Field Notes
Real observations. Real places. Real children learning outside.
Field Notes is where I put what I actually see — at Hunting Island, at Edisto, in the marsh at low tide, on the boardwalk at dawn. Not curated. Not Pinterest-perfect. Just the tides, the birds, the driftwood, and what a curious 3-year-old might do with any of it.
Each post is written for educators and families who want the real story behind the natural world — the kind of background knowledge that turns a walk on the beach into a conversation that lasts the whole drive home.
Browse by topic, season, or whatever your kid just picked up off the ground.
When the Moon Pulls Harder
Tides I didn't set out to watch the tide. I just didn't leave. And somewhere between the first cup of coffee and the second, the marsh reorganized itself in front of me.
The Dive
Pelicans There is no warning. One moment gliding, the next — a spear. I watched one dive directly overhead and heard it hit the water. That sound changed how I watch them.
Take Something Home
The Field Notes from Hunting Island card series brings these observations down to toddler level — single-page PDFs designed for ages 2–5, with real science, a personal voice, and a “Try This!” activity your family can do today.
Cards available now:
• Tides — How the ocean moves, and why the marsh smells that way
• Pelicans — The dive, the pouch, and what they’re actually doing out there
• The Moon — Why it looks different every night, and what it has to do with the tides
Join Wild Ones
Wild Ones is my newsletter — field notes, new cards, and what I’m actually observing that week at the park. It goes out when something is worth sharing. No noise. Just the good stuff from the marsh.
Questions or observations to share? rootsrainboots@gmail.com