kids nature celebration – Wineberry Woods

14Apr 2026 by catbird

What is the Strawberry Moon & a Coloring Page

Folklore, Free Printable, Full Moon, Learning, Play, Strawberry Moon, Summer

In many places June is the transition into summer. In much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, it’s high strawberry season, and this traditional name is shared among the Dakota, Chippewa, and Ojibwe peoples. Similarly, the Haida call this the Berries Ripen Moon, the Lakota refer to the When Berries Are Good Moon, and the Mohawk have Ripening Time Moon. For many, this is the start of summer abundance. Eating or baking with strawberries is the perfect way to observe this moon! If this time of year is not full of ripening strawberries where you live, what else do you notice happening in nature? You can use my phenology tracker printable to record your nature observations and select a full name that makes sense for your area. Full moon names are…

14Apr 2026 by catbird

What is the Flower Moon & a Coloring Page

Flower Moon, Free Printable, Full Moon

The May full moon is most often called the Flower Moon. “Flower Moon” is attributed to the Algonquin and Comanche peoples. The Anishnaabeg call May’s moon the Blossom Moon, and the Kalapuya are even more specific: Camas Blooming Moon. The Shoshone call this the Budding Moon. A common proverb in English-speaking countries asserts that “April showers bring May flowers!” It’s in May that many spring flowers start to appear, whether they are weeds in a lawn, cultivated flowers in a garden, or fleeting “spring ephemerals” in the woods. In most places May is a point in the spectrum of spring, and many of the full-moon names reflect that. Both the Choctaw and Creek tribes call this the Mulberry Moon, and the Arapaho call it When the Ponies Shed Their Shaggy…

27Jan 2026 by catbird

Simmer Pot Cake

Folklore, Midwinter, Recipes, Winter

The doldrums of winter can start to feel overwhelming. It’s dark, it’s cold, I am completely tired of chipping ice out of the chicken’s water every morning. It’s time for a pick-me-up. Midwinter is a time for rest and rebirth. Storing up energy in preparation for spring. It’s no secret that I love a simmer pot in the winter, and I have written extensively on their benefits, but this recipe takes it a step further and essentially makes a simmer pot that you can eat! The first step is to slow cook oranges and spices, just like you would with a simmer pot. It will warm the air, lift your mood, and make your house smell like oranges and spice. I like the idea of setting intentions and then consuming them,…

21Nov 2025 by catbird

2025 Winter Solstice Picture Book Countdown

Winter Solstice

You might know that every year I make a Winter Solstice Countdown calendar full of crafts, activities, and recipes. This year I wanted to add picture books to each day to make things even more festive! These books correspond to the activities in the main countdown calendar, so you can read them along with the calendar or just read a book each day if that's more your speed. Happy Solstice! December 1, 2025 Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dongzhì Story by: Michelle Jing Chan December 2, 2025 Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Coldby: Joyce Sidman December 3, 2025 The Littlest Solstice Treeby Lisa Varchol Perron December 4, 2025 Bright Winter Nightby: Alli Brydon December 5, 2025 Winter Story (Brambly Hedge)by: Jill Barklem December 6, 2025 The Tomtenby Astrid Lindgren December 7,…

20Nov 2025 by catbird

Cold Ice Moons

Cold Moon, Craft Project, 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 things iced over. To celebrate…

07Nov 2025 by catbird

Winter Lantern Round Up

Craft Project, Winter, Winter Solstice

We love lanterns at Wineberry Woods, and always seem to be coming up with new and interesting ways to make them! Check out some lanterns of many different skill levels and pick one that suits you! Star Lantern Simple Snowy Tree Lanterns Geode Lanterns Make ice lanterns with natural materials! Frost Lanterns Round Ice Lanterns Snowball Lanterns

04Nov 2025 by catbird

2025 Winter Solstice Countdown Calendar

Winter, Winter Solstice

Countdown to the Winter Solstice with activities, recipes and crafts. Come back each day for a new surprise! The doors won’t open until the correct day (So 1 opens on December 1st, on December 5th you’ll be able to open 1-5, etc.) The calendar includes an exclusive excerpt from my retired Winter Solstice Curriculum that is only be available through this calendar and only in December 2025. Click on the image below to go to the calendar!! (This will take you to a new window) Click once to open the door and click a second time to open the tutorial. Click Here for the materials list– there are some spoilers here, but I tried my best to give you the info you needed without giving away all the surprises! Click Here for the…

23Jun 2025 by catbird

“Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India’s Woven Trees”

Craft Project, Earth Day, get outside, Learning, Nature Art, Picture Book Buds, Play, Summer

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! Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India's Woven Trees Written by: Sandhya Acharya Illustrated by: Avani Dwivedi I was excited about Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India's Woven Trees the minute I heard it was coming out-- what a fun topic for a picture book! I didn't learn about the living bridges of India until well into adulthood, but I was immediately transfixed and I can only imagine how amazing knowledge of these bridges must feel for kids. The story walks through the process of making and tending the bridges, or jingkeieng jri, in broad strokes…

05May 2025 by catbird

“My Love for You is Like the Night Sky”

Full Moon, get outside, Hike Ideas, Picture Book Hikes, Play, STEAM

Picture Book Hikes are a fun and easy way to bring learning outside. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related hike, activity and snack suggestions! My Love for You is Like the Night Sky Written & illustrated by: by Laura Smetana My Love for You is Like the Night Sky is a lovely, lyrical story about how much a parent loves their kiddo. Gentle, spare text full of night sky and space metaphors, (glittering galaxies! full moons!) make this a fun book to introduce younger friends to moon phases, constellations, and the solar system. A perfect wind down/ bedtime book, Laura's beautiful illustrations could also be a jumping off point for a moon study. Thank you to Flying Cardinal Press for providing this book…

20Mar 2025 by catbird

“When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast”

Folklore, Foraging, Hike Ideas, Learning, Picture Book Hikes, Spring, Spring Equinox

Picture Book Hikes are a fun and easy way to bring learning outside. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related hike, activity and snack suggestions! When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast Written by: Andrea L. Rogers, Illustrated by: Madelyn Goodnight When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast is about a familiy foraging in the early spring for wild onions and then joining a feast at their local community center. I was excited to come across it because I am always looking for seasonal celebrations from different cultures and this is one I had not come across before. I also love wild onions in the spring, they are one of the first (if not the very first) edible plants to start growing, months…

Tag: kids nature celebration