The natural world is my second home . . . or maybe it should be my first as we are all living in nature no matter where we are. I guess put simply . . . I am a nature enthusiast who looks for the miracles of life each and every day no matter how large or small. Just think of the twinkling stars in a dark night sky (especially during power shedding), or the endless vista of the rolling ocean? What about the dung beetle trundling its ball across rough terrain or the intricate and bright Sunbird? Each offers a spectacle that touches us deeply (well at least it does me). One can sit for hours simply observing while struck dumb with admiration by the extraordinary detail, abilities and wonders of the natural world.

I often wonder how we as humans can feel so self important . . . a cut above the rest of life when it is clear so many creatures and plants are so incredibly intelligent, displaying skills we simply cannot understand let alone achieve. Nature has so much to teach us and we have so much to learn if we can simply slow down and connect with it.

The fact is . . . our own lives depend on nature for our health and vitality. Our planet has an infinitely complex web of life filled with wonders so amazing that one should feel a sense of awe each time we step out the door. It is time for us to see our place as the guardians of this planet . . . where we learn to respect nature and care for the world we inhabit. We need to learn to live in harmony with the extraordinary creatures and plants we share this planet with.

Nature draws me outdoors often - for hiking, photography exploration or to simply just be. i Naturalist has taken nature time to a different level as one learns to really look and observe all life around them. It is a journey of discovery each time you step out into nature. Every day is wonder filled to the brim. And then working on identifying has been a fabulous way to learn what all the different observations are.

Over the past two year I have introduced i Naturalist and Seek to the Nature group I run. This is an exciting nature discovery and environmental education program aimed at young people ages 3-16 years along with their parents. Children join us to discover the natural world through interactive lessons and Explorer Day field trips. Here they learn about local wildlife and plants and take part in environmental projects to protect their habitat through the Badges Action Awards / Project Awards, Citizen Science Projects and Stewardship Activities. We hope to use iNaturalist as a tool to encourage children and their families to observe nature more and learn more about the plants and creatures around them. We have a few projects in mind for the coming few years. Our club is a wonderful way to make those connections where a child meets nature and begins to love and understand the workings of our natural world.