A 3-year-old stared wide-eyed with his jaw on the floor as I brought around “Halloweena”, a Banded Garden Spider, who was hanging out on a stem in all her black, yellow and silver glory in my bug cup. She’s as big around as a Ping Pong ball (including her legs) and beautiful… or at least I think so! I ask: “Now, Halloweena has feelings too… does she want us to shake or hit her cup?” “No!” answers the class. “But you can say ‘Hi!’ “ I remind them. I hand the cup to the 3-year-old, mouth still open in awe. After a beat, he stares closely at her and yells “He-LLOO SPIDER”!

His friends follow suit and when it’s time for Halloweena to leave (and be released exactly where I found her), they say goodbye as if sending off a good buddy. Afterward we have gratitude time and multiple kiddos say they feel grateful for Halloweena today.

I love whenever my nature classes have an opportunity to meet a real, live animal brother or sister. Some meetings are planned, like with Halloweena, but many are unplanned. One of my favorite things about nature class is that we usually have it outside on the playground. This lets us make all sorts of unexpected friends: the cawing crows flying over, the cricket under the slide, the ant on the sidewalk… or even more spectacular meetings like when we’ve played a Carolina Chickadee sound on the speaker and lo and behold, a real chickadee popped up in the nearby tree and began singing back to us!

I’ve thought about it a lot, and I feel like some of the coolest moments in nature class can essentially be boiled down to us saying “hi” to an animal brother or sister (more on why I say it that way later). Those moments of acknowledging another living being… are a big deal!

There are a lot of great books detailing hundreds and thousands of methods, and philosophies, and activities for connecting yourself and your loved ones with nature (I mean, I’ve written 3 myself!), but I’d like to simplify it radically… into just 3 little words: just say “hi”.

Seriously, just say “hi”! Next time you and your kiddo see a bird, point them out and say “hi!” (it’s okay if you don’t know what kind of bird they are!). Next time you see a ladybug on a wall, say “hi!” Next time you see a squirrel in a tree, say “hi!”. Wave and look at the animal brother or sister with your kiddo. It’s amazing how quickly the world becomes a friendlier place when you try this!

If you want to take it to the next level: give the animals you meet a name! When you see that squirrel, you could say “Hello Scamper!”, or when you see that bumblebee “Hello Fuzzabeth!”, or when you meet a jumping spider “What’s up Dave?”

Try this out and see what happens. Maybe you’ll see the same critter more than once, maybe you’ll give them a name… and maybe you’ll make a non-human friend! At my house we currently have Lilly and Pad the deer fawns spending all their time in our prairie/woods. Who are you gonna meet? I’ll be giving the oldest classes a gift to go along with this idea soon!

If you try this out, let me know! Send me a message on instagram @jaredthenatureguy or to my work email: jared@ldbb.care

P.S. Another great option: name a tree. We have Maggie the Magnolia at my house. She’s practically part of the family now. Trees CAN feel it when you touch them… so name a tree a give them a hug! We’ve honored some of the trees around our schools with names such as Max, Tootly, Captain Underpants… and oddly enough: Mr. Butler.

P.P.S. Why do I always say animal brother and sister? It’s because I want to be extra clear that animals are beings, and not objects. We share one home (earth), the same resources (food, water, air etc), and the same goals (survive and thrive) much like a family… thus: brother and sisters!

P.P.P.S. Okay, last one. Don’t forget about the upcoming nature party! It’s for ages 3 & up! See this episode of my weekly nature show for more details!