Nature Connection Challenge - Day 47

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 47 - Take a Relaxing Rainy Day Walk

Rainy days can be the toughest ones to get outside, but if you dress for the weather it can be quite enjoyable! Wear layers if it’s cold and appropriate rain gear to stay dry - rain coat, hat, rain boots, rain pants if you have them. If you have an umbrella - use it! Rainy walks under an umbrella can feel very peaceful. You may wish to take a few quiet moments to close your eyes and listen to the rain as it falls and imagine it cleansing the Earth and washing away anything you may be feeling stressed about to make room for peace and light.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 46

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 46 - Take a Hike

Here in Maine there are hundreds of off-the-beaten-path trails, land trusts and preserves where you can hike while still maintaining a safe distance from others. Today’s challenge is to go for a hike in the woods. Move your body, breathe some fresh air and take in all the natural beauty that surrounds you. You’ll be glad you did.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 45

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 45 - Nature Journaling

Nature journaling can be a great way to connect with our natural surroundings. You can use it to record what is happening in the natural world as the seasons change, to write prose or poetry about your experiences in nature and keep track of animals and plants you identify.

Take time today to write in a nature journal. If you don’t have one, start one. Take it outside with you along with a pen or pencil and some colored pencils or markers. Take a few moments to notice some details in nature you haven’t noticed before and draw them or write about them.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 44

Nature Connection Challenge Day 44 - Build a Rock Tower

Today we invite you to build a rock tower (also called a cairn) outside. Doing this slowly and mindfully, placing each stone thoughtfully, can be quite relaxing. How tall can you make it before it topples over?

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 43

Nature Connection Challenge Day 43 - MAGnificent Beings

Today’s nature challenge will require the use of a magnifying lens.

Wander and explore your nature space using your magnifying lens, taking care to notice the many beings present.

There is so much variety and diversity in the forest, from the biggest to the smallest. We are limited to what we can see with our human vision. What if we had a way to see things with a different perspective and in greater detail? One way to see things with enhanced vision is through the use of a magnifying lens. How this will change the way in which you see and understand this world around you? Have fun and enjoy yourself. What you will find?

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 42

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 42 - Make Silly Nature Faces

Have some fun today! Find some materials from the nature and use them to make silly faces. Can you make faces that show different emotions? Make them look very old or like a baby? Make animal faces? Experiment, observe and enjoy. Take a picture of your silly faces and share them with us on Facebook or Instagram.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 41

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 41 - Learn About Natural Fire Starting Material

Today’s challenge is to learn about and try to locate different natural fire starting materials. Knowing how to get a fire going with only natural materials in your surroundings is handy and potentially life-saving. In a survival situation, being able to build a fire is vital for warmth, boiling water to disinfect, cooking food, and keeping predators away. Even with camping, a fire is often utilized for warmth and cooking.

Today we challenge you to locate these fire starting materials in nature. If you would like to enjoy a campfire in your backyard today, try starting it using one or some of these materials.* Keep in mind these materials are fore starting a fire, in lieu of newspaper or similar. Sticks and woods of increasing size will need to be added to grow and maintain the fire.

• Birch bark. Look for dead birch trees, so as not to harm living ones. These trees have white bark that will light easily even when wet! Peeling or cutting away a small amount will work well to start a fire.

• Pine cones. Dry pine or other conifer cones can be quite flammable, especially if they have pitch on them. If you find wet ones, you would need to dry them in the sun for them to work as a fire starter.

• Pine needles. Again, these need to be dead and dry for them to start a fire. Green needles won’t work, but can be laid out in the sun to dry for later use.

• Citrus peels. You aren’t likely to find these in the woods unless you live in an area where citrus trees grow, but if you have an orange as a snack in the woods, save those peels! They will need to be dried first.

To learn more skills like these, be sure to check out our online nature programs for youth and adults!

*Always use caution when building and maintaining a campfire. Build it in a contained area. Be sure to supervise children and have water nearby to douse flames quickly if needed. This information is for informational purposes only (see disclaimer).

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 40

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 40 - Make Eastern Hemlock Tea

For today’s challenge, you will need to locate Eastern Hemlock, a coniferous tree (a tree that has cones and keeps its green leaves, or needles, in winter). Once you have located an Easter Hemlock, snip a couple twigs to make tea. Be sure to thank the tree and only take what you need.

Eastern Hemlock has short flat needles, approximately a half-inch in length, with a white underside. The cones are small, about 3/4 inch long. The twigs are not pitchy (no sticky pitch) and are rather fine and limber. The closest lookalike to the Easter Hemlock is the Balsam Fir, which has longer needles and much larger cones. Both trees (as well as most conifer tress, like pines and spruce) are used for tea, so if you aren’t sure which you have found, you can still make tea!*

For one cup of tea, you will only need about 2 teaspoons of needles. For a pot of tea, you can cut of a 4-5 three-inch twigs. Boil water then add needles/twigs and let steep for 10 minutes. You may wish to chop or grind up the needles and or twigs before adding to the water to help release the flavor and nutrients (it is high in vitamin C!). The tea can taste a bit bitter, so you may wish to add honey.

*Always be sure you have correctly identified a plant before consuming. The use of tree and plant identification books is recommended. It’s often advised to try a small amount when eating/drinking wild edibles, as reactions/allergies can occur as with any food. Proceed at your own risk.

Nature Connection Challenge- Day 39

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 39 - Get Moving

There has been lots of recent scientific research about how exercise can improve memory, help you sleep, reduce stress and boost your mood. A group of British researchers have found that exercising in nature has added benefits for both mental and physical health. Even five minutes of getting your heart rate up outside can have a positive impact on mental clarity, blood pressure and more.

Today’s challenge is to get outside and get moving. Brisk walking, jogging, jumping jacks, and even dancing or a game of soccer can do the trick. if you’re not able to get outside at this time, find a way to get your heart rate up inside and open a window to get some fresh air. Take time to notice how you feel afterwards and share your observations with us on Instagram or Facebook.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 38

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 38 - Celebrate Earth Day!

Today is the 50th annual Earth Day! Celebrate all the Earth does for us and give back by taking time to pick up trash in your yard, along the side of the road or on a hiking trail. You don’t have to go far from home to find a little piece of the Earth that needs some care and attention.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 37

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 37 - Decorate a Stick in Yarn

Find a stick outside and wrap it in colored yarn. Create any pattern you like and tuck in some leaves, feathers or thread some beads onto your yarn to decorate the stick. It can make a beautiful, natural decoration to keep in your home or it might be the perfect magic wand!

Our online nature programs include many fun nature crafts and projects like this! Visit Woodland (ages 4-6), Evergreen (ages 7-11) and Ironwood (ages 12-17) to learn more!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 36

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 36 - Imagine You are an Astronaut Who Has Just Come Home to Earth

Imagine that you are an astronaut that has been living in space and you are looking toward the earth, counting the time until your return. Finally you return and have a chance to walk again on this planet. How will it be to walk among the beings of this world? What will your steps feel like? 

Have fun and enjoy yourself as you rediscover the joy of walking and being on this earth. If you are not able to go outdoors then walk indoors. If you are not able to walk then perhaps you may wish to use your imaginal sense to bring life to your experience.

Share with us your noticings in whatever way feels right to you. We look forward to hearing your stories!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 35

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 35 - Go Bird Watching

There is a whole world of birds around us in the spring, but many of us don’t take time to notice and appreciate them. Today’s challenge is to go bird watching. Go outside, be still for a few minutes and see how many different kinds of birds you can see and hear around you. Challenge yourself to identify as many of them as you can, either by sight or by their song. Allow yourself to be in awe of their beauty and enjoy the moment.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 34

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 34 - Play Hide-and-Seek

Today’s challenge is to get outside and play hid-and-seek! If you have access to a wooded area, hiding and seeking among the trees can be so much fun. It does help to establish some natural boundaries if the wooded area is large, and especially when playing with children. Enjoy your time in nature today!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 33

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 33 - Read Outside

Today’s challenge is simple, but one that can bring much peace, relaxation and joy. Grab a book or a few and head outside to read. Bring a blanket and spread it out on the grass or wrap up in your blanket under a tree, or settle into a lawn chair or hammock. Read on your own while the kids play or snuggle up with your children and read together. Enjoy a good book or two while soaking in the sunshine and fresh air!