This week, Trail Mamas set out for an adventure at Clemmons Educational State Forest to explore the Talking Rock trail—and it turned out to be one of those magical days where nature showed off and learning came alive.

The Talking Rock trail is always a gem, but this hike was extra special because we paired it with a hands-on nature journal and sound map activity for the kids. We talked about what makes an insect an insect (hint: 6 legs and 3 body parts!). As we wandered along the path, we found ourselves slowing down to notice the details. And wow—nature didn’t disappoint! We spotted mushrooms in all shapes and colors, several American Toads (which everyone took turns gently holding), a Black and Yellow Millipede, a wriggly earth work and even a speedy Five-Lined Skink that darted up a tree.

Halfway through our hike, we stopped to create our

After our hike we filled our nature journals with sketches of creatures, rubbings and taped in our special leaves. We also completed a sound maps—a special way to connect with the forest using just our sense of hearing. The kids sat quietly, listening for the unique sounds around them: leaves rustling in the breeze, distant bird calls, the faint hum of insects. They marked these sounds on their maps, building a visual record of what they heard in that moment of stillness. We even noticed sounds that were man made including, people talking, cars, and dogs in the forest. It was a beautiful reminder that exploring nature isn’t just about what we see—it’s also about slowing down to truly experience it.

Clemmons Educational State Forest is the perfect spot for family-friendly hiking and nature learning. The Talking Rock trail in particular offers an easy walk with plenty of interesting stops for kids, plus the bonus of interactive forest education features.

If you haven’t yet tried combining your hike with a nature journal or sound map activity, give it a go next time you hit the trail. It adds a whole new layer of discovery—and creates keepsakes your kids can look back on to remember their adventures.

Here’s to many more hikes where the forest has as much to say as the Talking Rocks themselves. 🌿