1. Frozen Sun Catchers
When the temps fall below freezing, these beautiful sun catchers can be made completely outdoors. All you need is some outdoor treasures like sticks, berries, or leaves to make a frozen sun catcher. Food coloring makes a pretty addition, too. When the temperature isn’t quite low enough, they can be frozen in the freezer, and then hung in the trees outside.
2. Bird Watching
Not all birds fly south for the winter. There are hundreds of migratory birds that make your backyard, parks, or sanctuaries home for the winter. From nesting bald eagles to Canadian geese, learn how to spot our feathered friends all winter long.
3. Campfire Cinnamon Rolls
Just about anything tastes better over a fire, and there is something magical about the smell of cinnamon wafting through the fresh air. All you need is a stick and some cinnamon roll dough to create the perfect campfire concoction.
4. Kindness Rocks
Instead of rainbows and sunshine, decorate a winter batch of kindness rocks with snowflakes and trees. You can leave them around the neighborhood or at a public park for others to find.
5. Animal Tracks
Take a walk in freshly covered snow and see if you can spot any animal tracks. See if you can identify rabbits, squirrels—or maybe even a fox. If there isn’t any snow around, kids also get a kick out of wilderness walks where you can try to find and identify scat.
6. Build a Campfire
That fire pit isn’t just for summer nights. Build one indoors if you have a fireplace, or dust off the snow on your outdoor fire pit. Cozy up with a mug of cocoa and let kids roast their own marshmallows, camp style.
7. Visit a National Park
Unlike their famous furry residents, our national parks do not hibernate in the winter. In fact, guests will enjoy smaller crowds and get to enjoy the beauty of these natural treasures. Before visiting a park, please check the park website to make sure it is open this winter.
8. Glow Stick Hunt
To set up a glow stick hunt, simply crack a glow stick, and place it into the snow, or behind rocks and trees. Once the sun goes down, head out, and see how many the kids can find.
9. Winter Scavenger Hunt
Download a copy of our outdoor scavenger hunt and make your own winter scavenger hunt. Add items like a mitten, pine cone, or animal tracks to get the kids outside and moving.
10. Winter Photography
Find the beauty in winter by looking at the landscape through a new lens. Photograph a winter day adventure, or just have fun examining the shape and texture of the leafless trees.