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August 05th, 2019

8/5/2019

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I believe this!
-and I believe that playing outside A LOT saved me.

40 Astounding Benefits of Outdoor Nature Play for Kids by Angela Pruess

Improves cognition and thinking
Increases focus
bolsters resilience against stress
Increases mood
Decreases anxiety
Builds confidence
Provides regulation sensory input for the nervous system
Builds mindfulness skills
Improves short term memory
Decreases anger
Reduces ADHD symptoms
Boosts confidence
Improved self-regulation skills

This article in the current issue of
Parents With Confidence

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This unique looking tree clearly has a story. Why is it like this? What happened?

5/30/2019

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A friend mentioned about the concept of "nurse logs" that led me to this site: https://sechttp://www.ingridscience.ca/node/185
I totally agree with this philosophy. More to come on the story about" Nurse logs."

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Excellent video about Beavers

9/28/2017

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More about BEAVERS!

5/4/2016

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Now that I am officially living on a beaver pond, I am even more fascinated with beavers, especially learning about how beneficial they can be in creating additional wetlands ( which are a good !) Here is a link to some really good information. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/beavers-8-things-know-about-natures-landscape-engineers

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June 25th, 2015

6/25/2015

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Accommodating a very young audience

A common issue for me as a puppeteer is when I have the opportunity to book a show but the audience has to include children under the age of 3. (Common in pre-schools) We KNOW that two year olds will not focus on a story for more that a few minutes. So here's what I have begun doing that usually makes everyone happy:

I arrange to invite the ones UNDER the age of 3 for a "pre-show glimpse" of about 10 to 15 minutes. (I play this by ear) They toddle in and sit down with their grown ups and I put on my mic and speak slowly in a near-whisper. I do a sort of quiet "show and tell" of the characters and a few main points of the story and then announce that they all live happily ever after. I am usually visible for this so I can look at them. They clap and I bow. "Quiet and gentle" holds their attention way better than loud and fast. (REALLY!!) I usually don't charge extra for this. It is worth it to me because I'd rather not have two year olds in my audience for 45 minutes!

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"Turtle's New Home" is steadily gaining popularity in schools.

4/28/2015

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It is always gratifying to be invited back for a repeat performance! Most of my shows in March were exactly that!
I just received this email today:
"I am emailing you to see if you could possibly do the puppet show "Turtle's New Home" for us again this year. The kids and the teachers have enjoyed it for the past 2 years and we were hoping that you could come visit us at the end of May or June. " -This is particularly important to me because the message is caring about habitats and encouraging interest in nature in general! Teachers love it because it is a special event for the students that is very engaging and very entertaining. It is also art (because I make everything) and I also researched and wrote the story. So it covers several bases!

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Puppetry in Environmental Education

3/12/2015

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Yesterday I attended the Massachusetts Environmental Education Society (M.E.E.S.) Conference in Worcester. It was inspiring and informative plus an opportunity to connect with so many like-minded people. I set up my entire staging for "Turtle's New Home" as an exhibit and had many good conversations about the effectiveness of puppetry when teaching just about anything. There were several impressive young students who have become leaders in their schools and towns for projects such as composting cafeteria scraps and starting a campaign to stop "idling" (of sitting vehicles) In this picture the puppets are being held by one of them and interacting with another exhibitor.

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The Best Stress Relief

5/6/2014

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I have just returned from a long walk in one of my favorite places. Its a former "nursery" where trees and shrubs were grown. It is, sadly, planned for "development." When I began walking , I had a knot in my chest. I felt stressed and anxious. This is what, in fact, brought me out on this walk today. I knew I needed this perfect connection with nature. As I walked, the knot began to soften until it was gone.

I wear a vest with pockets. In my pockets I carry my car keys, my camera and my cell phone. Around my neck are my binoculars. In this way I am ready to ramble about until the sun sets. Then I turn and head back to my car. This makes me supremely happy and content. This never fails me. After an hour or so, I begin to feel like I could dissolve into my surroundings. That I could stand and evaporate . I feel such peaceful bliss.

The scene above is early into my usual route. The pond on the left is part of the nursery irrigation system. There are many little ponds like this one that I think are connected . It was quiet as I passed it on my way in. As I was on my way out, at about 8:00 the Spring Peepers were calling! I stopped to listen and noticed also a beautiful yellow warbler. It was darting about catching insects.

On the side of the pond that is visible is also a place where Coyotes apparently stop to leave their mark. I see "scat" in various stages of disintegration.

The little roadway you see is one of many. This is what the property is like. Lots of these very appealing roads leading past so many things to look at.

I rarely see a person . I almost never see a vehicle or house.

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March 24th, 2014

3/24/2014

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Upcoming Public Performances of "Turtle's New Home" :

April 3, 4, 5 and 6 , 2014 (Thursday through Sunday) at the Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline MA. Thursday and Friday at 10:30 and on Saturday and Sunday the shows are at 1:00 and 3:00. Tickets are $12.00 . The Theater website is http://puppetshowplace.org/ phone 617-731-6400.

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Playing outside without “equipment” -why it is so valuable!

11/16/2013

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When we play, we are giving ourselves permission to explore, to imagine, to make many many decisions about what we could do next.
When playing outside – without prepared and preplanned “play equipment” a child will improvise. A space between two trees can become a house. A stick can become a tool. More sticks can be leaned against the tree to create something to go in. Still more sticks can define a road-way to go to a friend’s house of sticks. A spot on the tree can become a doorbell. Leaves become salad.

This play can take a little more time to get started, but once begun, the ideas keep coming and children LOVE this.
On the other hand, an adult-designed playground has more immediate intrigue for the young child but the possibilities are much more limited.
So, provide your child with a little grove of trees and the possibilities are endless!

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Deborah Costine

Thanks for stopping in!
Since I am as interested in nature as I am in puppetry, my thoughts here will be about both. My old house in a little neighborhood along the river provide me with daily opportunities for enjoying nature. I have a garden,two apple trees (which I love to climb and prune) plus a bit more lawn than I'd like. I plant various shrubs and things to create pathways. From the back of my studio I can look almost directly down at the river. There is almost always someone paddling by; Mr Beaver, Ms Muskrat, The Otter twins- Nellie and MInnie, plus lots of ducks and geese - and the occasional human.

I believe this!-and I believe that playing outside A LOT saved me.

Accommodating a very young audience

Upcoming Public Performances of "Turtle's New Home" :

Deborah Costine

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I believe this!
-and I believe that playing outside A LOT saved me.