Check out this story and a pair of nature activities to engage your preschooler this week!
If you can take a walk, you can help your preschool-aged kiddo enjoy the outdoors! This week join Tara Clark, a Backcountry Wilderness Area education coordinator, for a story, a scavenger hunt, and a wand-making project.
Scavenger Hunt
Springtime Nature Wands
Looking for a little Springtime Magic? Get outside in this sunny springtime weather and create your own magic with our Springtime Nature Wands! See the video above for step-by-step guidance.
Step 1: Find the Perfect Wand Stick and Natural Materials Go on a walk in your neighborhood in search of the perfect stick for your wand. You want it to be about half as long as your arm, and a bit thicker than a pencil (but not as wide as a quarter). You will want to test it to make sure it is pretty strong, you don’t want a wand that breaks easily. Remember, the wand stick chooses you.
While you are out, look for natural materials to add to your wand, such as green leaves, flowers, feathers, seed-heads from grasses, green pine-needles, or anything else that calls to you!
Step 2: Gather Your Wand-making Materials
You will need yarn or ribbon, masking or colorful tape, scissors, and some sort of magic touch (maybe you have some colorful chalk you want to draw on it, an old jingle bell from the holidays, a special charm, a bead…the sky is the limit. For younger wandmakers, pipe-cleaner and beads can be a great and easy addition.
Step 3: Make Your Handle
Wrap your yarn around the base of your wand to create your handle. You can use several different colors—or just pick your favorite. This is also a great spot to use pipe-cleaners and beads if you prefer.
Step 4: Put the Natural Materials Together Using tape, rubber-bands, or yarn, attach your natural materials to the top of your wand.
Step 5: Add Your Magic Add your last bit of decoration and any other artistic additions you feel will bring you some Springtime Magic, and then go out and have some fun with your Nature Wand!
If your child loves these kinds of activities and is between the ages of three and six years old, make sure to check out our Eco Explorers and Nature Playday programs for preschool-age children.
Tara is an Environmental Education Coordinator with the Backcountry Wilderness Area. She was born and raised in both North Carolina and Colorado (#halfnative) where she spent a lot of her childhood outside, and now as an “adult” she strives to provide opportunities for today’s kids to do the same! When she’s not finding new adventures and trails to explore with her husband, little one, and friends, she’s probably taking pictures of her cat, (Chicken) Nugget Warrior Princess.
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