Nature Connection Challenge - Day 77

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 77 - Make a Wildflower Bouquet

Have you noticed all the wildflowers blooming right now? The world is full of violets and lily of the valley and daisies. Isn’t Mother Nature brilliant in the way she produces all these colors and shapes and scents?

Today, walk around and find as many different varieties of wild flowers as you can and make yourself a bouquet to remind you of natures bountiful, extravegant beauty.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 76

Nature Connection Challenge Day 76 - Stargaze

On the next clear night, we challenge you to get outside to do some stargazing! Observe the night sky, look for constellations, and enjoy the peaceful darkness. You might try using an app like Sky Map, a handlheld planetarium used for identifying stars and planets, by holding your phone up to the sky.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 75

Nature Connection Challenge Day 75 - Create an Outdoor Craft Space

Sometimes bringing activities that are normally done indoors to a space outside can make it feel like an entirely new project! Find a shady (or sunny!) spot, bring a few craft items, such as scissors, yarn or string, glue, crayons, colored pencils, and beads. You may wish to also collect nature items such as sticks, leaves, stones or flowers. Place this on a blanket on the ground or a table and have fun creating!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 74

Nature Connection Challenge- Day 74 - Listen to the Birds Sing

This is a very busy time for birds. They are mating, laying eggs, making nests and enjoying the plethora of bugs, worms and plants all that Spring has brought to the ecosystem.

Today’s challenge is to tune into your sense of hearing and spend time listening to the beautiful language of the Birds. Many naturalists study bird language as a way to read the cues of the forest. Birds communicate with each other in a myriad of ways, warning one another of dangerous predators, calling for mates, and sharing information about food sources. Take some time to pay attention to what the birds are saying and see if you can learn anything about what is going on in their world.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 73

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 73 - Play With Water

The element of water can be soothing and invigorating. Water is soft and flowing, yet it can erode rocks with its power. Water teaches us that we can adapt to changes in our surroundings, and that with persistence we can move mountains. Today take some time to explore the qualities of water. Here are some ideas for ways to connect with the energy of water:

• Mindfully enjoy a bath or shower

• Set up a sprinkler in your yard and run through it

• Soak your feet in cool water with some Epsom salt mixed in

• If you can get to a pond, river, stream or the ocean, go sit by the shore and enjoy the play of sunlight off the water

• Have fun and let water be your teacher today!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 72

Nature Connection Challenge Day 72 - Make a Nature Necklace

For this activity, you will need to cut a length of string or yarn to string items onto. Begin collecting some nature items, such as leaves, flowers, sticks, pinecones, feathers, stones and seashells and tie or string them onto the yarn/string. Share your creations with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/throughthetreesme/.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 71

Nature Connection Challenge Day 71 - Imagine a River Float Adventure

The focus for this invitation is to use your imagination. Find a spot outside where you feel safe enough to have your eyes closed or partly closed. Take a few slow and deep breaths to center your attention and calm yourself. Imagine yourself a forest being who is small enough to use a leaf as a boat. Now imagine yourself floating on a flowing river or creek. 

Who would you be? What would it feel like to be this being on a leaf floating on the waters current? What would you see? Where would you go?

Once you are back from your journey find a way to honor your experience in whatever way feels right to you. Perhaps you want to journal, sketch, or make something? 

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 70

Nature Connection Challenge Day 70 - Make Sun Tea

Today or on any sunny day, make some Sun Tea! You can either use tea bags or gather edible blossoms and leaves, such as dandelion, violets, wood sorrel, sheep sorrel, and mint. Place the tea bags or blossoms and leaves in a large jar and fill with water. Cover and place it in the sun for several hours (at least 3, but can leave it in the sun all day). Pour the tea through a mesh strainer to remove the leaves and blossoms or remove the tea bags. The remaining liquid is your sun tea! Add honey or any sweetener if desired. Store in the refrigerator for a few days and enjoy!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 69

Nature Connection Challenge Day 69 - Thank the Sun

Many cultures around the world have worshiped or honored the sun for centuries, and it’s easy to understand why. The sun provides warmth, light, food and makes life possible on this planet. Without fail, no matter what else is going on in our lives, the sun rises and sets each day.

Have you thanked the sun lately? Challenge yourself to take a moment to pause and feel your gratitude for the sun. This can be done in any way you feel is right for you. You may wish to go outside, close your eyes with your face to the sun, take a couple deep breaths and simply say, “Thank you.” Or perhaps you feel drawn to put your hands over your heart or bring your hands into prayer position at heart center and silently tell the sun that you are grateful for all it provides. This can be a lovely brief ritual to start your day every day!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 68

Nature Connection Challenge Day 68 - Explore a Body of Water

Today could be the perfect day to take a little trip to a river, stream, lake, pond, waterfall, or the ocean! Many trails in Maine go along or lead to a body of water. If you aren’t able to get out, try running a sprinkler, hose, filling a kiddie pool, or even just pouring some water into buckets and bowls to pour, dump and play with in the backyard. However you make it happen, we challenge you to play with water today!

Nature Connection Challenge Day 67

Nature Connection Challenge Day 66 - Go for a bare foot walk! (aka Earthing or Grounding)

Grounding, also called earthing, is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth. 

This practice relies on earthing science and grounding physics to explain how electrical charges Trusted Source from the earth can have positive effects on your body. This type of grounding therapy isn’t entirely the same as the technique that is used in mental health treatment. 

In this article, read about the exploration of the science behind grounding energy, the risks and benefits of using earthing techniques, and how to perform grounding.

Enjoy digging your toes into the ground and feeling the pulse of the Earth!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 66

Nature Connection Challenge Day 66 - Find a Hummingbird

They are out in full force - see if you can spot one!

Let us know if you have any luck and if you are super duper lucky and can grab a photo, share it with us on Instagram or Facebook!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 65

Nature Connection Challenge Day 65 - Weave or Braid Grass

Today we challenge to you to locate some tall grass and cut a small bunch to weave or braid. You can make grass jewelry, crowns, ropes and much more. Show us what you create here: https://www.facebook.com/throughthetreesme/!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 64

Nature Connection Challenge Day 64 - Notice Shadow and Light

The focus of this invitation is Shadow and Light. Simply go outside and notice the interplay between Shadow and Light. You can walk and wander or just sit in a spot. 

• You may notice temperature changes such as when a cloud moves and covers the sunlight.

• You may notice subtle emotional changes such as feelings of happiness as the sunlight warms your body.

• You may notice shapes or textures. 

• You may be captivated by the movement of shadow or light and how they interact with the other beings of the place you are at.

Have fun and enjoy yourself.  If you are not able to go outdoors then perhaps you can sit by a window and notice from that spot. Would you care to share your noticings?  Share with us in whatever way feels right to you. We look forward to hearing your stories!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 63

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 63 - Look for Cloud Shapes

There is something very special about laying on a blanket or in a hammock and looking up at the sky. Many of us very infrequently allow ourselves to relax and let our imagination take the wheel. Looking for cloud shapes is a great way to create a stress reducing reset.

Today’s Challenge is to dedicate 15-20 minutes to looking at the clouds and engaging your imagination as you look for shapes and images. Let your body relax and your mind wander - enjoy the moment!