A lane
The Naturalist lane
Outside first. Nature notebook every day, more dirt, more water, more creatures, more sky. Lanes never change the bones of the week; they add one concrete tilt toward what your kid loves, at every age.
You might be here if…
- Happiest with dirt on their hands
- Stops for every bug, bird, and puddle
- Calmer outside than in
Not sure? Start in Explorer. Squad Brain watches what your kid returns to and you can switch lanes anytime from your Family page.
How the lane tilts every stage
- 🌱 Newborn Squad
Daily outdoor minutes: sky, leaves, breeze on the skin.
- 🍼 Infant Squad
Outside every day; grass, sand, water, and sky as the sensory bin.
- 🧸 Crawler Squad
Grass, sand, mud, and water as the daily bin.
- 👣 Young Toddler Squad
Outside first: a daily walk with a collecting bag.
- ☀️ Toddler Squad
Circle outside, a nature notebook every day, more dirt and water.
- 🎨 Preschool Squad
Projects rooted outside: gardens, bugs, weather, water.
- 📚 Early Elementary Squad
Field work twice a week; a long-term nature study.
- 🔬 Elementary Squad
Field science with a long-term site and real data.
- 🧭 Middle Squad
Field research with data shared to a real database.
- 🎓 High School Squad
Environmental science and field careers: real data, real fieldwork, and summer programs.
Twelve weeks of Naturalist tilts in the Toddler Squad
Week 1
👋 Hello, Squad!
Do Hello Circle outside every home day this week. Weather window becomes weather sky.
Week 2
🌈 Color Splash
Color hunt in the yard: find something of each color in nature, no toys allowed.
Week 3
🚗 Wheels & Roads
Walk the wheels: a stroller-and-trike walk to look at real tires, curbs, and drains.
Week 4
💧 Water & Weather
Rain gauge in a jar. Check it every morning and mark the level with tape.
Week 5
🦋 Bugs & Butterflies
This is the Naturalist's week: flip a log or a pot every day and count legs.
Week 6
🍌 Farm & Food
Plant three bean seeds in three cups: sun, shade, and closet. Watch what happens.
Week 7
🚒 Community Helpers
Park rangers are helpers too: find one at a county park and ask what they do.
Week 8
🔨 Build It!
Build with sticks and stones outside before building with cardboard inside.
Week 9
🐢 Ocean & Beach
Tide-pool at Red Reef at low tide. Bring the magnifier.
Week 10
🦁 Wild Animals
Backyard safari at dusk: lizards, dragonflies, the first bat. Whisper voices.
Week 11
🥧 Thankful Harvest
Collect one leaf a day and press it in a book. The gratitude tree gets real leaves.
Week 12
🎉 Lights, Music & Celebration
Showcase station outside: a nature table with everything the squad found this fall.