Featured Activities
Fairy / Elf Houses
A favorite summer nature activity, and a popular one for all ages (parents included) are making fairy and/or elf houses. Reading a book on fairy houses is a good way to stir creativity, then collect as many twigs, leaves, grass, dandelions, stones/pebbles & other natural materials within reach & get started (without picking or disturbing wildlife when possible!). The best way to build is against the base of a tree, downed log, or under a small bush. They can be done free standing, but part of the fun is venturing into the woods and finding a cozy nook to get started on. A great book to read is Fairy Houses by Tracy Kane. Another one of her books that is equally interesting is Fairy Houses... Everywhere!
Fairy Houses are a fun, creative way to spend time together outdoors as a family. It appeals to all ages and both genders. For older boys it may be more enticing to use the term “elf houses.”
Other books that are a fun way to nurture the idea of imagining life under 1 inch are any of Elsa Martin Beskow's books, Children of the Forest, Peter in Blueberry Land, etc.
Summer Scavenger Hunt
Get your kids outdoors this summer and “scavenging” for treasures in nature (or the backyard). Armed with a list of items to find, they’ll eagerly look at the world around them with more observant eyes. Nature watching will be exciting as they collect specimens, take pictures of animals, and do fun activities. This is a great afternoon project for group of kids, or it can be expanded into a summer-long family project with siblings and parents working together to create fun displays with the results of their summer’s explorations.
Your scavenger hunt can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish to make it.
Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Things to See
Insects, such as a butterfly, dragonfly, grasshopper, and beetle.
A spider web.
Leaves from an oak or maple tree.
Frogs, toads, and lizards.
Wildflowers.
Mushrooms.
Wild berries (do not eat them unless they've been identified as non-poisonous!)
Find feathers or abandoned birds' nests.
If you're by the ocean, look for seashells and seaweed.
Things to Collect
Pinecones, dandelions, seeds.
Encourage identification skills by having the kids find different types of leaves or flowers native to your area. (Look for regional field guides in your local library or on www.enature.com, or do an internet search for the "native plants" of your state.)
Collect ferns, moss, pinecones, seeds, thorns, and other botanical specimens.
Catch butterflies, capture a ladybug, dragonfly, or other insects, find a cocoon or chrysalis. Click here to see an article for more information on butterfly-hatching instructions.
Look for fossils, colored rocks, quartz, or flat skipping stones.
Find a temporary "pet," such as a frog, snail, or grasshopper. (You should let them go after you've observed them.)
Look carefully for something "camouflaged," such as a walking stick insect or a moth that blends in with its surroundings.
If you live on the coast, include things like seashells, seaweed, small crustaceans, and small pieces of driftwood.
Things to Do
Go wading, swim in a lake, climb a tree, go on a picnic.
Draw a flower, make a dandelion chain, make a leaf rubbing.
Get up early to watch the sun rise, write a description of a sunset.
Go hiking, build a shelter, find your way with a compass.
Look at pond water under a microscope, go stargazing with binoculars or a telescope.
Record a birdsong or other animal sounds.
Find a chrysalis and watch a butterfly emerge from it.
Go to the zoo and have each child find a fact about their favorite animal.
Keep a nature journal for writing descriptions of activities and drawing pictures.
Things to Photograph
Birds at a bird bath, birdfeeder, or bird house.
Squirrels or other small animals.
Animal tracks: if you have time, you can also make a plaster cast (more info).
Sunset or sunrise.
Waterfall, mountain, boulder, lake, beach, or swamp (with someone in the picture!)
A sibling or friend doing one of the activities listed under "things to do."
Unusual sights like a tree root curled around a rock.
The discovery (plant, animal, landscape) that amazed you the most.
Other Tips for Your Scavenger Hunt
Make a Display
Encourage kids to keep a nature notebook with a record of everything they saw on their nature explorations (more info). Their notebook can include pressed flowers and leaves, pictures they took with a disposable camera, written descriptions, drawings, and more. Let them display three-dimensional objects in a display case or keep them in their own decorated cardboard nature box (more info). Items such as seashells and rocks can make an attractive decoration in a glass jar. Insects can be pinned and labeled to be kept either on a piece of corrugated cardboard, or in a more permanent and attractive exhibit case. After hunting all summer, they should have quite a satisfactory collection!
Nature Tools
Before setting out on a nature expedition, gather a few important tools from around the house:
Plastic bags - bring home specimens without making a mess.
Camera - take pictures of what can't be collected with a digital or disposable camera.
Notebook and pens or colored pencils - make notes and drawings so you can remember what you see.
Jars - transport insects and other small critters, or use to display rocks and shells
Snack - hunting can work up an appetite!
Sunscreen and bug repellent - don't get burned and bitten.
Baby wipes or hand sanitizer - clean up when you get grimy.
Mud Painting
Preschool
Tools: paintbrush, mud
In a bucket or other container, mix water with some clean dirt or earth (w/o stones or other tiny particles); keep the mud thin. Give your child a paintbrush and have her dip it into the mud and draw pictures or write words on the sidewalk. Be prepared: she will most likely use herself as a canvas as well! Your child will have fun hosing her creations off later, or you can leave them for the next rainfall.
Variations:
Mud Fingerpainting - Skip the paintbrush and prepared mud and allow your child to mix her own concoction and fingerpaint instead of using a brush. Provide washable toys she can “paint” with the mud.
Paint the House - (paintbrush & water) Let your child paint the outside of the house or sidewalk. If your child is older, put some soap into the water to make her feel more like a helper.
Backyard Picnic
Elementary
Tools: blanket, picnic (finger) food, outdoor toys
You don’t have to trek to the park to have a picnic. Set up a picnic in your own backyard: Spread out a blanket, set up the goodies, and bring out the balls and other outdoor toys to complete the fun. In warmer weather, turn on the sprinkler or fill the kiddy pool for some water play.
Variations:
Watch the Sunset – Take a blanket and a special snack and go to a place where you can watch the sunset. Bring crayons and paper and have your child try to capture the colors of the sunset in a drawing. Even better, sketch along with them!
Nature Walk
All Ages
Tools: notebook, pencil, field guides (optional)
Spring is one of the best times to take a nature walk. Spring wildflowers are little sprouts of inspiration for longer and warmer days. Take a nature walk and try to notice as many different types of trees, bugs, flowers and birds as you can. Do this every couple of days and take note of the changes: melting snow, birds returning and the changing stages of wildflowers. You don’t need to devote much time, 15-20 minutes of fresh air is better than none. Take a long an easy snack & water, chances are you might decide to stay out a little longer! Keep a list of what you see. If you like, bring colored pencils and let your child draw the things she observes. If you can’t identify something, write down the item’s description and your child’s questions to look up online, or better - on your next trip to the library.
Some Places to Hike
Bear River Natural Area (Petoskey)
North Central Michigan College Natural Area (Petoskey)
Round Lake Nature Preserve (Petoskey/Harbor Rd., across from Petoskey State Park)
Petoskey State Park (Petoskey/Harbor Rd.)
McCune Nature Preserve (Maxwell Rd., Petoskey)
Skyline Trail (Brewbaker Rd., Petoskey) *new* more info
Headlands County Park (Mackinaw City)
Sturgeon Bay Dunes (Sturgeon Bay Tr., Bliss)
