Hometown Nature Heroes are everywhere! Bob talks with Courtney Ryan a passionate advocate for getting kids outside. Special thanks to the Cincinnati Nature Center for sponsoring this episode. Courtney’s Recommended Resources: Sands Montessori Outdoor Campus Sands Montessori Partners:  Native Roots Madison Tree Care and Landscaping Motz Turf Farms Sunbelt Rentals  Books to Read:   Balanced And Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, And Capable Children By Angela J. Hanscom  Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to A Nature-Rich Life By Richard Louv  Play The Forest School Way: Woodland Games and Craft For Adventurous Kids By Jane Worroll And Peter Houghton  There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets For Raising Healthy, Resilient, And Confident Kids By Linda Akeson Mcgurk  The Call of The Wild And Free: Reclaiming Wonder In Your Child’s Education By Ainsley Arment   Resources:  Children and Nature Network Orange Is the New Green: Exploring the Restorative Capacity of Seasonal Foliage in Schoolyard Trees 

Kids in Nature with Courtney Ryan

Nature Guys connects you to the exciting natural world right in your own neighborhood. These nature connections will help you be cool, calm, collected and ready to make a positive difference in the world. Nature Guys is hosted by Bob a long time nature lover.

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Central Indiana had clear skies for the April 8, 2024  eclipse!  Bob joined a fantastic group of family, friends and other nature lovers  at Jenkins Forever Farm animal sanctuary  for a spectacular eclipse. He was able to record some of their reactions before, during and after the eclipse.  Related Episodes: Eclipse with Dean Regas, Eclipse Lovers

Eclipse Stories

In the final episode of the Invasive Plant Series Bob, Greg and Sam outline several possible paths that the common person can undertake to help turn the tide of invasive plants. From education and community driven initiatives to pushing market changes through purchasing power, we can all do a small part to make a big difference.  Related Episodes: Walnut Woods, Invasive Plants, Lawns, Gardening for Moths with Jim McCormac, The Nature of Oaks with Doug Tallamy  For more information, we recommend these sources:   Native Plant Education and Volunteer Opportunities with Civic Garden Center  Native Plant Education with Active Outdoors  Native Plant Gardening Intro  Cincinnati Volunteer Opportunity with Cincinnati Parks       

Invasive Plants Part 4

In this episode the discussion turns toward the horticulture industry and the impact working with plants has had overtime. Bob, Greg and Sam then turn to examine the branch of Ornamental Horticulture and its culpability in the mass production and distribution of non-native plants around the world. While this trend continues, new options of planting with native plants and the idea of cultivating native plants at home for the sake of conservation are introduced.  Related Episodes:   Lawns, Invasive Plants, Seeds on the Move, Invasive Plants Part 1, Invasive Plants Part 2      For more information, we recommend these resources:   National Invasive Species Council  Mt. Cuba Center Trial Garden  Invasive Plant Species and the Ornamental Horticulture Industry             

Invasive Plants Part 3

In episode 2 of our Invasive Plant Series Bob, Greg and Sam discuss why invasive plants pose such a problem to our ecosystem. The plant guru dives into the intricate connections between plants and other wildlife, explaining that plants truly are the basis of all ecosystems. From there, we talk about the way our land use decisions have created the perfect conditions for invasive plants to thrive in North America.  Related Episodes: Invasive Plants Part 1, Invasive Plants, The Nature of Oaks with Doug Tallamy and Passenger Pigeon Part 1 For more information, we recommend these resources:  Why Native Plants Matter Native Plants are Key to Climate Resilience How Much Nature Should America Keep? 

Invasive Plants Part 2

Bob sits down with Greg and Sam to discuss one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, invasive plants. It’s such a dense topic that we decided to break it up into 4 separate episodes. In part 1, we introduce the concept of native and non-native invasive plants. Greg and Sam provide a big picture perspective on the human systems that are driving the spread of invasive plants and invite you to join us in starting a more meaningful conversation around invasive plants and their impact on our environment.  Related Episodes: Invasive Plants, Walnut Woods For more information, we recommend these resources:  Book: Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species by Sylvan Ramsey Kaufman & Wallace Kaufman Invasive and Exotic Species of North America National Association of Invasive Plant Councils (check out what is happening in your state around invasive species management)  UN Invasive Alien Species Report 

Kids in Nature with Courtney Ryan

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