science

The Finders Series Best Features and Secrets of Success

Megan Wells September 6, 2024 1 AdventureKEEN, Be Well. Be Outdoors., birding, Flowers, for families, foraging, Hiking, Nature, Outdoor Activities, Outdoor Pursuits, Outdoor Skills, Rocky Mountains, science, Travel News & Updates, Upcoming

The Nature Study Guides Finders series has helped nature enthusiasts identify plants, trees, birds, mammals, and other organisms for more than five decades.

These gems are getting some upgrades this October, including updates to range maps, scientific names and families, icons, and design. To learn more, read the previous blog Timeless Treasures: The Everlasting Appeal of Nature Study Guides Finders Books. The Finders are known for three distinct features: size, dichotomous keys, and longevity—partially due to their affordable price point. These components contribute to the great success of this series over the years.

SIZE MATTERS

When out on the trails, the amount, weight, and size of items brought along matters significantly to any hiker or outdoors enthusiast. Carrying heavy or bulky items can quickly become cumbersome and detract from the enjoyment of the journey. This is why one of the greatest characteristics of the titles in the Finders series is their compact, lightweight design. These booklets measure only 4×6 inches. Many users report that they can easily slip them into their jacket or pants pockets before exploring the trails. Additionally, they fit perfectly into the outer pockets of backpacks. The glossy covers also contribute to the ease of quick retrieval, making them a practical, convenient choice for anyone looking to travel light while staying prepared.

THE KEYS ARE KEY

Each book is organized using a dichotomous key, consisting of a series of statements or questions, each offering two distinct choices. These choices lead the user down different paths, depending on the characteristics of the organism being identified. By systematically narrowing down these choices, readers can eventually arrive at the correct identification of the organism. Educators and naturalists appreciate the guides for their organization, which encourages examining the structure and families of plants. The Finders for birds and mammals are organized by taxonomy (classification via characteristics).

Inside page from Winter Tree Finder by May T. Watts

Inside page from Winter Tree Finder by May Theilgaard Watts and Tom Watts

THEY’RE REASONABLY PRICED

The first book in the Finders series, Tree Finder, was published in 1939 by May Theilgaard Watts, followed by her Flower Finder in 1955. Many consumers eventually replace their original copies because of wear and tear from use (some have enjoyed them for over 40 years!). The 1939 edition of Tree Finder was initially priced at a modest 25 cents, and for many years, it was priced at just $5.95. As the series continues to thrive, new editions are set to be released at the accessible price of $7.95. This practical price point has been integral to the series’ ongoing success, ensuring that it remains a beloved resource for both seasoned naturalists and budding nature lovers alike—in 2024 and beyond.

old copy of Tree Finder from 1939 for 25 cents.

NEW EDITIONS RELEASING IN 2024/25

The new editions for 12 of the Finders will be available on October 8th wherever books are sold. These editions are eagerly anticipated, as they feature a cohesive new look that adds a nostalgic touch to their appearance. With their attractive design, it will be tempting for outdoors enthusiasts to purchase all of these books. Additionally, there will be bundles available that are grouped by region or subject matter, providing buyers with convenient options to expand their collections. The rest of the Finders will be released in 2025, and they will also receive similar visually appealing updates to ensure continuity in the series. Keep an eye out for these exciting releases!

A NOD TO SUSTAINABILITY

Beyond the practical benefits, the Nature Study Guides Finders series also aligns with the ethos of sustainability—a core value for many nature enthusiasts and environmentalists. The compact size and durable quality of the guides ensure minimal waste, and their longevity means fewer replacements over time. Investing in these guides is not just a step toward becoming a better naturalist, but it’s also a step towards a greener planet.

Timeless Treasures: The Everlasting Appeal of Nature Study Guides Finders Books

Megan Wells June 14, 2024 1 Backpacking, Be Well. Be Outdoors., birding, Birds, Hiking, mushrooming, Mushrooms, Nature, Outdoor Pursuits, Outdoor Skills, science, Travel News & Updates, Wildlife

Discover why these guidebooks have become staples that continue to thrive in their popularity with nature lovers.

Environmental Education: The History of Nature Study Guides

May Theilgaard Watts, the daughter of a landscape gardener, attended the University of Chicago for botany and ecology (graduating in 1918) and later attended the Art Institute of Chicago. May became involved with a group that worked on preserving the natural landscape in the Midwest. In the 1940s, she became a full-time naturalist at the Morton Arboretum, where she developed an education program that included classes in gardening, nature literature, art, botany, ecology, creative writing, and geology.

In this role, she created the first Nature Study Guides for her students, who were, at first, teachers. The classes were such a big success that they were requested by Girl Scout leaders, homemakers, and families. The groups continued to grow; soon, doctors, dentists, botany professors, nursery workers, farmers, nurses, principals, and Boy Scouts were in attendance.

Today, these guides also have a wide range of audiences, including professionals, academics, hobbyists, and children. The guides have remained invaluable resources for decades.

Staying Relevant: How These Guides Adapt to Changing Environments

Nature Study Guides have been a favorite resource for more than 60 years and continue to be revised and updated. The most recent changes include updates to the range maps. The hardiness zones have also been adjusted due to climate change, and these details offer more accuracy. The scientific names and families of particular species have also been corrected, and new ones have been added.

The most noticeable recent change is the look; however, they remain recognizable as the classic guides that people have come to trust. While the books cover different regions, they are all part of the series, most using dichotomous keys. Along with the outside look, the icons inside have been tweaked for easier recognition.

backpack showing the size of the Mushroom Finder and a picture of the new cover of the Winter Tree Finder.

Testimonials: Lasting Stories of Connections with Nature

“This Nature Study Series is hard to beat for the person wishing to know plants and understand the differences in physical characteristics. All this comes at a very reasonable cost.”

“I like the whole series of these books. They use deduction to figure out what you’re looking at— be it flower, tree, or animal.”

“I love these mini reference books! They take up very little space on the shelf and are lightweight enough to throw in a day pack, which is much easier than trying to find data or see a screen on a smartphone while you’re out hiking or picnicking.”

Guidebook Gems: Highlighting the Most Popular Editions

Tree Finder by May Theilgaard Watts is the most popular book in the series. People pass it down from generation to generation or purchase it for their kids and grandkids. The range of users is diverse. Below are a few consumer reviews to highlight the trusted guide.

“Even the pros use this book. I’m a certified arborist with 19 years in the green industry. This was one of the books I used to lock down my tree ID skills. I have also used this book to teach future arborists, as well as Boy Scouts and Scout leaders.”

“I had one of these 50 years ago when I studied in elementary school and have always liked it. It makes identifying trees fun!”

“As a certified forester, this is exactly the book we used at West Virginia University for ‘keying’ trees. It’s a great beginner’s book for tree identification. I’d highly recommend it.”

“I first read this in high school for my leaf collection project. I have since purchased this book for my children. I want them to be able to identify trees they ask about on our hikes. It is a wonderful book for all ages.”

Additional Nature Education: New Books by Expert Authors

While the Nature Study Guide series has many classics, two new books are being added this October. Bird Nest Finder, by Dorcas Miller, helps readers identify more than 70 species of birds and their nests. Dorcas is a well-known expert and author of five other guides in the series. Similar to other books in the group, it uses a dichotomous key to help identify aboveground nests by answering questions about their type, size, material, and location.

Another new book in the series is Mushroom Finder. This guidebook provides a dichotomous key to identify fungi by answering questions about the location; appearance; or shape, such as the cap, spores, and stem. The step-by-step instructions can help readers identify more than 300 types of mushrooms that are at least 5mm tall or wide, have tangible thickness, and are fresh. The author is Jacob Kalichman, an expert in his field and a USDA plant pathologist.

Be sure to check out more information on this series at http://naturestudy.com/

Stargazing: Get to Know the Night Sky

Travis Bryant October 20, 2020 Astronomy, Family Activities, Mars, moon, Night Sky, planets, Saturn, Saturn Rings, science, space telescopes, stargazing, Venus

If you’re stuck at home, you might, like millions of others, find yourself wanting a new hobby. Stargazing is a free, rewarding way to Be Well, Be Outdoors that you can start tonight—assuming the clouds cooperate. Better yet, you don’t need a fancy telescope or a lot of gear to get started, though binoculars and a comfy lawn chair don’t hurt.

Large black and white image of the Moon at night.

What You’ll Need

Binoculars or a Telescope
A Smartphone
Bug Spray
A Lawn Chair
A Field Guide
Stellarium (stellarium.org), a free virtual planetarium

What To Do

Stargazing is always better if you do a little prep work first. First, on the day you want to observe, check the weather to make sure it’s clear. (You’ll soon find yourself loathing clouds). Start with the moon and the planets. They are very bright, easy to find, and they make fascinating targets for binoculars or a small telescope.

Download Stellarium and enter your location to find when, and in which direction, the moon or planets will be visible. Also scope out your yard or observing area to spot where you’ll have the best vantage points.

Your east-facing view, say, might be blocked by a neighbor’s house or trees across the way, so find the best place to observe from ahead of time. For more background, peruse a field guide to get curated information an app can’t offer.

When it’s time to start observing, set up a lawn chair, slap on some bug spray, and bust out your binoculars or, if you have one, a telescope. It’s handy to have binoculars for everyone observing, and be sure everyone knows how to use them before you start stargazing. Otherwise, it can make stargazing a frustrating experience, especially for kids.

Even if you live in an area with a lot of light pollution, our nearest neighbors—the moon and the planets—always put on a good show. The moon is especially rewarding when viewed with binoculars.

For the best view, try to observe when the moon is in the first quarter or third quarter phase, and look at the “terminator” (the line dividing the moon between the illuminated half and its darker portion). There you’ll get the best contrast and can see the most detail. It’s also fun to look at a map of the moon ahead of time to get an idea of where astronauts have actually walked around! Google Moon (google.com/moon) is great for this.

If you’re patient and fiddle with the settings on your phone, you can even snap some pretty great photos by holding your phone over the eyepiece of a telescope or holding it against a binocular eyepiece (though a tripod helps immeasurably).

The Planets

When you’re viewing the planets with the unaided eye, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will look like bright, unblinking stars. (The other planets are trickier to spot or require more advanced gear or perfect skies.)

Through binoculars, you can see the planet’s color more clearly, and you can even see objects such as Jupiter’s moons.

Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn in the night sky.

Through even a small telescope, the planets come alive. Don’t expect to see pristine images like those created by the Hubble Space Telescope, but if you’ve never seen the planets with your own eyes, it’s amazing once they come into focus for the first time.

Through a telescope, you can see Jupiter’s bands, Saturn’s rings, Mars and its famous red color, and Venus’s phases.

Taking photos of planets through the eyepiece of a telescope is tricky, but it’s a lot of fun to try. Even a blurry photo of Saturn feels like an accomplishment. (It’s 910 million miles away, after all.)

Once you get the photo bug, you’ll quickly learn that there are all sorts of smartphone adapters for telescopes and binoculars, and you can also start looking up deep-sky objects (think galaxies, star clusters, etc.) to observe.

Bonus:

To really wow your family, point out the International Space Station as it passes overhead. NASA runs a website called Spot the Station (spotthestation.nasa.gov) where you can plug in your zip code to find sighting opportunities, including when to look, how high up in the sky, and what general direction. The station will look like a very bright “planet” or “star” that is moving quickly across the sky. If you’re prepared ahead of time, you can even snap pictures of it as it moves overhead.

A distant image of the International Space Station in the night sky.

If you are interested in a field guide, check out Night Sky: A Field Guide to the Constellations by award-winning author Jonathan Poppele or 101 Amazing Sights of the Night Sky by George Moromisato. For more stories about nature, sign up for our newsletter now!

Photography: Courtesy of AdventureKeen author and colleague Brett Ortler

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