With the abundance of snow this weekend, we thought we would share some good activities to get the kids or the whole family outside to enjoy the fun and beauty of the wintry natural world. Enjoy!
(Excerpted from 101 Nature Activities—a Sanborn Western Camps guide of great activities to get kids playing in the outdoors.)
62. Snowflake Capture: You can make “snowflake impressions” by catching snowflakes on cold glass sprayed with cold hair spray, and then view the results under a magnifying glass.
63. Winter Scavenger Hunt:
•seven different colors
•something that is red
•something that is brown
•something that is very old
•a track? Who do you think made it
•a hole dug by an animal? Why do you think it dug the hole?
•a tunnel in the snow
•a snowflake
•an icicle
•brown leaves still hanging from a tree
•signs of insects (rolled leaves, galls, leaf mines)
•an abandoned birds nest
•a squirrels nest of leaves?
•a hole in a tree where an animal might shelter from bad weather?
•five different kinds of leaves? (Don’t forget evergreens)
•three tree buds waiting for spring
•holes in tree Who made them woodpeckers, insects, someone else?
64. Sugar Snow: A tradition that dates back over 200 years this is a fun way to create a winter treat. For detailed directions go to www.massmaple.org.
65. Winter Nature Sketchbook/Journal : Buy an inexpensive artist’s sketch pad or book and begin a winter nature diary. Each time you take a walk, observe something up close in nature. Draw the item, then write down descriptive details and date the entry. Continue observations and entries throughout theyear as seasons and locations change. This is especially fun if you visit the same area year after year you can compare your observations over time.
66. Icicle Hunt: Take a hike to look for icicles. How many can you find? Where are they located? Look at them up close. Why are some longer than others?
67. Winter Time Zoo: Take a hike through the snow to look for tracks. Then have children make snow sculptures of the animals whose tracks they saw.
68. Snow Tag: Just like any tag game snow tag can have lots of variations. (Especially this weekend…your backyard snow Superbowl might be the game of the season!)
Tags: Children in Nature, Sanborn Western Camps, Snow Day Activities, summer camp, Winter Activities
[...] There are so many people affected by snow right now – roads closed, airports closed, schools closed, work closed, have to shovel, stores closed. Instead of looking at the negatives, think about all the fun that you can have in the snow. We just posted these ideas about Snow Storm Fun. [...]
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