Nature Friend Magazine (Review)

You know you have something good in the mail when both kids and your husband are wrestling to look at it all at the same time!   As a matter of fact, it took several days before the August 2009 edition of Nature Friend Magazine made it's way into my possession.  (I mean really folks, it has MY name on the mailing label, does it not??)

In defense of my family, there was a valid reason for their hoarding keeping it for such a long time.  The magazine arrived the day after the girls found their first Cicada shell, and we had no clue what the creepy thing was.  But, as luck would have it, there on page 6 was a wonderful article and incredible photos of our dear friend the Cicada.  This of course is what started our current collection (39 shells, 2 dead adult cicadas and 1 shell shedding sighting).   

Nature Friend Magazine, now in its 27th year of publication, offers a variety  of opportunities for the reader to become involved.   Each month there is an art lesson called "You Can Draw".  After completing the lesson, your child can submit their drawing to hopefully be included in a later edition.  "Creation Close-Ups" is always looking for your nature photos.  "Nature Trails" is a feature allowing readers to submit stories and photos about activities they've enjoyed doing.  Each year there is a "Readers Issue" where the material cover-to-cover is submitted by readers.   "Pictures and Poems" welcomes nature-related poems and artwork. 

In edition to offering the readers opportunities to contribute, the magazine offers a wealth of information each month.  The science related "Learning by Doing" feature gives children the opportunity to do an experiment and/or activity to reinforce what they have learned from the magazine.  What kid doesn't love that???

My absolute favorite feature, besides its Creation viewpoint,  is the Study Guide that you can purchase along with your subscription.  This 8-12 page guide is mailed inside the center portion of the Nature Friends Magazine.  Included in the study guide are crossword puzzles; fill in the blanks; acrostic; true and false; photo critique and themed articles that can easily become your monthly or weekly nature study.   There are also "For You To Research" questions that challenges the student to study even deeper into the subject.   The study guide costs an additional $2 per month and is only available with a current subscription.

The website also offers a Homeschoolers Guide to Nature Friend; sample issues and lots of resources to further your studies.  You may also check out sample issues on the site.

The cost of Nature Friend Magazine is $36.00 per year (12 issues); with an additional $2 per issue for the Study Guide.   Readers signing up for a new subscription can save $3 off by entering the coupon code BLOG93 when ordering.

To learn more from the other Crew Mates, check out the Crew Blog!

Disclosure: This product was provided to our family for free as members of the 2009-2010 Old Schoolhouse Magazine Homeschool Crew. Reviews and opinions expressed in this blog are our own.