Wild Wednesday
We were up in Northern Minnesota, a place that truly brings me peace. I wanted the boys to know how much of that is because of nature and getting outside in the “wilderness.”
Wild Wednesday Craft
This was an old staple of mine from playgroup days. Primarily because each time we were allowed to swim in the lake we either had to pick weeds or rocks out of the water. With all those free rocks, I figured we could paint them and use them as door holders…or pets? Remember this is the early nineties -- Tamagotchi were only a new idea in Japan.
I know now you can go to Amazon, Walmart, Target or Michael’s and buy rock painting kits like these:
Made by Me Create Your Own Rock Art
We didn’t need the whole kit, so I just went to Michael’s and picked up $2.99 Pots of Acrylic Paint for the boys to use. Then we went out for a “hike” and found a few rocks to paint before unleashing the fun on a well-covered table. (I usually just buy disposable plastic party tablecloths and throw them out. I forgot to pack one, so we cut open a large garbage bag and spread it out instead. Even my sister and I joined in the fun.
We didn’t need the whole kit, so I just went to Michael’s and picked up $2.99 Pots of Acrylic Paint for the boys to use. Then we went out for a “hike” and found a few rocks to paint before unleashing the fun on a well-covered table. (I usually just buy disposable plastic party tablecloths and throw them out. I forgot to pack one, so we cut open a large garbage bag and spread it out instead. Even my sister and I joined in the fun.
I still have the rocks they painted for me in my rocks around my landscaping.
It was easy, inexpensive, and was a great way to get outside and create something to put outside.
Wild Wednesday Book
We read the Shel Silverstein classic The Giving Tree. To be honest, I don’t love the book because you shouldn’t have to give yourself up to love something, but it fit with nature.
But a couple of weeks ago I read a book to them – twice—that would be a great pick. I think my mom actually picked it up in Spokane, Washington, which was a really lovely city to visit. I would put it up on my list of “cities” I would be okay living in.
It is called Big Foot and Lightning Bug by Donnel Barlow. and it was about a friendly Sasquatch who wanted to teach about saving the wilderness and wildlife. It would have led us perfectly into our Wild Wednesday activity.
Wild Wednesday Activity
One of my favorite bloggers for printables is Britni over at Play, Party, Plan. She created this awesome Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt that is both visual and with words so the boys wouldn’t need someone to read everything to them.
Thanks to Britni, I printed these off for each of the boys and we went walking around the resort and surrounding areas to find them all. Super fun and interactive, and a great way for us to get outside, too!
Wild Wednesday Snack
We took our snacks for the day on our walk. The snack? A super simple one: trail mix. Of course, you could make your own if you wanted to. You could follow this super simple, kid friendly recipe:
- Movie theater box of M&M’s
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 cups Cheerios
- 2 cups Pretzel Sticks (broken)
- 2 cups peanuts (salted)
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 2 cups goldfish
- Mix in a big bowl.
- Portion into baggies
Again, it came down to how much packing did I really want to do so I just went to Target and bought these individual bags for them each to have as we went on our nature walk.
And when all the M&M’s were gone, we headed back to house for lunch and Cousin Camp was in the books for the year.
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