I think it’s safe to say that Halloween fever has officially begun around here. Houses are getting decorated, pumpkins are popping up on porches and our first batch of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread and Muffin Mix has been baked.
Half the fun of Halloween in our house is everything we do leading up to the big event. Wanna know what we’ve got planned for this year?
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.
Create a pet rock cemetery.
Last year we were inspired by a visit to the Wildlife Learning Center to create our own pet rock cemetery. It’s an easy way to add natural elements to your Halloween décor.
Make a pumpkin planter.
Wondering what to do with all those pumpkins you picked up at the farm? Turn one into a planter.
Feed the birds.
Need another great use for extra pumpkins? Make a snack-o’-lantern by adding birdseed to a cleaned out pumpkin.
Count pumpkin seeds.
Let the kids guess how many seeds are in your pumpkins before you open them up. For even more fun, compare the number of seeds from different-sized pumpkins. (Thanks to the book How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? for the idea.)
Bring nature into the kitchen.
Clean the seeds out of a pumpkin, find a pumpkin seed recipe you like, then enjoy! If the kids don’t like the cooked seeds (mine haven’t in the past), use them for nature art instead.
Try bobbing for apples.
This one made our fall fun list in spite of the fact that none of us has ever done it before. Before we go bobbing, we’ll also be taste testing several different types of apples.
Watch a pumpkin rot.
We have a budding scientist in the family, so when I read about the rotting pumpkin experiment, I knew we’d have to try it. More on that later. I promise.
Need more ideas for outdoor fun this Halloween? Check out 10 ideas for Halloween nature fun.
What’s your favorite way to connect with nature during Halloween?
Now that's a cool idea. I'll have to remember that for next year.
We went on a graveyard walk this Halloween. Lots of fun, but not as creepy as I had hoped 🙂
You're certainly not "weird" from where I'm sitting. In fact, I LOVE it! I'll be sure to let you know how the pumpkin rotting experiment goes.
Haha love the rotting pumpkin science experiment one! I did that last year (not on purpose of course) and in our cooler temperatures the pumpkin lasted for weeks seriously, but it wasn't cut open. Then when I finally did cut it open (because I'm kinda the gross science geek type) it was awful! What can I say I will leave big, ugly spiders alone by my front door just to watch them make
And super easy! Visitors get a kick out of it, too.
Sounds perfect!
Really loving the pet rock cemetery! Very novel.xxx
I look forward to the annual visit to the Pumpkin Patch – usually at a local farm. Fresh air, corn maze and pumpkins!