Get Some Fresh Air!

Hello Gardeners!

Getting fresh air and moving around outside is a great mental health booster! Today's post is all about ways to get outdoors and breathe in that beautiful fresh air! Whether it's reading in your back yard, having a picnic in a secluded corner of the park, or sitting on your front stoop to soak up some sun, safely getting outside can really help keep us healthy right now.

No matter what type of environment you live in - urban, rural, seaside, these activities works for everyone! This is a two part activity, so it's perfect if you are really looking to fill up your day with some positive pursuits .

First, is a simple #ScavengerHunt. Write out a list of at least 10-15 things to find and collect in nature. They don't have to be super specific, but adjust as needed for your area. Here is our list for reference:

Find 5 small twigs of varying colors

Find one oddly shaped leaf

Find something that has fallen off of a tree

Find 2 different types of flowers

Find a weed

Find something that is made out of wood

Find something green

Find something brown

Find 3 smooth pebbles

Find one pinch of dirt or sand

Find something brittle and dried up

Find something that smells good

Find something beautiful

Find something you don't recognize

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After you've collected all (or most) of these items, bring them back to your home and make a Nature Crown! We really love this activity because the results turn out so well no matter what you've collected!

Here is what you'll need to make your crown:

1 brown paper bag

Scissors

Tape

Glue

Items you may want to decorate your crown:

Tissue paper

Colored paper

Decorative tape

First things first, make your crown. First, cut down one of the folds to reach the base of the bag and then cut out the base to make one big sheet of paper. Next, cut the width of the paper in half and wrap the strip around your head to measure how big or small you need the loop to be. Cut off the excess and secure with tape once you've reached the correct size.

Now it's time for the fun part...decorate! Use glue to attach the materials you found during the scavenger hunt - and tip, if something isn't stay glued on, coat some tissue paper with glue and use that like a piece of tape. It's a fun way to add some color while insure the heavier items stay put!

Once you've decorated to your liking, let your crown dry completely before wearing!

This full afternoon activity is not only a great way to get some fresh air, but it is a wonderful exploratory activity that gets kids curious about the outdoors and allows for some learning. Also, making (& wearing) the crown is just plain fun!

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If you did this craft with your family, send us your photos! We would love to see the items you collected during your scavenger hunt and how you decorated your crowns. Hang in there gardeners and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!