{"id":782,"date":"2012-09-06T13:34:11","date_gmt":"2012-09-06T17:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/blogs\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=782"},"modified":"2013-12-06T16:04:34","modified_gmt":"2013-12-06T21:04:34","slug":"happy-grandparents-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/happy-grandparents-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Grandparent’s Day!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>By Emma Evans<\/p>\n

When I was a little girl, my grandparents\u00a0instilled in me\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span>the importance of having a reverence for nature.\u00a0Whether sharing a walk through the woods, a backyard\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>wildlife sighting, bird watching, or teaching me how to identify flowers, visits with my grandparents have never been anything short of an adventure!<\/p>\n

My grandparents have always kept a greenhouse and raised gorgeous, native plants. Hours before I would wake when visiting, Grandpa would be out tending the garden\u2014not because he felt obligated, but because he found it to be a rewarding way to connect with the earth. Year after year, a pair of blue jays nested in a tall tree behind their house. Grandma and Grandpa took such joy in watching the pair that they would sometimes offer the birds peanuts from the palms of their hands.<\/p>\n

I remember my grandmother explaining the importance of quiet, calm respect in nature. Learning to love and appreciate the beauty and creatures around us was a lesson they shared with my mother, who continues to share it with me.<\/p>\n

To ensure that the world has many future generations of nature lovers, it is valuable for parents and grandparents to teach children the value of the great outdoors.\u00a0This Grandparents Day (Sunday, September 9), there are many ways you can make great memories exploring the natural world with your grandparents or\u00a0<\/span>grandchildren:<\/p>\n