Winter Activity Ideas

Feeling stuck inside and need some fun ideas on activities to do outside with your friends or family? These ideas below will have you actively involved in the outdoors, even in the Colorado cold and snow!

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Make your own pine cone bird feeder! Birds have a much harder time finding food in the winter because many of the food sources (i.e. seeds, berries, etc.,) are only available in the spring and summer months. Not only does this make finding food trickier, but the harsher weather can make finding food even more difficult. 

Materials

1. Pine Cones

2. Almond butter, peanut butter, or sun butter. (We use sun butter just in case kids have peanut allergies.)

3. Bird Seed

4. Twine, string, or yarn

5. Scissors

6. Butter knife or craft stick

7. Paper plates or bowls

8. Recommended: Paper towels or hand wipes!

9. Optional: clothesline (for drying)

Directions

1. Tie a piece of string near one end of your pinecone; you will use this to hang your bird feeder up when it’s done.

2. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter around the sides and bottom of the pinecone with the butter knife. You want the peanut butter to be  just thick enough so that the bird seed can stick on. (If you use more than you need, the extra stickiness can make it more dangerous for the birds to eat the seeds because they might choke.)

3. Sprinkle the bird seed over the peanut butter so that it sticks onto the pinecone.  You may need to use your fingers to press it into the peanut butter to make sure it sticks. Another option is to put the birdseed in a bowl or scatter some onto a paper plate, and then roll the pinecone through the birdseed.

4. Then, take your bird feeder and hang it from your house or a tree!

Frozen Suncatchers

Frozen suncatchers are the perfect winter decoration to hang outside your home! To start, you’ll need to collect some natural materials you want to incorporate into your suncatcher. Parts of plants, leaves, berries, grasses, and pine needles are all great ideas. Once you have collected all materials, you’ll need a plate, or small container to make your suncatcher in. 

Tip: The more flat and shallow your plate or container, the faster your suncatcher will freeze. Your suncatcher will also be easier to hang and will catch more light. 

Next, you’ll want to lay out your natural materials in the pattern you would like them to freeze. Pour some water over your plate/container, just covering the materials. Add a string into the water if you’re hoping to hang your suncatcher after it freezes. Wait for the water to completely freeze before carefully removing your suncatcher from the plate or container!

Idea from: https://runwildmychild.com/frozen-suncatchers/

Look for Animal Tracks and Make Your Own

Animal tracks are much easier to see in the snow. Go into your yard or on a walk and try to count how many animal tracks you find. Can you identify them? Look below for some common animal tracks that you may see in Colorado.

Once you’ve identified some of the common animal tracks near you, try making your own! You can use cardboard cutouts in the shape of your desired foot print and use them to make your very own tracks.