't need help from humans to grow and thrive, but cultivated plants do? Learn the difference between wildflowers and cultivated flowers in this episode. Bring along a nature journal, colored pencils, and a ruler for a fun nature walk challenge that includes math through measurement! For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/spring-wildflowers-nature-study/. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Enjoy more wildflower nature study with the Wonderful Wildflowers NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Focus on flower life cycles with the Flower Life Cycle No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Study wildflower families with the Flower Families No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get the Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the spring wildflowers show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer this season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the spring wildflowers show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

This simple spring peeper nature study will teach your homeschool family bite-sized information about frogs. You'll be encouraged to take a nature walk near a pond to try to observe spring peepers or other frogs. Bring along a nature journal and colored pencils or watercolors for the nature journal challenge. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/spring-peeper-nature-study. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Enjoy more frog nature study with the Frogs and Toads NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get more from nature study at the pond with the Peaceful Ponds NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Focus on the topic of habitats with the Habitats No Sweat Nature Study digital curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get the Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the spring peepers show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer this season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the spring peepers show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

Your family will enjoy a unique homeschool nature study about birds as we discuss spring bird migration. To participate in the easy nature walk challenge, bring along a nature journal and some colored pencils. For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/bird-migration-nature-study. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Enjoy more bird nature study with the Beautiful Birds NaturExplorers curriculum found in the Our Journey Westward Shop. Get the Podcast Plus+ Packet for free! Scroll to the bottom of the bird migration show notes page. Leave Mrs. Cindy a voice message to answer this season's question! Scroll to the bottom of the bird migration show notes page. Share pictures of your nature journal pages on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will be sure to see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you're enjoying the episodes.

Mrs. Cindy West is so excited to tell you about the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast in this introductory episode! Your entire family can enjoy homeschool nature study together with Mrs. Cindy as your nature guide.