Jacob Rodenburg - The Book of Nature Connection: 70 Sensory Activities for All Ages

Jacob Rodenburgs wealth of knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for nature make this a great resource for anyone wishing to stimulate childrens connections with the natural world. The activities and games in the book are easy to replicate and it will be a boon to educators.

Paul Elliott, professor, Trent School of Education, co-chair, Environmental and Sustainability Education in Teacher Education

What an incredibly handy and useful book! Jacob has had a hand in creating one of the most comprehensive community-based environmental programs in North America. Pathway to Stewardship and Kinship, a Peterborough, Ontario initiative, provides clear, developmentally savvy guidance on how to bond children with the natural world at all ages and stages. The Book of Nature Connection is the users guide for making that connection happen. Its beautifully illustrated, clear as a bell, and joyous. Invaluable for classroom teachers, parents, and outdoor educators.

David Sobel, environmental education leader, author, Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education

The Book of Nature Connection invites learners of all ages and abilities to experience the natural world in new and exciting ways. Enjoy this collection of games and tools that teach you to tune-in to your senses and connect with all your relations.

Tegan Moss, executive director, Peterborough Green-Up Association

This beautiful compendium of nature activities is an essential bedside and backpack read for all educatorsnot just us nature nuts. Whether seeking future inspiration, or something to engage the group arriving in 15 minutes(!), this book provides an opportunity to grab-and-go or a deep dive. The best antidote to sensory anesthesia is to spend a day exploring your neighbourwood with Jacob. The second best is to explore his low-prop, high-impact activities, well-bundled to engage all the senses, including your sense of wonder!

Karen OKrafka, president, Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario

The Book of Nature Connection will inspire and encourage you to see, hear, feel, touch, and connect (or re-connect) with the natural world in a more senseful way. Jacob has magically translated his wisdom and passion for outdoor education onto these pages, offering a unique collection of activities for all seasons, and all ages. This book is a much-needed resource at a time when we need nature as much as nature needs us. Fascinating, educational, playful, and thoughtful, The Book of Nature Connection is the ideal guide for teachers, parents, or anyone interested in discovering the wonder of nature.

Lisa Nisbet, associate professor, Trent University, co-creator, Nature Relatedness Scale, author and researcher, natruerelatedness.ca

This is a wonderful resource for those who love to wander and learn from nature and for those who are novices at exploring the natural world! Jacob has revisioned some tried and true immersion experiences with a new twist. Flip to any page, read, and go outside for a new and refreshing way to experience wonder.

Jennifer Seydel, executive director, Green Schools National Network

Jacob Rodenburg has crafted a must-read guide full of important information on how to reconnect with nature through practicing mindfulness and sensory activities. This is a great choice for anyone looking to unplug from our hectic, technology-dominated lives and be immersed in nature to reap the benefits!

Aly Hyder Ali, urban nature organizer, Nature Canada

70 SENSORY ACTIVITIES

FOR ALL AGES

JACOB RODENBURG

Copyright 2022 by Jacob Rodenburg. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Diane McIntosh.

Image credits: p 3, 5, 7, 35, 67, 79, 93, 101, 109 val_iva; p 7, 35, 67, 79, 93 Carlafcastagno; p 23, 77, 83 SpicyTruffel; p 51 lily_calligrapher; p 105 Darius SUL / Adobe Stock

Printed in Canada. First printing April 2022.

This book is intended to be educational and informative. It is not intended to serve as a guide. The author and publisher disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk that may be associated with the application of any of the contents of this book.

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of The Book of Nature Connection should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below.

To order directly from the publishers, please call 250-247-9737 or order online at www.newsociety.com

Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:

New Society Publishers

P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada

(250) 247-9737

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

Title: The book of nature connection : 70 sensory activities for all ages / Jacob Rodenburg.

Names: Rodenburg, Jacob, 1960 author.

Description: Includes index.

Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20210336161 | Canadiana (ebook) 20210336188 | ISBN 9780865719712 (softcover) | ISBN 9781550927658 (PDF) | ISBN 9781771423618 (EPUB)

Subjects: LCSH: Nature study Activity programs. | LCSH: Natural history Study and teaching Activity programs. | LCSH: Natural history Outdoor books. | LCGFT: Activity books.

Classification: LCC QH54.5 .R63 2022 | DDC 508 dc23

New Society Publishers mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision.

The Book of Nature Connection Worksheets are available for free download at: https://newsociety.com/pages/book-of-nature-connection-worksheets

STOP FOR ONE MOMENT. Cup your hands, squeeze your fingers together and slip them behind your ears. Now push your ears forward. Notice how much better you can hear? Now listen. Really listen. What do you hear? Do you hear the rustling of paper, music playing in the background, the creaking of a chair, or a car driving by? How many different sounds can you notice at any one time?

Cupping your ears helps you hear better.

Credit: iStock.

We humans have the capacity to sense the world in amazing ways. Our environment is a delightfully textured tapestry of sound, sight, taste, feel, and smell. Humans have evolved to deeply sense the world around us. Our senses of hearing, sight, taste, feeling, and smell are adaptations that have enabled us to survive for thousands upon thousands of years. Theyve helped us identify safe food to eat (by smell and taste), theyve protected us from danger (seeing and hearing predators), and theyve helped us deal with discomfort (our bodies signal when we in pain, or if we are too cold or too hot).