CELEBRATE ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S WEEK THE GREAT OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
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March/April 2007
CELEBRATE ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S WEEK
THE GREAT OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Is best spent in our Arkansas State Parks!
Arkansas’ natural beauty and its history are showcased and preserved in the 51 Arkansas parks
and museums of the Arkansas State Parks system. Arkansas parks are spread across the state
from the highest peaks to the shores of rivers and streams.
Go to: www.arkansasstateparks.com/things/ for details
on all the adventures waiting for you during Arkansas Children’s Week April 22-28, 2007.
Parent/Child Outdoor
THE ARKANSAS
EARLY CHILDHOOD LETTER
Adventure Activity Cards
Available online
Print them off for the families in your program
by visiting our website at www.arkansas.gov/childcare/
acw07.html. To place an order, fill out the information below
The Arkansas Early Childhood and return to:DCCECE/AR Children’s Week, Box 1437 Slot
Commission S160, Little Rock, AR 72203 or Fax: 501-682-4897.
Mike Beebe, Governor
Tonya Russell, Director
Debbie Malone, Chair Name of Program:___________________________________
Mailing Address:____________________________________
Dr. Bruce Cohen
Dee Cox City/Zip:___________________________________________
Janice Dancer
Jody Veit-Edrington
Number of Children Enrolled:__________________
Brian Faulkner
Barbara Gilkey
Please send me _____________sets of the Parent/Child
Joan Harper
Activity Cards.
Jerry Hudlow
Dr. Paul Human
Karen Marshall
Karen Massey Make CDA Scholarship Plans NOW!
Richard Nugent M.D. Attention Directors and caregivers/teachers! Here is what you
Hallie Sanford need to know about eligibility for scholarships for CDA course
Suellen Ward
work. Requirements to be met by persons applying for a
scholarship for CDA course work:
PO BOX 1437, SLOT S140
Be currently employed at a licensed or registered child
LITTLE ROCK, AR 72203-4608
care program and be recommended by the Director/
(501) 682-9699
Owner
Fax(501) 682-4897
Have been employed for at least 90 days in the child care
www.arkansas.gov/childcare
program that recommends that person
Have completed one of the following five (5) trainings:
The Arkansas Early Childhood Letter
1) Child Care Orientation Training (CCOT)
is an information service of the
2) Arkansas Children’s Program Administratrion
Division of Child Care and Early
Childhood Education,
Orientation (Orientation for Directors)
Department of Health & Human
3) Early Care and Education Direct
Services.
4) Family Child Care Providers Orientation
5) Secondary Child Guidance, Management/Services
Plan ahead to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements
for receiving a scholarsip for CDA coursework. To find out
more about the five training programs go to the registry
website: http://professionalregistry.astate.edu
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 2When you were a child, what was your favor- With computers, video games, DVDs and CD
ite thing to play? Was it building a play house players, attractive indoor activities compete
with pine straw? Roaming the neighborhood with nature for children's time. In fact, the
on your bicycle? average American spends 95% of his/her time
indoors.
For many adults, their childhood memories
include lots of time spent outdoors. It might We know that playing outside can help chil-
have been reading a book in the shade of a tree dren understand themselves better, as well as
or playing somewhat disorganized baseball discover the world around them. Nature play
games with assorted siblings and neighbors. reduces stress, sharpens concentration, and
Or maybe you spent time exploring forests, promotes problem solving.
streams, and fields. Most of these activities
were "kids only", with limited participation by The more time children spend outdoors, the
adults. more they will learn about their environment.
As children gain knowledge of the natural
The world has changed in the past 25 years. world, they grow to appreciate and respect our
Children spend more time in child care and environment.
organized after-school activities. When many
families get home from work and school, The most important thing that young children
there's dinner to prepare, homework to com- can learn about the Earth is that it is full of
plete, laundry to do. The tasks of daily life beauty and wonder. The best way for children
leave little time for outdoor play. to learn about the environment is by interact-
ing with it. Children need lots of time out-
Safety concerns make parents hesitant to allow side.
children to spend time outside without close
supervision. The radius that today's children How much time does your family spend
are allowed to roam outside their homes is outdoors? If your answer is, "not enough,"
almost 90% less than 20 years ago. Parents the suggestions in this brochure can help. Use
are also concerned about sun exposure and the ideas on the following pages to explore
allergies. the natural world with your child. Have fun
and enjoy your Great Outdoor Adventure!
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 3 Have a picnic! Eat lunch or dinner or Listen to the sounds the wind makes.
a snack in your backyard or in the Try to re-create the sounds using
park. household items.
Collect leaves, acorns, pecans, or pine Fly a kite.
cones. Compare the items in your Wiggle your toes in the sand, dirt, or
collection. Do they all look alike? mud.
What differ ences do you see? Draw in the sand or dirt with sticks.
Look for different Collect rocks. Make
types of trees near up a game to play
your home. Find with pebbles and
out the name of rocks.
each tree. Sit quietly on the
Blow dandelion ground and watch
"puffs". ants. (Be sure these
Plant some seeds are not fire ants!)
and watch them Sprinkle bread crumbs
grow. on the ground and
Take a flower watch what happens.
walk. Look for Watch the birds. How
different colors many different birds
and shapes. do you see in your
Lie on your back yard?
in the grass and Hang a bird feeder or
watch the clouds. put out a bird bath.
Use a pencil and Keep a list of the birds
paper to sketch that visit.
the cloud shapes Run barefoot through
that you see. the grass.
What do these Closely observe a
shapes remind small area of grass
you of? (about one square foot
On a rainy day, Describe what
press your nose to you see.
the window and
watch the rain.Take a walk during a Want to do more?
gentle rain. Splash in puddles. Cut apart the cards on the following pages. One side
Hang wind chimes or a wind sock of each card contains information about a plant or
animal. On the reserves side, you will find a family
where you can hear and see it from a activity that will help you extend your Great Outdoor
window. Adventure.
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 4RABBI TS
Rabbits may be our most popular wild animals. They
are famous for their fluffy tails and big ears. Their
tails are about 2 inches long and look like puff-balls.
Their ears can swing in any direction to pick up the
slightest sounds.
Most rabbits do not dig bur-
rows for homes. T hey scratch
Rabbit noses help them sniff out danger.
a shallow “bowl” out of the
A rabbit’s whiskers are long but usually light
ground, called a form. Forms
colored, so they are not very easy to see.
are usually hidden under
A rabbit’s back legs are longer and stronger
bushes and trees. Rabbits
than the front legs. Many rabbits thump
their hind feet on the ground as a danger spend the daytime there, going
alarm. out to eat from evening to
morning.
WHAT IT EAT S
Rabbits eat a lot of different things. They eat weeds and almost every kind
of berry and fruit. When they can get into a garden they will eat the let-
tuce, cabbage, beans and carrots they find. But they do not dig them up.
SQUIRRELS WHAT IT EATS
Hickory nuts, beech-
Not all squirrels are tree squirrels. Some are nuts, walnuts and
ground squirrels that do not climb trees. acorns are on the gray
They have shorter, skinnier tails, and “talk” a squirrel’s menu. So are
lot more than tree squirrels. seeds, corn, fruits,
Squirrels are famous for their bushy tails, berries, flowers, mush-
and those tails com e in handy. In the rain rooms and caterpillars.
it is a squirrel’s “umbrella.” When it is cold, Its favorite spring treat is sweet icicles of sap from
their tails are used like blankets. frozen maple trees.
If they fall from a tree, their tails Interesting Fact
WHERE TO FIND IT
parachute them to a soft landing. You can tell which
The gray squirrel’s den is usually in a hollow
nuts have
Most squirrels are active during part of a tree about 40 feet off the ground.
been eaten
the day. So you might see m ore by a gray They also build twiggy leaf nests. They prefer
squirrels than any other wild ani- squirrel. shadier wooded areas.
mal. Wherever squirrels eat, they They gnaw a hole in You will find lots of little
leave behind “crumbs” from their one or both ends of holes in the ground
nutty feasts. So watch for them the shell to get the around his hom e because
nut out. they bury every nut they
hopping, skipping, leaping and even
flying! find in a separate hole.
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 5BUILD a RABBI T REFUG E
WHAT YOU NEED 3. Poke the smaller branches and twigs into
Small branches and twigs the jumbled jungle. Push enough of them
(that are less than 2 in so that you cannot see the ground below
inches thick and 10 feet the refuge. Do not be worried that rab
long). Tree and hedge bits will not be able to get in. They can
Rabbit munchies: clippings squeeze through tiny openings, and they
clover will want all the privacy they can get.
dandelions 4. Place a few small piles of the munchies
carrots WHAT TO DO around the edges of the Rabbit Refuge.
celery 1. Pick a place where rabbits It is better not to over load them, or try
lettuce will feel safe, where there is to put them inside the refuge.
grass clippings not too m uch activity or 5. Now stay away from the Rabbit Refuge,
noise. and look out through your window from
1. Put the longest branches in the middle of the time to time. If there are rab-
spot, tangling them up as m uch as you can. bits in your neighborhood, they
Rabbits do not like neat, tidy places, so make will come. The best times to
the branches all jumbled in a pile that fills up see them are early in the morn-
your space. T he pile should be at least 3 feet ing and near dusk.
high.
HANG a SQUIRREL N UT-B A LL
Squirrels love all kinds of nuts. If you hang up a squirrel nut -ball, you will have
fun watching them try to catch it-and maybe even swing from it! Don’t worry if
they pull it down-that’s fun too!
WHAT TO DO
WHAT YOU NEED
1. Roll the nuts in a thin coat of
All the nuts you can
peanut butter. Place each nut on the wax paper.
find. It is better if
they are in the shell. 2. Make little balls of nuts by sticking smaller nuts
But shelled p eanuts- together.
3. When you have about ten big nut clusters, stick them
and even kernels of
all together in one big ball. The nut -ball should be
corn-will also work.
about 6 inches across.
Peanut butter
4. Set the ball aside on wax paper for a couple of days to
Wax paper
A piece of thin wire dry.
about 12 inches long 5. Push the wire through the center of the nut -ball, so
A piece of string or half is sticking out on each side. T wist the ends of
cord 5 feet long the wire together.
6. Tie one end of the string to the wire loop. Tie other
end of string to a tree branch so ball swings freely.
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 6BUTT ERFLIES AND MOT HS
When a butterfly or moth An easy way to
breaks out of its chrysalis or tell a butterfly
cocoon, it is wrinkled and from a moth is
wet. It pumps body fluids to watch it
BUTT ERF LY
into its wings until they un- land; If its
fold and dry. Then it can fly. wings are
folded together pointing up, it’s
probably a butterfly. If its
Butterflies and moths drink wings are folded against its
nectar with their proboscis-their body or pointing out flat from
tongue. It is long and curled up MOTH its sides, it’s probably a moth.
inside like a spring.
Butterflies fly in the daytime, but most moths
They unroll this hollow
fly at night. Butterflies’ bodies are slender.
tongue to sip the
Moths have chubby bodies. Butterfly anten-
nectar-li ke you sip a
nae are think and smooth, with sm all knobs at
cola through a straw.
the end. Moths have thick, feathery antennae.
Antennae are their feelers and sm ellers. T hey
use them to find food and mates.
WATCH OUT FOR THAT BIRD
What makes birds different from other animals is their Goldfinches love
WINGS. With those powerful wings, they escape ene- thistle seeds. She
mies, find new supplies of food, and migrate to warm er likes to build in in
places so they can survive winter. apple trees, elm,
maple, cottonwood or wi llow
trees. The nest is made of
grasses, bark and moss. It is lined
ROBIN
GOLDFINCH with thistledown.
The best time to watch birds is when they are
most active: between 6 and 10 o’clock in the
You wi ll see the robin on the lawn tugging up earth- morning. One good way to find most bird nests
worms. They also eat caterpillars, beetles, crickets is to watch for birds carrying nest-bui lding ma-
and spiders—and fruits like apples, cherries and rasp- terials in their beaks. You will see this most of-
berries. ten in spring or early summer. Then follow the
Robin’s nest is a woven circle of grasses, twigs, scraps bird quietly to it’s nest. It’s okay to take a close
of rags and string. Inside the nest, she molds a cup look at a bird’s nest. But DON’T TOUCH the
of mud to fit her body. Look in pine, cedar or spruce nest or eggs or babies. And, of course, if the
trees. birds put up a fuss, leave the nest right away.
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 7MAKE “MOTH SUGAR”
Moths have antennae that look like miniature feathers. They work li ke radio aerials,
picking up far-away signals. So they can scent “moth sugar” from miles away. Wait until
late afternoon to spread “moth sugar,” so the sun wi ll cook but not evaporate it.
WHAT TO DO
1. Fill the jug with water.
2. Mix sugar into the jug of water.
3. Use the paint brush to brush the
WHAT YOU NEED “moth sugar” on a stump, a rock, or a
3 tablespoons fence p ost. Or soak the sponge in
sugar the mixture and hang it on a tree.
Water 4. Just after dark, go see your new
1 quart plastic visitors.
jug 5. If no moths have com e to the
Old paintbrush place, next time add a little apple
sponge juice to the “moth sugar.”
There are more than 100,000 kinds of moths in the world —
many will be attracted to this tasty treat!!
GIVE THE BIRDS a SHOWER -BATH
Birds need water to drink -and to p lay in! Some birds love to run through a lawn sprinkler, or even a
drippy water faucet. Here’s a way to give them some water fun, and you a lot of bird watching fun.
WHAT YOU NEED WHAT TO DO
An old p ail with a small 1. Hang the pai l from a tree limb
leak, or punch a sm all that is low enough for your
hole in the bottom. reach.
2. Underneath it, place the pan
An old pie pan or or lid.
plastic pail lid that is 3. Fill the hanging pail with water
shallow, no deep er than so that it drips water in the
1 or 2 inches. Or use an pool underneath.
old garbage-can li d.
Now stand back and bird watch.
You may be surprised to see how m any different kinds of
birds will come running—and flying—for a shower-bath.
After all, birds like to keep cool on a hot day too!
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 8WHITE CLOVER
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHERE TO FIND IT
White clover stems may Some type of white clover is
be up to 3 feet long, but found growing nearly every-
they grow along the where in the United States, in
ground. R unners send lawns and fields and along
down roots at each roadsides.
joint. The stems on
which leaves and flowers WHAT EAT S IT
grow are only about 5 Sulphur butterflies especially like clover flowers.
Inches tall. Deer, squirrels, marmots, rabbits and grouse eat
white clover leaves.
Small and green, clover leaves always grow in
groups of three or sometime four. Each as a INTER ESTING FACT
pale triangle across it. The leaves grow on Many people think four- leaf
stems separate from the flowers. clovers are lucky. This idea
White clovers flowers are small white to started long ago when people
pink-white globes that bloom from May to believed that whoever found
December. T hey have a sweet sm ell. one would be lucky the rest
of the year.
IDENTIFYING TREE LEAVES and NEEDLES
OAK MAPLE PINE CEDAR
There are many kinds of trees all around us. They com e in many sizes and shapes.
THE CROWN is the top of the tree where the branches, leaves, seeds and flowers are found.
THE TRUNK is the stem of the tree covered with bark to protect it. It holds the branches toward
the sunlight. And it helps food travel between the roots and the branches.
THE ROOTS are the “underground branches” that pull up water and food for the tree from the soil.
Roots hold the tree in place.
Trees can be divided into two groups.
BROADLEAF trees have leaves that turn color and drop off for the winter. Their seeds grow inside
fruits, nuts, pods or berries.
EVERGREEN or conifer trees have needles that stay green all year long. The seeds grow inside cones.
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 9Make a Container Rainbow
Butterflies love plants such as milkweed, wild rose
and Queen Anne’s Lace. You will be amazed how
quickly they come when the flowers begin to bloom!!
What To Do
1. Fill the ice cream bucket with the garden soil.
2. Lightly press the wildflower seeds into the soil.
Remember that in the wild, seeds often lay
What You Need near the top of the ground.
A clean, empty ice cream bucket with a 3. Water the top of the soil to moisten it. Do not
few holes punched in the bottom. make it soggy.
Good garden soil to fill it. 4. Set the bucket in a warm, sunny place.
Seeds of any of the short, easy-to -grow Water the soil as needed to keep it
moist.
M AKE a BARK RUBBING
To make a “bark art” collection, use rubbings from several different trees.
HERE’S HOW
1. Use thumbtacks to pin a piece of paper
against the tree trunk at eye level.
2. Rub the flat length of the crayon
across the paper.
3. Change the crayon color as often as
you li ke.
4. As you rub, the pattern of the bark
hurt, will appear.
THINGS YOU WILL NEED a r k c an b e
B ac k 5. Match your bark rubbing to one of the
Thin drawing paper, such as umbt
s o th j u st tree leafs or needles. Hang your rub-
onion skin or tracing paper pa per
your gh t o bing and attach the leaf or needle to it
4 thumbtacks en ou
deep la c e.
Assorted crayon stubs with it in p with tape or a stapler.
h old
the paper peeled off
Any mature trees with healthy
bark
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 10Grant Writing for Child Care Facilities
2007 Spring/Summer Training Schedule
Staff of White River Planning and Development District (WRPDD) and
CHILDREN of Northcentral Arkansas
Module 1—Beginning : Writing successful Grant Requests and Basic Grant Writing Tips (includes the
Enhancement Grant and other Division Grants). Module 1 is appropriate for Family Child Care pro-
viders and any Center staff member who may be involved in grant writing.
Modules 2 & 3—Intermediate and Advanced Grant Writing: These sessions (combined) will in-
clude ABC proposals, other State Grant Options, Foundations that Fund Various Child Care Program
Needs (such as equipment, learning environments and subsidizing slots), and Federal Grant Applica-
tions. Modules 2 & 3 are appropriate for any child care facility staff member who may be interested
in advanced grant writing techniques .
To register for one or more of these workshops, call WRPDD or CHILDREN of Northcentral Arkansas
staff at 800-737-2237 or 870- 793- 5233. Seating is limited in some locations: please call early to regis-
ter as workshops will be offered on a first -come-first-served basis.
City Location Date Time
Mountain Home First Baptist Church Thursday
Module 1 Lower Fireside Room March 15, 2007 6:00—8:00 p.m.
400 Club Blvd., Mountain Home
Mountain Home First Baptist Church Friday
Modules 2 & 3 Lower Fireside Room March 16, 2007 8:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
400 Club Blvd., Mountain Home
Russellville 1st United Methodist Church Thursday
Module 1 Fellowship Hall March 22, 2007 6:00—8:00 p.m.
301 S. Commerce Russellville
Russellville 1st United Methodist Church Friday
Modules 2 & 3 Fellowship Hall March 23, 2007 8:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
301 S. Commerce Russellville
Ft. Smith Crawford-Sebastian Community Monday
Module 1 Development Council April 9, 2007 6:00—8:00 p.m.
4831 Armour Ft. Smith
Ft. Smith Crawford-Sebastian Community Tuesday
Modules 2 & 3 Development Council April 10, 2007 8:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
4831 Armour Ft. Smith
El Dorado 1st United Methodist Church Thursday
Module 1 Fellowship Hall May 17, 2007 6:00—8:00 p.m.
201 S. Hill, El Dorado
El Dorado 1st United Methodist Church Friday
Modules 2 & 3 Fellowship Hall May 18, 2007 8:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
201 S. Hill, El Dorado
Paragould Eastside Baptist Church Monday
Module 1 Fellowship Hall May 21, 2007 6:00—8:00 p.m.
529 E. Court Street Paragould
Paragould Eastside Baptist Church Tuesday
Modules 2 & 3 Fellowship Hall May 22, 2007 8:30 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
529 E. Court Street Paragould
An Arkansas Children’s Week Publication 2007
Page 11PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
Department of Health & Human Services LITTLE ROCK
Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education PERMIT NO. 1045
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S140
Little Rock, AR 72203-4608
ASU
Summer
Institute
Wee Workshop
August 2007
July 30, 2007
Jonesboro
Fayetteville
August 2-3, 2007
Little Rock
AECA
October 18-20,
2007
Hot Springs
Welcome the Children School of
May 2-4, 2007 the 21st Century
North Little Rock July 23-25, 2007
Little RockYou can also read
