Bird Feeder



Bird Feeder

Materials you will need:

  • Empty toilet paper roll

  • Craft stick

  • String or twine

  • Peanut butter or shortening

  • Bird seed; Paper plate

  • Knife

Instructions: Cut a slit in both sides of roll half way down the roll. Punch holes near top opposite each other. Put craft stick through slits. Cover with peanut butter or shortening. Roll in bird seed.

Plant Starter

Plant Starter

Materials you will need:

  • Cardboard egg carton

  • Seeds you wish to plant

  • Potting soil

Instructions: Fill each section of the egg carton with dirt. Put seeds in dirt according to packet directions. Set in sunny area. Water daily

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunt

Materials you will need:

  • List of items to look for outdoors or inside

  • Pipe cleaner (chenille stem) Meijer

  • Plastic beads (Meijer has them)

Instructions: Use the list look for the items. For every item put bead on pipe cleaner. When finished make it a bracelet

Bird Songs

Bird Songs

Find a quiet spot to sit and count how many different bird songs you hear.

Plant Paint

Plant Paint

Materials you will need:

  • Finger paint

  • Large white construction paper

  • Items from outdoors (leaves, plants, moss, etc)

  • Paper plates

Instructions: Pour paint onto paper plates. Dip items in paint and lay on paper. Hang up to dry

Stained Glass Chalk Art

Stained Glass Chalk Art

Materials you will need:

  • Masking tape

  • Sidewalk chalk

Instructions: Design stained glass shapes with tape on sidewalk. Color in areas with chalk

Bird's Nest

Bird’s Nest

Collect items from outside such as sticks, leaves, grass, mud, string. Form into a nest

Binoculars

Binoculars

Materials You will need:

  • Two empty toilet paper rolls

  • Crayons, markers

  • tape

  • paint

  • wrapping paper

  • glitter

Instructions: Decorate toilet paper rolls. Tape rolls together

Fallen Log

Fallen Log

Materials you will need:

  • Craft sticks

  • Tweezers

  • Plastic gloves

  • Small container

  • Magnifying Glass

Instructions: Roll or pick up log. Use sticks or tweezers to dig or stir up the soil. See how many critters you can find. Put them in the container to examine with magnifying glass. Return critters to the dirt and put log back

Pet Rocks

Pet Rocks

Materials you will need:

  • Paint

  • markers

  • glitter

  • cloth scraps

  • Small to medium rocks (the smoother the better)

Instructions: Decorate Rocks. If you want your rock to be a surprise for someone, add a message to someone who might find your rock and put it outside somewhere where people walk by, like a nature trail at the Preserve.

Pressed Flowers

Pressed Flowers

Materials you will need:

  • Wax paper

  • Iron

  • Flowers or plants or leaves

Instructions: Place flowers/plants/leaves between pieces of wax paper. Put iron on low. Press wax paper with iron

Fairy Castle

Fairy Castle

Materials you will need:

  • Tree stump

  • Items from nature (plants, leaves, moss, seeds, berries, buds)

  • Clay or play dough

Instructions: Locate a stump in woods or make a village with sand and branches. Use items from nature to create a fairy castle

Nature Art


Nature Art

Materials you will need:

  • Items from nature

  • Glue

  • Paint

  • markers

  • yarn

  • string

  • seeds

  • construction paper

Instructions: Use items from nature to create pictures, animals, mobiles, murals, insects

Wind Catcher

Wind Catcher

Materials you will need:

  • Two sturdy branches

  • Twine

  • Items from nature

Instructions: Tie two branches together to make an X. Attach items to sticks with twine. Hang outside so it can blow in the wind

Walking Stick

Walking Stick

Materials you will need:

  • Large stick tall enough for walking with

  • Art materials (paint, markers, cloth scraps, yarn, feathers, beads)

  • Glue

Instructions: Smooth branch. Paint or color branch. Attach materials as decorations. Go for a walk. The Preserve nature trails are great for walking!

Nature Portraits

Nature Portraits

Materials you will need:

  • Items from nature

  • Glue

  • Construction paper

  • Crayons or markers

Instructions: Use the items from nature to create a family portrait.

Dandelian Blow Painting

Dandelion Blow Painting

Materials you will need:

  • Paint

  • Glue

  • White corrugated cardboard

  • Plastic spoon

Instructions: Make a puddle of paint in the center of the cardboard. Squeeze some glue in center of paint. Using spoon spread glue and paint around cardboard leaving margin around edges. Take board outside and look for dandelions that have gone to seed. Hold dandelion in front of cardboard and gently blow seeds onto cardboard. Let dry

Mud Pie Creations

Mud Pie Creations

Materials you will need:

  • Water

  • Old pan or pie plate

  • Old spoon

  • Items from nature

Instructions: Dig a hole in the dirt. Gradually add water and mix in dirt. When right consistency put in pan and decorate with nature items

Nature in a Jar

Nature in a Jar

Materials you will need:

  • Large jar with lid

  • Items from nature

Instructions: Put sand or grass in bottom of jar. Go on a nature walk at the Nature Preserve, woods, park, beach, or neighborhood. As you walk, pick up interesting items and place them in the jar. When you get home review your walk by looking at items in your jar. Rearrange to make it the way you want it.

Stories From Nature

Stories From Nature

Materials you will need:

  • 3-5 items from nature

  • Any other items needed to tell a story

Instructions: Collect items from nature. Create a story adding any other items you need to tell the story. Tell your story in person or record it and share it with others you think would enjoy it.