I don’t know about you, but things in our house are all about Halloween at the moment. I’ve seen tons of posts about Halloween crafts and Halloween treats, but how to combine the Halloween festivities and nature? Glad you asked!
1. Head to a pumpkin patch.
The Explorers cannot stop talking about how they picked their pumpkins at a pumpkin patch (versus say, a pumpkin stand in the city). Most farms have tons of fun outdoor activities planned too, such as corn mazes and petting zoos.
2. Hunt for spider webs.
Nothing says Halloween like spiders. And kids love hunting for spider webs to see if there’s anything lurking inside (trust me on this one!).
3. Dress your outdoor space for Halloween.
The Explorers loved decorating for Halloween this year. While we did so, we searched for spider webs, watched for crows and cleaned up our vegetable garden.
4. Trick or treat in nature.
Grab a container and go searching for treats from nature – leaves, acorns, sticks and other goodies that catch your child’s fancy.
5. Check out your neighbors’ Halloween decorations.
Bonus points if you take your tour at night. And while you’re at it, why not make it a flashlight walk?
6. Decorate your pumpkins.
While older kids may enjoy carving up a frightful face, younger kids may prefer something more hands on. Try paints, pens, stickers, glitter – even natural elements – to decorate without actually cutting the pumpkins.
7. Put extra pumpkins to use.
Turn empty gourds into bird feeders, planters or herb gardens.
8. Add natural elements to costumes.
What wizard wouldn’t love to fashion a magic wand from a stick? Or how about a witch’s broom made with real pine needles?
9. Go on a Halloween scavenger hunt.
Make your own Halloween scavenger hunt with a nature bent. Think spider webs, bats, leaves, crows, pumpkins and the like.
10. Get crafty with nature.
Turn acorns into pumpkins, catch a spider web on paper or make a nature mobile with leaves, seeds and cones.
Now it’s your turn! What kinds of outdoor fun are you and your kids up to this Halloween season?
