These pocket field guides were created, not as an exhaustive inventory of every natural organism at local parks, but rather, a beginner’s guide to familiarize yourself with the things around you. Perhaps you’ve visited these parks countless times because you love the beautiful trees and the birdsong. But have you ever stopped to wonder what those trees are? What bird is making that call? This guide is here to help you learn the names of just a few of the trees, plants, birds, and insects you might find at the park. And, once you know the names of these things, you’ll notice that it’s harder to pass them by without a quick hello, as if you were greeting an old friend.

Noticing nature is the first step to becoming a naturalist. With an observant spirit and a willingness to step outside, you are already well on your way!

Like the great educator Charlotte Mason once said, “We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.”