nature

Weather Watchers: Fall Forecast Fun

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four children jumping in the colorful autumn leaves As the days get shorter and the air turns crisp, fall is the perfect time for 4-H Cloverbuds to become Weather Watchers. Observing changes in the weather will help youth notice patterns, learn science skills, and connect with the world around them—all while having a blast exploring the outdoors!

What is happening in the sky?

During fall, the weather can change quickly. One day might feel warm and sunny, while the next could bring chilly wind and rain. This is because the Earth is tilting away from the sun, making our days shorter and temperatures cooler. When the sun is lower, shadows are longer, the light is different (softer, more golden), and the air begins to cool more easily. You can demonstrate this by shining a flashlight, to represent sunlight, directly onto a ball, then tilt the ball away, watching the light spread and dim.

Fall is a time of changing air masses where the summer air from the south meets the cooler polar air from the north. When these air masses meet, we get weather fronts and the seasonal shifts bringing changes in clouds, wind, and rain. As the air cools in the fall, humidity often drops, and the sky can look a deeper blue than in the summer with more vibrant sunsets.

Our 4-H Cloverbuds may have questions about how animals and people get ready for the colder days and nights, prompting conversation and observations about what types of clothes and activities change when the weather cools. Encouraging this discussion will build the opportunity for communication and curiosity.

Be a Fall Forecaster

Try out some of these fun ways your 4-H Cloverbud members can explore the weather this season.

Daily Sky Watch

  • Look outside each day and describe what you see—sunny, cloudy, windy, or raining.
  • Draw a simple weather picture in a forecast journal.

Wind Testers

  • Tie a ribbon around a stick and watch how it moves in the breeze.
  • Light wind? The ribbon barely moves. Strong wind? It is fluttering fast!

Weather Reporter Show

  • Maybe you are looking for a quick icebreaker activity for your next club meeting with your Cloverbuds. Have them act as TV weather reporters sharing the day’s weather and a fun fact.

glass jar with water, shaving cream, and blue food coloring made to represent a raincloudRain Cloud in a Jar
(source: thestemlaboratory.com/rain-cloud-jar/)

What you will need:

  • A clear jar
  • Water
  • Blue food coloring
  • Shaving cream
  • Dropper or syringe

What to do:

  1. Fill the jar about ¾ full with water.
  2. Top the water with a layer of shaving cream to represent a cloud.
  3. Mix some food coloring with a small amount of water in a separate cup.
  4. Use the dropper to add the blue water to the shaving cream cloud.
  5. Watch as the ‘rain’ falls from the cloud when it becomes too heavy.

Whether it is spotting rainbows, measuring rainfall, or noticing chilly mornings, fall weather offers plenty to explore. Encourage your 4-H Cloverbuds to keep watching the skies — they might just become the next great weather forecasters!

Hangin’ with Sloths

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a sloth in a tree looking at the camera

Sloth image from stock.adobe.com

Learning about different animals is interesting and an effective way to engage Cloverbuds. Being able to relate to animals is a way to connect to nature and generate excitement about being outdoors. Even when the animals are more exotic than our pets and farm animals, we can still have fun learning about them.

Show the Cloverbuds a plush toy sloth and talk about their appearance. Ask the Cloverbuds: Do you like hanging upside down from the monkey bars or laying on a tree branch in the back yard? Are you a good swimmer? Do you like walking very, very slowly…. especially when it is time to brush your teeth? Then you might just like to hang out with sloths!

Ask your Cloverbuds to share what they know about sloths. Then talk with your Cloverbuds about the characteristics of a sloth, such as what they look like, where they live, what they eat, and so forth. There are many great videos on youtube.com which talk about sloths. Share one of these videos with your Cloverbuds if your meeting space allows.

Sloths live in central and south America and are related to anteaters and armadillos. They like to live alone and do not usually hang out much with other sloths. They live most of their lives in treetops, moving slowly from place to place. You can ride your bike about seven miles per hour, while a sloth moves about four miles per hour. Sloths are surprisingly good swimmers; they move faster in the water than on land.

Sloths weigh between 13 and 17 pounds. That is about the same as a small dog or a really big house cat. A baby sloth is called a pup. It weighs about the same as a box of cereal (have an example to show) when it is born. They are born with their eyes open. Baby sloths like to explore but they always keep one foot on their moms during their first 6 months of life. After that mom moves away and finds a new tree to live in; baby gets the tree where it was born.

If you like to eat, then you might not want to hang out with the sloths. They only eat about the same amount as two and a half slices of bread a day (have available to show). They eat leaves that can take 30 days to digest. You digest your food in one to two days. It can take a sloth hours to go from the treetops to the ground. That is why they only make the trip once a week to poop. Some sloths even bury their poop by doing a poop dance!

We hope your Cloverbuds enjoy learning about sloths. Ask them what other animals they would like to learn about and make plans to share about that animal during a future meeting.

Things to do:

  • Try making a sloth on a stick. You will find instructions here.
  • Have the Cloverbuds make a sloth handprint craft for a fun keepsake.
  • Ask your Cloverbuds to color the sloth coloring page. Begin by asking them what colors they think they will need. Tell them that a sloth’s fur stays wet in the rain forest, so sloths often have algae growing on them. Where else do we find algae? (in ponds, lakes and even fish aquariums)

 

Books to share:

Book cover for The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Adventures of Austin the Zookeeper: Sloths by Tammy GegelThe Weird, Wild and Wonderful Adventures of Austin the Zookeeper: Sloths. Written by Tammy Gegel (This book honors the memory of Austin Gegel, an Auglaize County, Ohio  4-H alumnus. The author, Tammy, is a former Auglaize County 4-H volunteer.)

 

“Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth by Eric CarleBook cover of "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth by Eric Carle

Pumpkins, please!

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several pumpkins in a fieldWith fall comes pumpkins, apples, leaves changing colors, and cooler weather!  Pumpkins offer a great way to incorporate hands-on learning.  Have fun using these seasonal items that are found abundantly this time of year.

Sprouting Pumpkin Seeds: Give each Cloverbud a clear cup, paper towel, cotton ball, craft stick and 4 pumpkin seeds.  Tear 3-inch-wide strips from the paper towel and place around the inside of the cup. Fill the center of the cup with cotton balls.  Help the Cloverbuds dampen the cotton balls by setting the cup under a dripping faucet. The cotton will then get the paper towel wet too.  No water should drip to the bottom of the cup. Put the pumpkin seeds between the cup and the paper towel. Place on a sunny windowsill.

Pumpkin Sink or Float: Gather 3 pumpkins.  Place a tub of water that is deep enough for pumpkins to float without touching the bottom. Get a large pumpkin, small pumpkin, and then a pumpkin with the seeds removed.  Let the Cloverbuds hold the pumpkins and guess what they think will happen when they place the pumpkins in the water. Then, test the pumpkins.

Pumpkin Pie in a Bag: Not only are pumpkins perfect for the fall but they have many health benefits too.  Pumpkins are rich in vitamins and minerals and low in calories.  You can eat fresh or canned pumpkins.  Try pumpkin pie in a bag.  Cloverbuds love this! Setting up an assembly line makes it fun and easy to make. Click here for a list of ingredients and directions.

Tic-Tac-Toe: Using small pumpkins/gourds, have at least four of these of two different colors (orange and white for example).  Draw a tic-tac-toe board.  Give the Cloverbuds the pumpkins to use for their pieces of the game.

five pumpkins of different sizes and colors

Guess the weight of the pumpkin: Have a variety of pumpkins for youth to see.  Members can vote on how much each pumpkin weighs.

Pumpkin ring toss: Use a hula hoop and place pumpkins around.  Have the Cloverbuds throw the hula hoop to see if they can get it on the pumpkin.

Pumpkin Mini Golf: Carve some pumpkins and have mini golf equipment.  The Cloverbuds can try to hit the ball into the pumpkin.

Have fun with your Cloverbuds this fall!

Resources
Pumpkins…Not Just for Halloween-agclassroom.org/matrix/lessons/131/
National 4-H Council. 2006. After School Agriculture: Acres of Adventure. shop4-h.org/collections/afterschool-agriculture-acres-of-adventure-series.

Images from stock.adobe.com

She Sells Seashells by the Seashore

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Large collection of sea shells

Summertime fun is upon us which means many families might be taking a summer vacation. The beach is a popular vacation spot. And what do people often collect from the beach? Seashells, of course! Talking with your Cloverbuds about seashells is a fun summer activity. Ask an advisor, parent, or youth member if they have seashells they have collected from a recent vacation. Set the shells on a table and take time to explore all the differences.

Explain to your Cloverbuds that seashells are uniquely different in size, shape, and color. No two are exactly alike! Ask your Cloverbuds:

  • How are the edges different? Are they smooth or rough?
  • Are the shells flat or curved?
  • Are the shells pointy or round?
  • What colors and patterns do the Cloverbuds see?

Depending on the age of your Cloverbuds, you might ask them what type of creatures live in seashells—hermit crabs, scallops, snails, clams, and so forth. If possible, show the Cloverbuds pictures of these creatures.

Now ask your Cloverbuds to use their creativity to make their own seashell. Ask them to think about the features they observed. Will their shell be wide and wavy, or small and spiky?

You will need:

  • a plain paper plate for each Cloverbud
  • scissors
  • pencils
  • crayons, markers, or colored pencils
  • glue
  • optional decorations: glitter, sequins, buttons, tissue paper, or sand
  1. To form a basic seashell shape, fold the paper plate in half like a taco shell.
  2. Use a pencil to draw the outline of a seashell such as a scallop, clam, or spiral shell.
  3. Cut out the seashell shape.
  4. Use crayons or markers to draw curved lines or ridges.
  5. Decorate the seashell. Be creative!

Another fun activity is to write questions on a beach ball with permanent marker. Ask the Cloverbuds to stand in a circle and toss the ball. When a Cloverbud catches the ball, they answer the question that is closest to the thumb on their right hand. You might include questions such as What is your favorite ocean animal? What is your favorite fruit? What is your favorite popsicle flavor? and so forth.

There are many fun beach-themed books that your Cloverbuds might enjoy. Check your library for favorites such as “Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach” by James Dean, “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister, “Duck & Goose Go to the Beach” by Tad Hills, or “Commotion in the Ocean” by Giles Andreae.

Have a great summer!

NOTE: This summertime topic pairs will with Chapter 19–Nature Fun or Chapter 23–Habitats are Homes found in the Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities.

Image from stock.adobe.com

 

“Bee” A Pollinator

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Spring and summer are exciting for children, and Cloverbud meetings can add to the excitement. Consider this engaging pollinator activity to help Cloverbuds learn about the process of pollination.

You will need:

  • Yellow pom-poms
  • Hot glue – use with adult supervision
  • Black pipe cleaners
  • Jumbo craft sticks
  • lid or plate to hold “pollen”
  • Cheese balls

What to do:

  1. Have the Cloverbuds line up and begin using the hot glue (with adult supervision) to attach their yellow pom-poms. Place the pom-poms close together near the tip of a craft stick. Leave room in between the pom poms to attach pipe cleaners.
  2. Take a black pipe cleaner and wrap it around the stick between the two pom-poms. Twist the second pipe cleaner around the stick to secure them in place.
  3. Shape the pipe cleaner into four bendy bee legs.
  4. Set up the pollination station by crushing cheese balls and placing in a lid or on a plate. Use an empty plate to collect the pollen. You can make the plate look like a flower to enhance excitement.
  5. Take the bee and dip their legs into the container of pollen. Once there is a good amount of pollen sticking to the legs, fly them over to the empty jar lid and drop off some pollen. Continue this step until you feel like the flower has been fully pollinated.

Talk to the Cloverbuds about the importance of pollination. Explain that pollination is a process that helps plants produce fruits such as apples, strawberries, and oranges, and it enables the formation of seeds for new flowers. Thanks to pollination, we have a wide variety of delicious foods to enjoy. Pollination is not just vital for food. It is also essential for producing everyday items like cotton for clothing and wood for furniture. Without pollinators like bees and butterflies, many plants would struggle to reproduce, leading to a shortage of food and materials. Therefore, it is crucial to protect our pollinators by ensuring they have plenty of flowers to visit and suitable habitats in which to live.

Include literacy in this activity by reading The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive.

Incorporating fun and exciting ways to teach various STEAM topics can greatly enhance your Cloverbuds’ learning experience. Hands-on activities make learning fun!

Source: blog.kaplanco.com/ii/pollination-steam-craft

Helping Cloverbuds Explore Nature with Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Resources

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The temperature outside is warming up, trees are greening, flowers are blooming – it must be spring! This is the perfect time to think about getting our Cloverbuds outside and exploring nature! At this age youth learn through exploration and direct experience. Our natural world is the perfect setting for this exploration and learning to take place.

You might ask yourself why it is important to expose young children to nature. A study done by experts at Stanford University looked at articles and studies about the benefits of environmental education. These studies show that environmental education improves knowledge in science, mathematics, reading and writing as well as 21st century skills like critical thinking, problem solving and communication. Environmental education also improves emotional and social skills like self-esteem.

Another article from the University of Florida Extension talks specifically about connecting youth to nature during early childhood. The article talks about benefits to physical health like increased likelihood for physical activity and improved gross motor skills. The article also talks about cognitive development. It says that exposure to nature can decrease stress levels, promote longer attention spans and foster creativity.

Allowing children to explore nature can also build empathy for living beings and foster environmental stewardship. Children learn about the delicate balance of nature and are inspired to protect our planet. Research shows that children involved in environmental education participate in environmentally friendly behaviors such as recycling, reducing water use and participating in community cleanups.

Being outside with friends and family helps promote relationships and creates lifelong memories. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of tractor rides with my sister and cousins in my grandparents’ woods. My grandpa would stop the tractor and let us explore. We would swing on vines, climb on fallen trees and enjoy the time together.

There are many ways to get outside with your Cloverbuds. The Ohio 4-H Cloverud Program provides a variety of resources to help you. The Big Book of Cloverbud Activities which can be purchased through Ohio Extension offices or from Extension Publications is full of activities related around the natural world. The section about animals and environmental and earth sciences are a perfect place to start. The ant antics activity where Cloverbuds learn about ant body parts and make an ant from marshmallows and pipe cleaners is a fun activity.

This Cloverbud Connections blog is another place to search for fun activities. A quick search with the word nature resulted in several helpful articles. One by Extension Specialist, Theresa Ferrari gives several ideas for scavenger hunts. Lindsey VanGundy, 4-H Educator and Cloverbud Design Team member gives ideas for fall fun in her article, “Fall Fun with Cloverbuds”. Rebecca Supinger, who is also a 4-H Educator and leader of the Cloverbud Design Team, describes outdoor activities for Cloverbuds in her article, “Getting Outside with Cloverbuds”. Aubrey Fowler, 4-H Educator, also gives great ideas in her article “Time to Get Outdoors”

Another great resource for activities are Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Click and Do Activities. One we recently highlighted is called Nature Color Match written by Bruce Zimmer who also serves on the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Design Team. This activity lets Cloverbuds see all the different shade of a particular color in nature by using paint color chips to match colors. The sky has been in the news recently with the eclipse in April and the aurora borealis in May. It is the perfect time to use the Find the North Star activity to explore the night sky.

Reading to Cloverbuds is another great way to connect to nature and build literacy skills. Ohio 4-H Reading Adventures connect books with activities to enhance the learning. Several reading adventures feature books that relate to nature. Jan Brett’s book, The Umbrella, takes readers to a cloud forest. Activities for this book guide Cloverbuds and making a cloud in a jar and fun nature themes snacks. The reading adventure for the book, Diary of a Worm, by Dorine Cronin, feature an activity where youth measure gummy worms. This fun activity promotes math skills.

No matter what you choose to do with your Cloverbuds outside you are providing many benefits. Take a minute to explore all the resources Ohio 4-H has to help you.

 

Camp Season is Just Around the Corner!

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Are you looking for ways to increase participation in your county’s 4-H Cloverbud program? Consider holding a multi-day Cloverbud Day Camp with a wide range of activities designed to engage and excite your Cloverbuds.

Each year, Union County, Ohio hosts a two-day Cloverbud Day Camp. Due to the large number of Cloverbuds in the county, registration is limited to 75 Cloverbuds. Camp is held at the Union County Extension office.

The camp theme in 2023 was “In My Back Yard”. Campers were divided into groups with teen counselors providing leadership. Adult extension staff and 4-H volunteers taught the educational sessions.

Camper groups were named after Ohio birds—Blue Jay, Robin, Goldfinch and Cardinal. Each morning started with songs. Then the groups rotated through four educational lessons. Each lesson focused on animals. Cloverbuds learned about the different birds in Ohio and painted birdhouses. They went on an outside adventure to look for and learn about different animal tracks. Another session was about animal habitats and Cloverbuds created a terrarium in a baby food jar. The final session was a nature game show. They ate lunch outside and had rest time after lunch. The day ended with a big pool noodle game carnival where Cloverbuds used tokens to play each game.

Day two was an exciting day for the Cloverbuds. Camp organizers chartered two Ohio State University buses and took the Cloverbuds to

4-H Camp Clifton. When they arrived at Camp Clifton, they participated in a nature scavenger hunt. After the scavenger hunt, they ate lunch at the campfire circle. The adult staff made smores for each Cloverbud to enjoy. Cabins were used for rest time and changing into swimsuits. Cloverbuds swam in the pool all afternoon. They returned to the Extension office at 3p.m. and then departed for home.

Cloverbud Day Camp was a huge success, thanks to the teens and adult volunteers. Camp continues to grow each year. So, if you are looking for a way to expand your Cloverbud program, consider adding a Cloverbud Day Camp. Whether you host a one-day camp, a two-day camp, or even longer camp, it is a great way to create excitement for your county’s Cloverbud program.

From Polliwog to Grown Up Frog

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Frogs are fascinating creatures! Here are some fun facts and activities about frogs for your Cloverbuds. There are many interesting facts about frogs, many books to read (both fiction and nonfiction), crafts to do, snacks to make and even songs to sing! Want to learn more about frogs? Let’s hop to it!

Have you ever seen what looked like little jelly eyeballs floating in the water? What could these be? They may have been frog eggs. Frogs lay their eggs in water and the eggs hatch into polliwogs, also known as tadpoles. Polliwogs live completely in the water, they have no legs yet for jumping, just a tail for swimming! As a polliwog grows, it develops legs and becomes a full-grown frog. Once it is a grown-up frog, it can live on the land.

Ribbit, ribbit, how far can you jump?!   (let’s see how far you can jump like a frog!)

Frogs are amphibians. They can live both in the water and on land. Frogs can be very small or very large. Some frogs can weigh up to 7 pounds while others are so small, they can sit on a dime. Frogs live everywhere in the world but Antarctica, and have been around as long as the dinosaurs! Where can you find frogs near you? (Ask Cloverbuds to share their ideas.) *Note: if you have a nearby location with a frog population, you might want to take your Cloverbuds on a frog adventure!

All frogs are green, right? Not true! Frogs can be yellow, red, orange, blue and even purple! What color of frog would you like to be? Check out this frog coloring page for your Cloverbuds to color as they wish. (You might show some pictures of colorful frogs).

There are many frog crafts available that are suited for the Cloverbud age level. Here is one that you can use or feel free to search for other options that your group might enjoy.

Supplies you will need for this craft:

  • Paper plates
  • Frog feet cut from green construction paper (4 per child)
  • Markers/color pencils/crayons
  • Party horns
  • Jiggly eyes
  • Glue
  • Scissors (adults may want to cut the hole so that it is the proper size.)

What to do:

Give each Cloverbud a paper plate. They will fold the plate in half. Have the Cloverbuds decorate the outside of the plate to look like a frog. Cut a hole in the center of each plate at the fold. The hole should be big enough to slide the party horn in snugly. Glue the jiggly eyes on the top side of the plate. Glue the feet on the bottom side of the plate. Insert the horn into the hole in the plate. Complete–a frog ready to catch some flies!

Would your Cloverbuds like a frog snack that will make them smile? Try the Apples Smiles recipe found in Fall Festival: A Harvest of Fun section of the Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities. To make the smiles look like frogs, substitute a slice of strawberry (replacing the marshmallows) to look like a frog’s tongue. To take an extra leap, place a gummy worm so it appears to be hanging out of the frog’s mouth. Enjoy!

Your Cloverbuds might enjoy these books about frogs—How Does A Tadpole Grow? and I Don’t Want to be a Frog. 

Camp songs are always fun! Try this funny song about frogs.

LITTLE GREEN FROG

Um Ah, went the little green frog one day
Um Ah, went the little green frog
Um Ah, went the little green frog
and his eyes went Um Ah, Um Ah, Um Ah Ah
Beep, beep, went the big Mack truck one day
Squish Squash, went the little green frog
and his eyes diddn’t go Um Ah, anymore
’cause they both got eaten by a dog Woof Woof!

Gestures:
Um-Hands in and closed
Ah-Hands out and open
Beep-Pulling Mack truck horn motion
Squish-press hands together like your squishing something
Squash-Same as above

“Toad-ally” funny jokes to share with your Cloverbuds! 

What kind of music do frogs like best? (Hip hop)
Why are frogs such good basketball players? (They always make their jump shots)
Where do frogs go for breakfast? (IHOP)
What do frogs play during recess? (Hop-scotch)
What do frogs eat in the summer? (Hopsicles)

We hope that your Cloverbuds enjoy learning about frogs. A good way to end this meeting may be to ask your Cloverbuds what other animals they would like to learn about.

Sources:
annex.exploratorium.edu/frogs/mainstory/index.html
unsplash.com/s/photos/frog

 

Fall Fun with Cloverbuds

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Autumn is here! Temperatures are getting cooler and days are getting shorter. Fall is a favorite of many families. There are so many things to enjoy about the fall, but what happens when chilly and rainy days upset your plans for a sun-filled perfect autumn day? Most of the following activities can be done inside, with warm dry clothes, still creating seasonal memories with your Cloverbuds.

Rainy Weather? Go out Anyway! In his 1973 book, “Coast to Coast”, Alfred Wainwright wrote “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” Sometimes, rainy days make the best days outdoors. Popular outdoor areas, like pumpkin patches, the zoo, and the parks see a reduced attendance rate on less than picture perfect days, so you’ll have smaller crowds. Places like the zoo or aquarium have interspersed buildings that can provide a quick place to duck in if the weather is especially blustery. If you’re looking for an inexpensive outdoor experience, local metro parks or your own backyard are the perfect solution. Take your Cloverbuds (be sure to tell parents in advance so they can dress their Cloverbud for the weather) on a wet weather scavenger hunt for the biggest and smallest puddle, see who can create the biggest splash, find animals tracks in the mud, or make leaf boats to float. A bonus of parks and trails is gathering fallen leaves or materials to use to make art but be sure to leave the wildflowers for others to enjoy. (Know and follow your local park guidelines. Some have policies that state the only thing you should take is pictures.) So be prepared for a little rain and a little mud. Pack that extra change of clothing, strap on those rainboots, grab the raincoat, and enjoy the wet weather!

Looking for indoor activities to use with your Cloverbuds this fall? If you have leaves available in your backyard (or collected after a hike), use them to make some amazing works of art. Leaves can be used to make a nature art frame, or used outside for games and activities. Fall wildflowers such as ironweed and goldenrod make beautiful backgrounds for your frame too.

Thinking ahead to upcoming holidays, floral arrangements or wreaths make excellent indoor activities. Using materials from the discount store and hot glue, fun fall decorations can be made with budget friendly materials. Cut the center out of a paper plate and glue leaves and pinecones around the edges for a fall look or go spooky with tissue ghosts and black construction paper handprints.

Homemade play dough never goes out of style and can be used more than once if it is stored properly. Check your spice cabinet and add cinnamon, pumpkin or apple pie spice, or nutmeg to create a fragrant hands-on fall theme play day! Be sure to tell Cloverbuds not to eat the homemade play dough.

Carve pumpkins and use the seeds to make a salty snack or dye them and use for counting, making patterns, color sorting or creating seasonal art! Learn how to dye the harvested seeds and find a list of STEAM seed activities here.

Don’t forget to check out the Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch in a few weeks to register those apple crunches for Ohio which helps celebrate October as Farm to School month. Every tasty bite counts!

Resources:

childsplayabc.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/leaf-boats-and-rafts/

honeyandlime.co/fall-leaves-wreath-craft-for-kids/

munchkinfunathome.com/arts/playdough

messylittlemonster.com/2020/10/how-to-dye-pumpkin-seeds.html

The Nature Connection: Get Your Cloverbuds Outside with Scavenger Hunts

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If you’re looking to take advantage of time to be outside during the summer months with your Cloverbuds, consider a nature scavenger hunt.

The Nature Connection

Being out in nature has positive benefits for both physical and mental health. Direct exposure to nature and the outdoors has been found to have a restorative and calming effect. It shifts focus, provides an escape, and may facilitate reflection. Although research hasn’t been able to pin down why there is such a health benefit, it could be due to an increase in physical activity. In addition, time spent in nature during childhood is associated with connectedness with nature, increased pro-environmental attitudes, and pro-environmental behaviors. However, we also know that children are spending less time outdoors than previous generations.

Scavenger Hunts: What and Why

A scavenger hunt is a game that starts with a prepared list of specific objects for participants to gather or locate. Scavenger hunts are more than just a way to keep children busy, they are a way to build critical thinking skills and have fun at the same time.

There are many reasons to consider a scavenger hunt.

  • They don’t require many supplies.
  • They can be as simple or elaborate as you want.
  • They can be played with individuals or with teams.
  • They can be customized to a variety of age groups.
  • They are adaptable to small or large groups.
  • They can be played in various ways.

Adult leaders can plan the scavenger hunt or turn it over to teen leaders to create it (given some parameters). To create a scavenger hunt, you’ll need to decide on the game parameters. Make sure to define if anything is off limits. Then follow these basic steps.

  1. Make a list of items for participants to find or things to do. A Google search will also turn up printable scavenger hunt sheets. There are some nature-related scavenger hunts to check out.
  2. Define the search area (backyard, neighborhood, park, etc.).
  3. Decide on a time limit for completion.
  4. Decide how you will complete the game: Is it finding the most items? Or is the goal for everyone to find the items and share what they found?

Scavenger Hunt Ideas

  • Items in nature: leaf, flower, feather, rock, twig, acorn, pinecone, bird’s nest, animal tracks, etc. Check out these sites for some ideas for a nature scavenger hunt.
  • Items that are a particular color or shape
  • Items that involve the senses: something smooth, something soft, something you can hear, something you can smell, etc.
  • Items to correspond to letters of the alphabet
  • Mix and match to add some challenge: a yellow flower, a smooth stone, a blue bird.
  • If you don’t want to or can’t remove items from their natural environment, take photos.

Ways to Extend the Learning

  • Mindfulness is a way to bring connection between the brain, body, and behavior. This Iowa State University activity sheet for Mindful Nature Hike Bingo provides a lesson plan for making the connection between nature and mindfulness.
  • Books are always a good way to introduce or extend the learning on a topic. This site gives suggestions for books about nature.
  • Project Learn Tree© has 12 nature walk activities, including a scavenger hunt.

Whatever you decide for your scavenger hunt, have fun doing it!

 

References

DeVille, N. V., Tomasso, L. P., Stoddard, O. P., Wilt, G. E., Horton, T. H., Wolf, K. L., Brymer, E., Kahn, P. H., Jr., & James, P. (2021). Time spent in nature is associated with increased pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), Article 7498. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147498

Hartig, T., Mitchell, R., De Vries, S., & Frumkin, H. (2014). Nature and health. Annual Review of Public Health, 35, 207–228. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182443

Jiminez, M. P., DeVille, N. V., Elliott, E. G., Schiff, J. E., Wilt, G. E., Hart, J. E., & James, P. (2021). Associations between nature exposure and health: A review of the evidence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), Article 4790. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094790

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