21Mar 2024 by catbird 2 Comments
“Thunder Cake”

“Thunder Cake”

Craft Project, Learning, Nature Art, Nature Journaling, Picture Book Buds, Play, Recipes, STEAM
Picture Book Buds are a fun and easy way to incorporate literacy into nature study. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related activity and snack suggestions! Thunder Cake Written & Illustrated by: Patricia Polacco This is a beautiful book about a young child and her grandma baking a cake during a thunderstorm to distract her from being scared. So many kids can relate to this feeling and you can take it further and learn about storms. I like to think that learnig about the science of storms makes them less scary and it has definitely helped my kids. Also cake. "It's Raining" by Gail Gibbons is a great nonfiction starting point. And "Mushroom Rain" written by by Laura K. Zimmermann and illustrated by Jamie Green…
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18Mar 2024 by catbird No Comments
Mushroom “Spore” Bombs

Mushroom “Spore” Bombs

Autumn, Craft Project, Earth Day, Garden, Nature Art, Play
As a member of the Plant Wonder Collective, each month I make a craft from the plant of the month. This March is coffee. I was really stumped trying to figure out what to make. Coffee and I are not friends. I had to stop drinking coffee cold turkey in my early 20s for medical reasons and I have never quite forgiven coffee for turning on me. And my husband, who drinks lots of coffee, leaves a little pile of gross coffee grounds on the counter every morning that makes me insane. So I decided I was going to do something with coffee grounds if it killed me. First I made some seed paper with coffee grounds, because of coffee’s high nitrogen content it should theoretically give those seeds a…
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28Jan 2024 by catbird No Comments
Hibernating Bear Countdown Clock

Hibernating Bear Countdown Clock

Craft Project, Folklore, Midwinter, Nature Art, Winter
A few years ago I read about a folktale in passing that completely captivated me. It said that bears hibernating in their dens turn over on Midwinter. I spent years trying to track down this folktale, and finally determined it is a Norwegian story. I still haven't found a text, but I have done a ton of research and written my own retelling. (More on that later) In Celtic tradition this time of year is called Imbolc and in that climate people are starting to see signs of spring. In many other parts of the world, mine included, Midwinter is the dead of winter with the worst still to come. I like to call this holiday Midwinter, not just because it is the secular names, but because it is so…
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23Dec 2023 by catbird No Comments
New Year’s Eve Bay Fortune Ball Ornaments

New Year’s Eve Bay Fortune Ball Ornaments

Campfire, Craft Project, Folklore, Nature Art, New Year's Eve, Winter
For whatever reason many of our New Year's Eve traditions revolve around fortune telling. There are a number of cultural fortune telling traditions like the Austrian Bleigießen and the Finnish uudenvuodentina, and it seems like a good time to think about your fortune and or wished for the new year. I actually love low key New Year's Eve with kids-- far more than I enjoyed the expensive and weird nights on the town in my 20s. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that my post kid celebrations are the first time I really enjoyed this this celebration. It's still mistly a late night holiday so while we sneak some nature in here and there (nye nature crowns, first day hikes) much of this night is spent inside.…
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20Dec 2023 by catbird No Comments
Cold Moon Puddle Ice Sun Catcher

Cold Moon Puddle Ice Sun Catcher

Cold Moon, Craft Project, Nature Art, Nature Art Materials, Play, STEAM, Winter
The Mohawk people call December the Time of the Cold Moon. December is the start of real winter for us here in the Mid-Atlantic, and many of this month’s full moon names reflect that. The Creek call this moon the Big Winter Moon, the Shoshone refer to the Winter Moon, the Abenaki call it the Winter Maker Moon, and the Oneida call this moon the It’s a Long Night Moon, which is relates to the Winter Solstice, which occurs this month and is in fact the longest night of the year. In my mind the Cold Moon is always linked to hibernation: animals are hibernating, and we humans spend more time inside, slowing down and getting cozy. It's also the time we start to find what I call "puddle ice"…
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11Dec 2023 by catbird No Comments
Winter Tree Weaving

Winter Tree Weaving

Craft Project, Foraging, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice
This is another great simple craft for littles to do as a part of my Winter Walk party or just for a fun afternoon! This pretty decoration is easier for little hands to make than a wreath, but just as pretty! My kiddos aren't that little anymore, but they were both very excited to make these as well. A grown up or older friend can put together the frame and then younger friends can collect pieces of evergreen and herbs to weave in. We used evergreens, holly and some sage and rosemary that are still going strong in the garden. You don't need a proper weaving technique here, just wiggle the pieces in enough to hold things in place. This look awesome on a winter nature table, or equally lovely…
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09Dec 2023 by catbird No Comments
Fun Winter Solstice Craft Ideas for Kids

Fun Winter Solstice Craft Ideas for Kids

Craft Project, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Winter, Winter Solstice
Looking for fun crafts to do with (or without...) kids for the Winter Solstice? Click the text next to the images for the tutorials. Save for later! Lanterns & Light Crafts: Make a star shaped Winter Solstice lantern to light the longest night! Craft these simple snowy tree lanterns from a recycled jar and some unexpected evergreen plants. Geode Lanterns Make ice lanterns with natural materials! Orange Pomander candles are the perfect way to decorate a winter nature table Ornaments & Decorations: Make Winter Solstice Tree & sun ornaments with a golden sun tree topper Make beautiful spice mosaic ornaments Craft some stars from twigs Make some woodsy mushroom ornaments Craft dried orange garlands to decorate your home Decorate your windows with lovely stars that also diffuse scent Gifts &…
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05Dec 2023 by catbird 1 Comment
Aurora Borealis Pinecones

Aurora Borealis Pinecones

Campfire, Craft Project, Folklore, Nature Art, Winter, Winter Solstice
The Northern Lights or aurora borealis, is a natural phenomenon caused by energized particles from the sun hitting the Earth's upper atmosphere. The earth's magnetic field directs these particles towards the poles which is wy they are more visible there. The result of this atmospheric bombardment is beautiful colored lights dancing in the sky that have inspired human observers for a millenia. The famous Italian astronomer Galileo gave the lights their name in 1619, but the earliest known record of the phenomena is a 30,000 year old cave painting in France. Galileo named the light for the Greek goddesses of the of dawn, Aurora, and the north wind, Boreas. They feature in folktales and myths from around the world. The Inuit people believe they are spirits, while the Vikings attributed…
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23Nov 2023 by catbird 2 Comments
Crystalizing Frost Paint for the Frost Moon

Crystalizing Frost Paint for the Frost Moon

Craft Project, Frost Moon, Full Moon, Learning, Nature Art, Play, Winter
November is the time that the really frosty mornings start for us. The Assiniboine and Creek people call this moon the Frost Moon, the Anishnaabeg and Passamaquoddy call it the Freezing Moon, and the Algonquin tribes call it the Much White Frost on Grass Moon. The Abenaki refer to the Freezing River Maker Moon, and the Arapaho people call it the When the Rivers Start to Freeze Moon. This is a great time to explore outside and look for different types of frost. I always seem to find myself taking pictures of leaves that look like they are dusted with icing sugar. If you have old wondows like us you'll start to see beautiful feathers of frost form on them in the morning. There are even "frost flowers" that is…
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