In a message dated 12/20/1999 10:51:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Care to post any pointers on nature study to RangerNet for us?
Having taught Nature Study (my favorite subject) many times to both boys in
our outpost and to big 'boys' at NTC/LTC, these are some things that I feel
are important about communicating the presence of God through Nature Study
beyond just having displayed samples of leaves, insects, flowers, tree bark,
rocks, astronomy, etc.
1. "For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities--His
eternal power, His divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood
from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)
God's nature is trumpeted by what He's created, even though creation is still
under the curse. Nature study (science) verifies what the Bible has already
said.
2. It's important to get the boys out of and away from what man has created
(concrete & steel buildings, Nintendo, VCRs) and into what God has created
(the great outdoors). We all are aware that when a boy is out in nature in a
camping experience that his heart is much more receptive to the things of the
Lord. What they see in the city is what man created: But get them outdoors
into the country and they'll see what God hath wraught.
3. Many of our boys go to public schools where the satanic doctrine of
evolution is taught and openly embraced. I use nature study to 'unlearn'
them from what the world teaches and show them what God's Word says about the
creation of the world. There's a lot of authors with books out in Christian
bookstores (in the 'Apologetics' section) that supports the formation of
earth's geologic features through the Noahic flood, the young earth theory
(based on dozens of different proofs), dinosaurs coexisting with man (maybe
even today!), the fantastic and surprising results of the Mt. St. Helen's
eruption, etc. May be interesting reading for some of you as well!
4. If you are still in buildings for meetings, use the net. I've taken my
laptop into the meeting and punched up some very interesting sites. A
favorite of mine is the 'Astronomy Picture of the Day' from NASA's JPL site.
Others would be Creation Reasearch Institute, Doctor Dino, etc.
5. Use nature based games to enhance learning. E.g., divide Trailblazers up
by patrols and have them find and identify 10 different leaves/trees on the
property, quickest time determining the winning patrol.
6. Buy a couple of preserved frogs (at a biological supply house) and let
the boys dissect them! Identify the parts. They'll be talking about that
meeting for months!
7. Microscopes are good for an entire meeting of complete interest. Have a
few prepared slides, and have the boys scavenge outside to find other things
to look at under the scope.
8. Anyone can teach nature study; it is not hard. No one should be
self-convinced that they are 'nature study illiterate'. Go buy a book and
read it! There's plenty of good guides out there (Audubon, Peterson, etc.).
If you are willing to learn, God is faithful to help you.
Steve Dennis
(Full Quiver)
Pittsfield, MA
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