17555_planting_bulbs_in_fall.jpg - In fall, families find outdoor projects a good way to reconnect kids with nature. A fun fall project for kids is planting spring-blooming tulip and daffodil bulbs, where the cycles of nature become obvious. Older youngsters like to be part of the decision-making process, and when they make genuine decisions, they are much more likely to stay interested, too. "Most people, including youth, get excited about gardening when they get to 'direct traffic' a bit more, so to speak," says Marcia Eames-Sheavly, an expert in horticultural education who serves as educational coordinator for www.thebulbproject.org. "Young people who are encouraged to take ownership of a project are more involved, they learn more and retain more -- and they're more likely to want to repeat the experience." For more flower bulb ideas, see www.bulb.com.
