Connect with Nature at Home

Are you missing a connection to nature? Are you looking for natural science activities to keep kids engaged in learning? Our nature centre staff have put together a fantastic list of activities for the young and the young at heart. A little creativity can go a long way to getting your dose of Vitamin 'N' (Nature)!  

We'd love to see and hear about the wonderful things you create and learn. Be sure to tag us on Facebook and Twitter.

Colour Me! 

These three printable colouring pages feature creatures native to the Grand River watershed. Create some art and learn a little about the species, too.

1. North American beaver (600KB PDF) 
2. Southern flying squirrel (300KB PDF)
3. Timberdoodle (400KB PDF)

Grand River Detective Challenge

Attention intermediate detectives: Click your way to discovery by answering a series of questions about the Grand River watershed, using our website. Sleuths who complete this challenge are promoted to Chief Detective! To start the challenge download the Grand River Detective Challenge question sheet (80KB PDF).

The answers to the challenge can be found here (135KB PDF).

Read ALL the books

Reading is a tried and true way to escape, dream, learn, discover, and if you can't be in nature, why not read about it! Search for books on a topic that piques your interest: conservation, natural history, flora and fauna, rivers, forests and trees, inspirational, birdwatching, ecology, photography, environmentalism....

Tip: Check your local library's digital book selections.

Nature Crafting 

Our nature centre staff not only have a deep love of the natural world, they're wonderfully creative, too. Collect natural materials such as stones and dried flowers to make a nature mobile  (400KB PDF) to hang in your window.

40 Ways to Connect with Nature in Your Backyard

Connecting with nature at home doesn't have to be difficult. It only takes a visit to your yard! Here's an inspired list of things you can do to connect with nature at home.

1. Build your own bird's nest.
2. With your family, make a plan to add wildlife-friendly features to your yard.
3. Use a magnifying glass to explore your yard.
4. Make your own nature 'perfume'. Fill a cup with things that smell good!
5. Use markers to draw patterns on leaves.

...and 35 others! Download 40 Ways to Connect with Nature in Your Backyard (111KB PDF).

A Dose of Vitamin 'N' - Indoor Version

Living in an apartment or condo with limited access to a yard? Here are seven activities that you can do inside to help bring nature indoors:

1. Draw or paint your favourite plant, animal or landscape.
2. Keep a nature journal of the seasonal changes and activity you see outside.
3. Explore a new nature documentary or nature-based TV show.
4. Learn a new bird call. Here is a great resource from allaboutbirds.org.
   
5. Put your skills to the test and build a shelter for one of your stuffed animals.
6. Make a diorama of your favourite nature landscape.
7. Look out the window. Can you spot clouds shaped like different animals? 

Frog Calls: More Than "Ribbit"! 

Spring is filled with many wonderful nature noises, and birds aren't the only ones making all the music. Frogs and toads make a symphony of music, too. Would you like to be able to identify a frog or toad by its call? Check out these great frog call resources (170KB PDF) and you'll be well on your way to becoming an expert. 

Let's BEE Friends

Pollination is the transfer of pollen between and within flowers in order to produce seeds. Pollinators, such as bees, help transfer pollen. Did you know that about 1/3 of the food we eat comes from plants that produce seeds? That's just one reason pollinators are so important! Here are three online resources with great information and fun activites for learning about our buzzy bee friends: 

1. Check out this fun and fact-filled video by Hinterland Who’s Who about pollinators.
2. Fantastic bee and pollinator crafts and activities for kids by the Edmonton Earth Trust.