This year, more so than other years, we will be spending time outside each day. The only way we can get together with friends right now is to do it all outside. That means we need better rain and winter gear, somewhere to take shelter if it really starts to pour down rain, and most of all, we need a list of ideas to inspire creativity outside.
Nature mandala:
A mandala is a circular creation with patterns and colors added in rings around a central shape. To make your own, clear a space so you can have the dirt and ground as your background. Go on a walk with a basket or bag to gather some interesting pieces of nature to use in your creation. It is important to keep these items natural so they will decay and go back to the earth instead of polluting. Keep in mind that each ring you add will require more pieces than the ring before it. You might have to go gather more items as you work!
Choose leaves, cones, rocks, shells, lichen, moss, berries, bark, branches- anything nature provides that catches your eye. Place one item in the center of your space, then add a ring of another item around the center. Keep working, watching your mandala grow! Think about color and pattern as you add items. Maybe you could alternate a red leaf with a green leaf for one ring, or place pieces of birch bark under each bunch of red berries.
Look at Andy Goldsworthy’s work for inspiration and ideas!
Dirt Painting:
Harvest some soil or dirt from your sit spot or your garden and place in a cup or bowl. Add a little water, swirl around and use an old brush or small fir branch to use the dirt as paint. Try your fingers! And if the weather is nice, try your toes! Paint on a tree trunk, a piece of paper, a slab of concrete.
Dirt Potion:
Have you ever used a bucket of water to make a nature potion? Start with a scoop of dirt and then go for a walk to find more natural materials. Can you find a cone and pretend it is magic? Some berries that can add spice? A perfect stirring stick? Pretend you are making a potion or a medicine and add to it each day. When you are finished, make sure to find a place to pour it out where the contents can compost back to soil.
Fairy House/Gnome Tunnel:
We love to build woodland houses! We pretend they are for fairies or gnomes or other teeny creatures. One time we found a lady bug living in a little house we built. Use big pieces of bark, small branches, cones and leaves to make a structure. Moss makes a beautiful soft floor for the house, small leaves can make a path. Acorn caps are great little cups or plates, tiny cones make pretend food. Exercise your imagination!
Dig into the dirt to make a small tunnel for imaginary woodland creatures to burrow in. What kinds of animals live underground? What could you make for them so they can be cozy and comfortable in their burrow?
Go back inside and get crafty! We have woodland house kits available to get you started, or look around your house for items you can use to make fun additions to your imaginary houses.
Look for Tracks:
Can you find any animals tracks? Is there a place nearby that gets muddy? Check out Vashon Nature Center’s blog post about animals tracks and find a link to learn more!
Dirt Graph:
Choose a place where it is safe to do a little digging. Get a shovel and a bucket, a piece of paper and clipboard, and a garbage back or large plastic container or tray. We are going to find out what is in one shovel-full of dirt!
Scoop with your shovel and put what you find in the bucket. Move to a flat space where you can sit and work for a while. Dump the bucket onto a large tray or plastic bag and start sifting through to organize the contents. Rocks can go in one pile, sticks or leaves in their own spot. Make notes about what you find! Are there worms or other living organisms that you can see? What was on top of the soil when you dug in? Leaves? Moss? Lichen? Sticks? Fungi?
You can get as detailed as you like. Make notes, count items, tally it all up. When you are done, make a chart or graph of your findings. This could be organized any way you like- pie chart, line graph, picture diagram. Isn’t it amazing to see what there is inside one small shovelful of earth?!
Nature Sketchbook:
We have been drawing, writing and painting in our nature sketchbooks a lot this year. We are using spiral bound watercolor notebook from Blick. It is sturdy, has nice thick paper, and is affordable! We have a great starter kit available too. This nature journal is great for noticing seasonal changes, noting what is going on in nature at your house, and taking a few minutes to slow down and observe. Don’t forget to check out all the free watercolor tutorials we have too!