Acorn Necklace
Bring a bit of the autumn bounty closer to home with this charming acorn necklace. Adult supervision and assistance is needed for this craft.

Head out to your favorite oak tree to find an acorn top and a nut that fit together nicely.  Back at home, place the acorn top on a sturdy work surface and drill two small holes - from the top down - near the base of the stem. Thread a thin leather or silk cord through the holes and knot the ends together so the knot is tucked up inside the acorn top (be sure the finished length of the cord will fit around your head). Now, glue the acorn nut to the acorn top with a strong, permanent glue. Let dry, and it's ready to wear. If you wish to further adorn your necklace, add beads prior to threading the cord through the acorn top. You can also make the necklace length adjustable by creating a loop at the back of the necklace and stringing on a tight-fitting bead that can slide up and down.

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Pumpkin Carved Naturally
Carving jack O' lanterns is certainly a tradition of the season. This natural, face-less lantern adds a little flair (and twinkle) to the standard version. (An adult is needed for this craft.)

First, draw or photocopy a branch design to fit your pumpkin. (Make sure your design has no overlapping limbs.) Now, cut off the pumpkin top and scrape the interior clean. Transfer your design onto your pumpkin, and carve, first making shallow cuts with a small blade at a 45° angle for precision, then making larger cuts with a serrated carving tool. Now, with an electric drill fitted with a small bit, create holes at the branch tips for a berry effect.
Next, cut a hole for an electrical plug in the back of pumpkin, near its base. Through the top opening, place indoor-outdoor twinkle lights inside your pumpkin, feeding the cord and plug through the hole in the back. From interior, poke individual lights into berry holes, keeping the remaining lights inside pumpkin or trailing out the back if desired.

(Adapted from sunset.com)

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Constellation Canister
While you're searching for planets in the night sky, take time to learn the constellations - they often offer a reference point in finding your planetary point of light. Here's a fun way to practice:

Using a photocopied version of a star guide (or the templates provided by NASA), cut out a constellation and place it on the bottom of a film canister. Now, using a pushpin, punch a small hole through the paper and the canister for each star in the pattern. Hold the film canister up to the light and look through it to make sure you have punched the holes all the way through. You should see light through each hole. Take the pattern off the canister and remember to label your canister with a strip of masking tape on the side and the name of your constellation. Make one or several constellation canisters.
Now you can quiz yourself: Choose one of the canisters and read the name. Look through it to try to remember the pattern. Slowly turn the canister and observe. Try to learn the constellations without looking at the names. Then go outside to find the patterns in the night sky!

(Nature Craft adapted from NASA)

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Recycled Crayons
Homemade gifts always warm the heart. One that's recycled, can serve double duty as a both a thoughtful gift and a reduction of waste. These recycled crayons can be made in any shape but are shown here formed in heart-shaped muffin tins - you can get as creative as the supplies available at your house allow. Here's how to get started:
Use a table knife to chop old crayons (paper peeled off) into pea-size pieces (parental assistance may be necessary). Take care to keep colors separate so inspired color combinations can be created. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 150 degrees. Now, fill muffin tins with crayon pieces, arranging them in interesting designs.
Bake your new crayons just until the waxes melt, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the shapes after they have cooled. If they stick, place the tray in the freezer for an hour, and the crayons will pop out.
Don't forget to make a set for yourself!

(Nature Craft from MarthaStewart.com)

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Seed Feed for the Birds
When winter birds awake from their night-time torpor, they are in critical need of replenishing their stored fat in order to make it through the following night. Make breakfast a cinch for your feathered friends with these easy-to-make bird feeders.

With a pencil, poke a hole in the pointed end of an ice cream cone. Twist a knot in the end of a pipe cleaner and thread it into the ice cream cone and out the hole (the knot will hold the pipe cleaner in place). Use the table knife to spread the peanut butter on the outside of the cone (use soy nut butter or suet if you are concerned about nut allergies). Now, press circle cereal (like Cheerios) into the peanut butter to cover the cone. Sprinkle birdseed over the the entire thing, pressing it into the peanut butter with your fingers. Hang in an area where birds can safely perch nearby.

(Nature Craft adapted from Box Tops For Education)

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Skunk Suit
Who says costumes are only for October? Mid-winter days are perfect for skunking around - for real skunks and kid-skunks alike.

Start by cutting a large oval of white faux fur and sewing it on the front of a black, hooded sweatshirt. Next, cut a long strip of white faux fur and sew it, starting at the hood, down the back of the sweatshirt to the bottom. Make two ears by cutting four ear shapes from black faux fur and sewing each pair together. Then, sew both ears to the hood on either side of the white stripe.
To make the tail, cut a rectangle with a rounded end, from the black faux fur and a matching one from the white. Sew the two together, leaving the flat ends open. Stuff with fiberfill (or recycled packing peanuts), then sew the ends shut. Sew the flat end of the tail to the bottom rear of the sweatshirt. If you want your tail to stand up, sew nylon thread through the top of the tail and attach it to the back of the sweatshirt.
For finishing touches, use face paint to color your child's nose black and draw whiskers -- and you're ready to waddle through the snow, skunk style!

(Nature Craft adapted from FamilyFun.com)

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Marbled Eggs
Spring-time bird watching often includes witnessing birds making nests and, if you're lucky, laying eggs. Create your own beautiful bird eggs with this fun technique.

First, cover your work surface with newspaper and lay out a few paper towels for holding completed eggs. In each of several containers (i.e. coffee mugs), put one tablespoon each of vinegar, oil and food coloring. Repeat this for each color. Add enough water to each coloring mixture to cover an egg. Stir each mixture with a spoon to create a swirling motion. While the liquid is swirling, place a hard-boiled egg on a spoon and dip it down into the swirling mixture. Remove egg quickly. Pat the egg dry with a paper towel, and set it aside if you're satisfied with the color. If you're not satisfied you can repeat the process with a second color. Do as many color combinations as you like. When each egg is finished, pat it dry, leaving a little of the oil on the egg to give it a varnished look.

You may store the eggs in refrigerator until you're ready to eat them!

(Nature Craft from Kaboose.com)

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Go Organic for Earth Day
Organic food and cooking is good for you and the Earth. Supporting organic farming helps keep air, water, and soil clean by not using toxic and persistent pesticides. Here's a simple recipe to get you going - visit Go Organic for Earth Day for more ideas.

Organic Mac and Cheese Ingredients:
* 8 oz. organic elbow macaroni, fusilli, or other pasta
* 8 oz. organic cheddar cheese
* 12 oz. organic cottage cheese
* 8 oz. organic sour cream
* ¼ cup organic parmesan cheese
* Salt and pepper to taste
Try adding some locally grown organic asparagus - in season this April (just in time for purchase at a local farmer market like the one in Dane County).
Preheat oven to 350 F. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, cook pasta, adding chopped asparagus 3-4 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain. In a 9x13 inch baking dish, stir together all other ingredients. Bake 30 to 35 minutes.

(Nature Craft adapted from OrganicEarthDay.org)

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Homemade Fishing Rod
Hit the local lakes with this homemade fishing rod:

First, tie fishing line to the thicker end of a sturdy 4-5 foot stick (this will be the handle). Wrap the line in a spiral around the stick until you reach the tip. Tie the line firmly to the tip, but don't cut the line yet. Now, unroll the line about a foot longer than your stick, and cut it off the roll. You should have a continuous length of fishing line extending from the handle of your stick down to the hook. (That way, if the fishing rod breaks in the middle, you still have the line in your hand.) Tie a hook to the end of the line. Fasten a bobber to the middle of the line. You'll want to use a ball-shaped red and white bobber with a spring-loaded hook that will fasten it anywhere on the line.
Now you're ready to fish! For bait, use worms or other material from a sporting goods store.
Note: The best type of stick for your fishing rod is strong, yet slightly flexible. Bamboo, about one half-inch thick, would be ideal. Find something similar in your own yard or campground.

(Nature Craft from HowStuffWorks)

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Grass Baskets
Find some tall field grass, raffia or yarn to create a basket of prairie beauty:

Materials:
Poster board or cardstock circle (see pattern)
Dried tall field grass, raffia or yarn
Tape (We prefer duct or masking tape)
Scissors

Basket How-To:
1. Cut out circle, cutting only on the solid black lines. When you are done, the circle should look like a sun.

2. Fold up the "rays" of the "sun" so that they are all sticking up.

3. Tape a piece of yarn or grass to the center of the bottom of the circle and start weaving. If you run out of material, just tie the end of the old to the start of the new and continue weaving.

4. To finish your basket, simple take the remaining "tail" of your weaving material and twist it around the material underneath it and tuck it under. Curl the edges of the remaining poster board and voilá! What a beautiful basket!

To see examples of some steps, click here

Apple Prints
Apples are often best eaten, but their shapes can provide artistic inspiration.   Simply cut an apple in half from top to bottom, press the flesh side against a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture, and cover that side using an ink pad or poster paint in the color of your choice. You can use your apple stamp on bags, cards, book covers, or virtually any surface of your choice. Be sure to hold the apple down firmly and apply equal pressure to the top and sides. Reapply color after each application. Once the image has dried, you can use a paint marker to add a stem and leaf.

If you want a thicker image, you can brush fabric paint onto the surface of the apple. Set the paint by allowing it to dry, placing a press cloth over the image, and using an iron set on medium.

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Solar Cooker
S'mores needn't be saved for the campfire. Harness the energy of the sun and chef up a batch with a homemade solar cooker:
Start with a clean pizza box. On top, cut a square an inch smaller than the lid - only cut along three sides and then fold the cardboard up along the uncut line to form a flap. Now, keeping it as wrinkle-free as you can, glue aluminum foil, shiny side out, to the bottom of the flap and the inside bottom of the box. Tape black construction paper to the bottom of the box (on top of the foil). Next, tape clear plastic to the underside of the lid to seal the opening created by the flap. For best results, the seal should be as airtight as possible.
Place your oven outdoors in direct sunlight with the flap opened toward the sun. For each s'more, center two graham crackers on the construction paper. Top one with chocolate and the other with a marshmallow. Close the box and use a stick or dowel to prop the flap open at the angle that reflects the most sunlight into the box (check it periodically to adjust the angle). Within an hour the chocolate squares and marshmallows should melt enough to assemble into s'mores.

What's Happening: If you've learned about the greenhouse effect, you may have already guessed how the oven works. The foil flap gathers sunlight and reflects it through the plastic and into the oven, doubling the amount of incoming light. The black paper absorbs the light and converts it to heat, and the clear plastic allows the sun to shine in while keeping all that heat from escaping. (In the greenhouse effect, atmospheric gases allow sunlight to pass through to the earth's surface but keep the heat it generates from escaping back into space.) As more light hits the black paper, more heat is created and trapped. After an hour or so on a sunny day, the oven can be as hot as 275 degrees -- hot enough to melt chocolate and marshmallows.

(Nature Craft from FamilyFun.com)

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Fossil Fever
Though fossils are truly millions of years old, you can recreate the process of creating and discovering fossils with these two activities:

First, find items like shells, leaves or other found natural objects to "fossilize". For each "fossilized" item, place a large ball of clay on a piece of waxed paper and flatten it into a thick circle. Make an impression in the clay by gently pressing in the object and then removing it. Now, prepare some plaster of Paris according to the package directions so that it has a smooth but thick consistency. Spoon plaster into each impression, thoroughly filling it in. Let the plaster dry completely (about 30 to 60 minutes), then peel away the clay to reveal the fossil.

Now try your hand at paleontology with this fun mixture:
Measure and mix together 1/4 cup of plaster of Paris, 1 Cup of Vermiculite (found at gardening center) and 1/2 cup of water. Put some in the bottom of a regular size paper cup. Fill about 1/4 full. Next, put in a small plastic or rubber dinosaur (again, shells or other found objects can be used) and bury it completely. Don't let any part of the dino remain uncovered. Set aside for 2 days. The mixture will turn hard (if measured correctly). Now peel away the paper cup and with a small hammer, chisel, and dry paint brush (and protective eyewear), unearth your buried fossil.

(Nature Crafts from Family Fun and ChildFun.com)

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Pinecone Fire Starters
Get the fire going this winter with these great fire starters made from pine cones:

First, spray muffin tins with the non-stick spray. Place one end of a wick (or use string in a pinch) in each muffin cup, allowing an end to hang over the side. Sprinkle some sawdust, crushed up leaves and acorn tops or cinnamon stick bits in each muffin cup. Next, melt candle, soy or paraffin wax in a double boiler over boiling water. (Or melt it in a coffee can in a pot of boiling water). If desired, add color and or essential oils when the wax is melted. Lower the heat a bit. Pour some of the hot wax into each muffin cup, covering the wick and set a pinecone upright into wax right away! Let them harden completely and then pop each cone out, one at a time. You can leave them au natural or coat the cones with wax, by grabbing a pinecone with a tongs by the bottom and dip the cone in the wax. Turn it to coat all over. Lift the cone over the wax for a few moments to allow the wax to harden. Dip again until well coated. Place pinecones on waxed paper to cool.

To light a fire, place a pinecone fire starter in between the logs and light the wick.
The wax base will keep the cone burning for up to ten minutes!

(Nature Craft from The Pine Cone Lady)

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Snow Accessories
With record amounts of snow this year, take advantage of the bounty and create some fun backyard accessories.

To make snow luminaries, pack snow into a nonstick or tinned steel Bundt pan. To release form, tap bottom of pan firmly. If snow "cake" doesn't come out in one piece, pack the snow in again and let the filled pan sit outside for about 30 minutes to harden, then release. Trim the wick of a pillar candle to 1/4 inch, so the flame stays small. Secure candle on a flat surface, such as a step, by packing snow around it. Once you have three forms, stack them over candle. Lightly spritz pillar with water; everything will freeze in place. To light the candle, use a long fireplace match.

You can also invite young friends to gather around a table made of snow. Tightly pack snow (wet snow works better than the powdery kind) into two large galvanized tubs, and leave it overnight to harden. Overturn one tub, unmold the snow, and then overturn the second tub on top. (To ease the way, set the frozen tubs inside a garage or a shed for a half hour to warm the snow.) For a seat, use the same trick and a 5-gallon bucket.

(Nature Craft from MarthaStewart.com)

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Twiggy Creatures
After collecting twigs, nuts, seeds and other natural materials, have fun creating all-natural animals and accessories. You can fashion your own or use some of the ideas below to get started.

To make a horse, use a hot glue gun to glue three twigs together to make the body. Glue a twig at one end for the neck, then add another twig for the head, and four twigs on the bottom for the legs. Add some moss for the tail and mane.
If you prefer a reindeer, make a body just as you did for the horse but with a smaller head. Do not add a mossy mane or tail but affix a tiny piece of twig standing upright for the tail. Now, add antlers by gluing branched twigs to the head.
You can also make mini furniture. Try crafting a stool from an upside-down acorn top or a hickory nut shell glued to three twigs formed in a tripod. Now add the table by cutting or breaking six twigs to the same length and gluing them together as the tabletop. Fill in the cracks with moss and glue four small twigs to each corner for the legs.
Tip: It is better to use twigs that you find on the ground than to cut green ones because they break more easily and are already dried and will not shrink.

(Nature Craft from "Nature Art Box" by Laura Martin)

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 Lion & Lamb Calendar
Determine for yourself if the old proverb is true with this simple and interactive craft.

First, talk to your children about what the saying "In like a lion, out like a lamb" might mean. What aspects of weather determine whether it is ferocious or gentle? List elements of weather like temperature, wind, rain, snow, etc. that describe each. Now, make lion and lamb drawings, cut outs, crafts or clip photographs of each from magazines.
Choose a particular time of day (right before lunch or supper are good times as it will help engage and include the children in dinnertime conversation). Each day, at the given time, have your child adhere the appropriate lamb or lion artwork on a calendar grid.
You can also add a bit of math and graphing practice by drawing a two column table with one side "Lion" and one side "Lamb". Have your child color one of the squares on either the lion or the lamb side (depending on what the weather is like) each day. And of course, you can add a bit of science and observation skills by recording the daily temperature.

Does your calendar begin with a Lion and end with a Lamb? Is March more lion- or lamb-like? Are you surprised at your results? What do you think will happen next year?

On blustery March days, warm up in the kitchen with a Lion and Lamb bread dough idea from FamilyFun.com.

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  Bald Eagle Pin
In large part due to awareness raised during the first Earth Day, use of the once popular insecticide DDT was banned in the US, ensuring the survival of our nation's emblem, the bald eagle. Commemorate the eagle's return from near-peril and the success of Earth Day with this safety pin craft.

Open thirteen safety pins and slip brown, blue, white and gold seed beads onto each one, using the pattern pictured above. Once all beads are in place, close each safety pin and use a needle-nose pliers to pinch the end of the safety pin so it will not pop open later. Once all the pins are beaded, you are ready to string them onto a larger safety pin (a two-inch pin will work for this pattern). Open the large safety pin and using a flat-head screwdriver, slightly pry apart the coils at the end. Slip the loop of the first beaded safety pin onto the large pin and pull it around the loop and up the back-side of the pin. Repeat this for each beaded safety pin. Once all your beaded safety pins are on your larger pin, use the pliers and squeeze the loop closed. You can now pin your new safety pin jewelry onto your shirt, hat, or shoelaces.

You can also try this Earth pin pattern to wear on April 22nd!

(Nature Craft adapted from About.com)

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What you need: assorted pony beads, small magnifying glass with jump ring or hole, small key ring flashlight with battery, compass key ring, whistle, string (can be elastic cord, yarn or break-away lanyards).

1. Cut necklace string. Make sure it's not too long, or it will catch on everything while hiking, but make sure there's enough room for you to string all of your supplies.

2. Take whistle and double knot the jump ring so it stays secure on the necklace. Put three pony beads to the right and left of it.

3. Repeat Step 2 with the key ring on the flashlight, the magnifying glass and the compass.

4. Your Hiking Necklace is done! Now you can go on a hike and be confidant that you can explore to the fullest extent!

(Nature Craft Adapted from MakingFriends.com) 

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What you need: coffee filter, washable markers, plate, spritz bottle (optional), pipe cleaners, yellow and black mini pom poms, googly eyes (optional), glue or glue gun.

1. Take a coffee filter, place on plate and color with markers.  

2. Squirt water (4-5 times) on coffee filter to make colors run. Try different angles for different looks and remember that a little water goes a long way! You can always add more if you desire a more marbled effect. Watch the colors run to create a totally new pattern!

3. While coffee filter dries (about a half hour), take black and yellow pom poms and glue to create a bumble bee body. Use a pipe cleaner to create antenna and add googly eyes if you want them. You can also substitute colored beads instead of pom poms.

4. Once coffee filter is dry, cut off 2-3 inches off a pipe cleaner and stick the longer end through the center of the filter.

5. Take the end that will be in the center of the flower and roll about 1 inch into a tight ball. This makes sure your flower won't fall off.

6. Scrunch your coffee filter around the pipe cleaner and then take the small part of the pipe cleaner from step 4 and wrap around the base of the coffee filter and pipe cleaner.

7. Add your pollinating bee to the flower and you're done!

(Nature Craft from www.dltk-holidays.com)

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What you need: an English muffin or bagel, cream cheese, yellow food coloring, small pretzel sticks, 2 raisins.

1. Take a small amount of cream cheese and put in a bowl with a couple drops of yellow food coloring. Mix until cream cheese is yellow, adding more food coloring if needed.

2. Spread cream cheese over half a bagel or English muffin. The bagel or English muffin can be toasted or untoasted depending on your preference.

3. Add raisins for eyes and break a pretzel into 3 pieces and arrange to make a smiling mouth.

4. Arrange pretzels around the outside for sunbeams.

5. Enjoy your culinary creation!

(Nature Craft from freekidcrafts.com)

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 What you need: stray socks, zip baggie, tape.

1. Gather up your stray socks and, once outside, put a sock on OVER your shoe and go for a nature hike. You can hike around your yard or around a park--the point is to get the sock dirty and pick up any seeds that may attach themselves.

2. After the hike is over, put the sock in a plastic zip bag with a squirt of water.

3. Tape the bag to a window that gets lots of sun and check daily to see your sock slowly sprout to life!

4. After the sock sprouts, investigate what types of plants might be growing on the sock. You will never view socks in the same way again!

(Nature Craft from education.com)

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What you need: scrap cardboard, yarn, googly eyes, 4 pipe cleaners, glue, scissors.

1. Cut a piece of cardboard 3 inches long and 2 inches wide. Also cut a piece of yarn 2 feet long. Set the cut piece of yarn aside.

2. Wrap a yard or two of yarn around the cardboard, making sure to have the yarn wrapped the longest way around the cardboard. Don't make it too tight, or you will not be able to get your yarn off, but don't make it too loose either.

3. Carefully remove the yarn loops, making sure to keep their shape, and place all four pipe cleaners on top of the loops. The loops and pipe cleaners should be placed vertically together. These pipe cleaners will be the legs of your spider.

4. Tightly tie the yarn you set aside around your yarn and pipe cleaner bundle.

5. Cut the yarn loops at their edges and trim to make a perfect circle. You can leave one loop uncut if you want to hang your spider.

6. Bend the legs and glue on googly eyes (Remember! Spiders have 8!), and add a string to your uncut loop if you want to hang your spider.

7. Congratulations, your spider is complete!

(Nature Craft from EnchantedLearning.com)

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What you will need: Leaves, pinecone, googly eyes, paper (orange and red scraps or white paper colored with markers), glue, and scissors.

1. Go on a nature autumn walk and collect various leaves and a pinecone. The leaves will be your turkey's tail, so be sure to collect pretty colors! (If you want you can take the nature walk a week before, collect your leaves, then press the leaves before making the craft to keep the leaves from getting crunchy.)

2. Arrange leaves in turkey tail shape on paper and then glue on.

3. Using lots of glue, glue the pinecone at the middle of the base of the fan.

4. Cut a beak from orange paper and a wattle from red; Paste these and googly eyes on pinecone.

5. After drying, proudly display your turkey on the kitchen fridge, your bedroom door, or wherever a turkey need be!

(Nature Craft adapted from http://www.dltk-holidays.com)

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What you need: 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, candy thermometer, small, clean glass jar, cotton string, CLEAN washer, pencil, few drops of flavoring, few drops of food coloring.

1. Tie washer to one end of spring and then tie the other end to the pencil. The string should be about two-thirds as long as the jar is deep.

2. Heat the water in a saucepan over medium high heat until it starts boiling. While waiting for the pot to boil, moisten the cotton string and roll it in the sugar. Place the string in the jar with the pencil on the mouth of the jar; the end of the string should not touch the jar.

3. Completely dissolve sugar in boiling water, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon until the solution grows clear and reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit on the candy thermometer. 

4. Remove from heat and stir in flavoring and/or color before carefully pouring into the jar.

5.  Let the sugar water sit for a few days where no one will bother it. Your crystals will begin to grow in a couple of hours, however it's best not to touch the jar until around 5 days after.

6. When your crystals are as big as you want them, take out the string and break the crystals off. Eat and enjoy!

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What you need: cardstock, sheets of regular paper (blank or lined), stapler, markers or crayons, anything else you want to use to decorate your journal.

1. Place cardstock on top of stack of regular paper and fold in half, hamburger style.

2. Staple on fold, making sure that staples go through all pages.

3. Use your markers and other stuff to decorate your cover!

4. Now you're ready to start journaling the chronicles of your nature adventures!  

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What you need: thick paper plate, 1/2 cup flour per plate, 4 tablespoons water per plate.

1. Mix flour and water together to make a paste. The paste should be the consistency of  putty. You don't need to add all of the water if your mixture gets sticky enough, or if you feel it's not sticky enough, feel free to add more water.

2. Take a handful of paste per plate and then use fingers to create a "moonscape" with mountains, craters, and valleys.

3. Allow your finished "moonscape" to dry overnight or until it is dry to the touch.

(Nature Craft from preschooleducation.com)

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What you need: leaves, paint, paint brushes, paper plate, paper, newspapers.

1. Create your workplace. Spread out newspapers over your workspace. Take your leaves and find the bumpy side of the leaf (the side with raised veins). Place paint on paper plate and paper on top of newspapers.

2. Take your leaves and spread a thin layer of paint on the bumpy side.

3. Press painted side to paper and then peel off.

4. Repeat steps 2-3 as needed.

5. Hooray! You have a spring leaf print!

(Nature Craft from scholastic.com)

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What you need: egg carton, tempera paint, glue, small brushes, a stick, scissors.

1. Cut out an egg cup and a spike from the egg carton.

2. Wet the cup and pat it rounder. Let it dry before going on to step 3.

3. Paint spike as mushroom stem and the convex side of the cup as mushroom cap.

4. After paint has dried, glue the open end of the spike to the concave side of the cup (the unpainted side).

5. Make a hole in the bottom of the stem. Glue the stick into the hole.

6. Leave undisturbed until the glue is dry and then stick in a plant or wherever you want to display it. 

7. Repeat steps 1-6 five more times if you want to create a fairy ring.

(Nature Craft from marcels-kid-crafts.com)

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 What you need: acrylic paint, flowerpot, brushes, soil, seeds.

1. Make sure your flowerpot is clean and dry.

2. Paint your flowerpot with whatever design you want to. It's fun to paint the flowers you plan to plant in your pots on the pots.

3. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours.

4. Add soil to pot and plant seeds as instructed to on package.

5. Water and put in a sunny spot!

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What you need: wide, flat craft stick, glow in the dark paint, black marker, googly eyes, tissue paper, scissors, glue.

1. Color half of stick with black marker.

2. Paint other half of stick with glow in the dark paint.

3. Glue eyes on unpainted end of stick.

4. While paint dries, cut tissue paper into four ovals for wings.

5. Glue wings on, two on each side.

6. Let your firefly dry in the sun, then take it out at night and watch it glow!

(Nature Craft based off SproutOnline.com)

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What you need: 4 parts water, 1 part white granulated sugar, clean hummingbird feeder*.

1.  Bring water to boil in small saucepot.

2. Take off heat and mix sugar until dissolved.

3. Allow mixture to cool.

4. Once nectar reaches room temperature, add to your clean hummingbird feeder*.

5. Replace nectar every three to four days and clean feeder*. Spoiled nectar looks cloudy. Unused nectar can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.

6. Food coloring or dyes should not be added to mixture--they're not healthy for hummingbirds. Neither should honey be substituted for sugar. Honey attracts bees and can grow black fungus that will cause a fatal liver and tongue disease in hummingbirds.

* Instructions To Wash Feeder. DO NOT USE SOAP. Instead, use hot tap water and a brush. Make sure there is no black mold.  This mold is, as mentioned above, deadly to hummingbirds. If there is mold, soak in a mixture of 1/4 cup bleach and 1 gallon water for 1 hour. It is essential to wash in between every refilling. At least once a month, allow your feeder to soak in full-strength white vinegar for an hour before cleaning.

(Nature Craft from BestNest.com and Hummingbirds.net)

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What you need:  shoe box, construction paper, string, hole puncher, scissors, markers, glue, tape, crayons, anything else you can think of that could help make your underwater world.

1. Cut out shapes from construction paper for fish, plants and other underwater creatures (like crawdads, tadpoles, frogs, snails) and decorate them with markers.

2. Arrange in the shoe box like a diorama using the hole punches and string to make fishes appear to "swim" and small folded strips of paper to make other underwater creatures and plants pop up. Use your creativity!

3. Show off your underwater world!

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What you need:  1 sheet construction paper, small torn squares of tissue paper in fall colors, 1 sheet heavy weight self-stick laminating film (recommended: Con-Tact paper, scissors, glue stick, toothpick, ribbon, suction cup hanger

1. Peel back half the backing from the laminating film--make sure to leave the other half alone!  

2. Place tissue paper squares on sticky side. You can make them overlap or make patterns with them.

3. Take the remaining backing off the half of the laminating film you left alone and carefully place it over the tissue, sealing the tissue in. Be sure to press out any air bubbles you find.

4. Trim off overlapping film and throw away.

5. Taking your piece of construction paper, fold it in half and cut out a leaf shape so you have two leaves.

6. Glue the very tips of the leaves together. Then cut out the center of both leaves, leaving a 1/2-inch border.

7. Using your leaf frame as a guide, trim your laminated tissue paper.

8. Glue laminated tissue paper into frame.

9. Poke hole in the tip of your leaf for a hanger.

10. Insert a piece of ribbon through the hole and tie a knot. Hang on suction cup hanger.

11. Hang your leaf for the world to enjoy!

(Nature Craft from Kids' Crafts)

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What you need: construction paper, markers, tape.

1. Cut out shapes out of paper. They can be any kind you want: hearts, stars, birds, anything!  

2. Decorate your cutouts with markers.

3. Tape your cutouts to your windows so birds know that something's there and to avoid it!  

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What you need: pinecones, birdseed, peanut butter (Crisco works if you are allergic to peanut butter), butter knife, paper plate, and string.

1. Tie 8" string around middle of pinecone. Make a loop.

2. Pour birdseed on plate.

3. Take knife and spread peanut butter or Crisco over the pinecone. Be sure not to get peanut butter on the loop part of the string!

4. Roll peanut butter-covered pinecone in plate of birdseed, making sure to cover all the peanut butter with seed.

5. Hang your bird feeder on a tree branch, preferably outside a window so you can see the birds come and enjoy it!

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What you need: black light and objects to test (check out this site for interesting ideas).

1. Examine your objects in natural light. What colors are they?

2. Plug or screw in a black light and turn it on.

3. Turn off other lights and cover any windows so your black light is the only light in the room.

4. Put your objects under or near the black light. Are there any changes in color? Do they glow? Glowing means they have a fluorescence activator in them!

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What you need: tan, white and brown construction paper, small piece of yellow construction paper, markers, pencils, gluestick, scissors.

1. Fold brown construction paper in half and trace hand with fingers slightly spread. Cut out so you have two hand shapes.

2. Trace your bare foot on tan construction paper and cut out.

3. Using the white and yellow construction paper, create feet and a head for your eagle.

4. Position your footprint heel-side up. Glue white head to heel.

5. Place handprints with fingers pointing downwards as wings (see picture) and glue in place.

6. Add feet to your bird.

7. Draw feathers, decorate your eagle, and you're done!

(Nature Craft from freekidscrafts.com)

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What You Need: paper cups, popsicle stick, brown construction paper, crayons or markers, glue, googly eyes (optional).

1. Cut a circle and a larger oval out of the brown construction paper. Cut two smaller circles as well. The oval shall be your body and the circle and small circles the head and ears. 

2. Make a face on the circle using crayons, markers or googly eyes.

3. Glue the ears to the head. Then glue both the head and the body to the popsicle stick.

4. Cut a small slit in the cup and decorate the outside to look like the outside of a groundhog's burrow.

5. Insert the bottom of the stick into the hole.

6. Congratulations! Your pop-up groundhog is now complete! Will it see its shadow?

(Nature Craft from enchantedlearning.com)

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What you need: 12 inches of string or 1 pipecleaner, 1 bead of light blue, green, dark blue, yellow, clear, and white.

1. First string the dark blue bead. This bead represents water collecting in bodies of water.

2. Next add on the green bead on top of the dark blue bead. This bead represents the plants that use the water in the ground and then transpire it.

3. On top of the green bead, string the yellow bead. This bead represents the sun that provides the energy for water to become water vapor.

4. After the yellow bead, add the clear bead. This clear bead represents the air when the water vapor rises up, but has not become a cloud yet.

5. Next add on the white bead. This bead represents the clouds that form when the water vapor condenses.

6. Finally, add the light blue bead. This bead represents precipitation that falls back from the clouds.

7. After you've strung your beads, tie the bracelet in a circle to complete the cycle. Be sure it is a comfortable size around your wrist, and that you're able to take it off!

(Nature Craft from suite101.com)

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What you need: sheet of yellow foam (or sturdy paper), stapler, glitter glue, yarn, hole punch, paper streamers.

1. Draw a Sun shape on the foam and cut it out.

2. Decorate your Sun with glitter glue, markers or anything else you prefer.

3. When glue is dry, staple streamers to the bottom half of your Sun.

4. Punch a hole in the top of the Sun and put your yarn through it as a hanger.

5. Hang your art so it can sparkle in the sunlight and will be certain to catch a good breeze!

(Nature Craft from The Idea Box)

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What you need: folded paper cranes of various colors and sizes (instructions here), thin string, approx 7 ft. of colored yarn, large needle, 2 dowels/sticks/pencils, beads (optional).

See illustrated instructions here!

1. Tie yarn around one of the dowels and form a cross with the other.

2. Wrap string around the sticks going clockwise, looping the string twice around every stick. When you have made a sturdy cross, tie off yarn and trim extra.

3. Thread needle with thin string.

4.  String your cranes by sticking the needle through the puffy part of their bodies. You can thread several on top of each other or just string them singularly. You can also tie beads at the end or between your cranes. See here for bead techniques.

5. Tie strung cranes to hang from your dowel cross. Double- or triple-knot them.

6. Double-knot 1 ft. of string on one side of the horizontal part of the cross. Then double knot the end on the other side of the cross so that you have a loop.

What you need: paper plate, party blower, scissors, markers or crayons, tape or stapler, googly eyes (optional).

1. Fold your paper plate in half.

2. Cut a small hole in the center of the folded plate.

3. Decorate the top half of your plate to look like a frog. You can cut eyes to pop out or use googly eyes.

4. Place party blower inside the plate, with the mouthpiece through the hole and the curled part sticking out of the bottom with the curl facing upwards. Tape in place.

5. Tape or staple the open end of the paper plate.

6. Viola - you have a frog face! Have fun blowing on the mouthpiece to make your frog's tongue roll out!

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What you need: 2 paper plates, yellow paint, black paint, small triangle of black paper, strip of paper, tissue or wax paper, black pipe cleaner, pencil, glue or stapler, scissors.

1. Paint the bottom-sides of the paper plates yellow and let dry.

2. Paint black stripes across the plates and add eyes and a face. Let dry.

3. While paint is drying, cut four wings out of the tissue or wax paper. Once your bee is dry, attach the wings with glue or staples to the top plate.

4. Using the pencil, poke two holes in the plate above the eyes and thread the pipe cleaner through them for antennae.

5. Glue or staple the triangle of black paper to the back of your bee, giving it a stinger.

6. Staple the two plates together so they form a pouch, or bee body, leaving an opening in the back with enough space for your hand to fit through. 

7. Place your bee puppet on your hand and buzz around!

(Nature Craft adapted from DLTK's Crafts for Children)

What you need: rocks, paint, glue, googly eyes...

1. Wash your rock to make sure it is nice and clean. Let it dry in the sun.

2. If you want to, paint your rock with various colors and patterns and let dry. Add a face and/or glue googly eyes to it. Let it dry overnight.

3. You now have your very own personalized rock buddy! Take it on adventures, take some photos, keep in a special place, make some more rock friends and family, add a magnet, or string on a necklace!

4. Consider checking out the "Rock Thoughts" project with your new pal.

(Nature Craft adapted from in words and pictures)

Wild Grass Key Chain
What you need: scissors, wild grass or raffia, key ring, embroidery floss (optional), beads (optional), flowers and wax (optional).

1. Take several long strands of grass and put them through your key ring. Double them over so they are looped through the ring.

2. Braid your strands together. You may also add beads or embroidery floss as you go.

3. Tie off the braid and wrap embroidery floss around the knot or add beads to the end.

4. Consider weaving in real or fake wildflowers. (You could dip these in wax to keep them from crumbling.)

5. Hang some keys off your new key chain!

Paper Puppet
What you need: paper bag, black construction paper, white construction paper, glue.

1. Fold the two square corners at the bottom of the bag to form the raccoon head.

2. Cut from the white construction paper two large circles (masks), three small circles (nose and eyes), two medium triangles (ears) and a large oval (stomach).

3. Cut from the black construction paper two tiny circles (pupils), one small circle (nose), two large black circles (mask), two large triangles (ears) and two large ovals (paws).

4. Glue the black pupils on two of the small white circles. Layer the remaining circles to form the mask around the eyes. Glue the black medium "nose" circle on the white "nose" circle. Then paste your eyes, mask and nose on the paper bag's "face."

5. Glue the large white oval on the stomach of your paper bag and glue arms to the sides of the paper bag.

9. Glue small and big triangles together to make ears and glue to top of the puppet's head.

11. Viola! Your puppet is ready to act!

(Nature Craft adapted from Enchanted Learning)

Rice Krispie Planet
What you need: 3 tablespoons butter, 1 package regular marshmallows (or 4 cups mini marshmallows), 6 cups Rice Krispies, 2 colors food coloring (we used green and blue), 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional).

1. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely blended. Remove from heat.

2. Add Rice Krispies and optional vanilla. Stir until well-coated.

3. Divide mixture into two bowls. Add one food coloring to one bowl and another color to the second - a few drops is all you need! Mix well. (You can mix with your hands - be sure to wash them before and after!)

4. Being careful of the temperature, use your hands to combine blue Rice Krispies and green Rice Krispies to make your own Rice Krispie planet!

5. Let cool completely on wax papered surface.

6. Enjoy!

*Note* Be careful of the amount of food coloring used--your teeth may stain!

(Nature Craft adapted from DLTK.com and RiceKrispies.com)

Trail Blazer
What you need: boots, coat, snowsuit, coloring materials, paper.

1. Go outside and look for animal tracks. Point out features like size, shape, paws or hooves and talk about what kind of animals made them.

2. Find a clear patch of snow.

3. Using your own boots, hands and a little imagination, create your own type of tracks. Can you integrate other props like a pinecone or treebranch to make toes or claws? What kind of imaginary animal would make these? What's it called? What does it act like? What does it eat? Where is it going?

4. When you're done with the tracks, go inside and draw the creature you made tracks for. Write a story about it!

What you need: 1 cup used coffee grounds, 1/2 cup cold coffee, 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, wax paper, mixing bowl, items to make fossil indentations, empty can or butter knife, toothpicks (optional), string (optional).

1. Mix together the coffee, coffee grounds, flour, and salt in the mixing bowl.

2. Knead the dough together and then flatten it out on the wax paper.

3. Use the can or butter knife to cut out slabs for your fossil.

4. Place your object on your slab in order to make an indentation. When you remove it, the fossil indentation remains. Or you can draw an indentation with a toothpick. Poke a hole in the slab with a toothpick if you wish to hang your fossil.

5. Let dry overnight or up to two days. If you wish, use string to hang your fossil.

(Nature Craft adapted from Kaboose)

Instructions may be found on this cool PDF from the Wisconsin DNR site to build your own Emerald Ash Borer using a clothespin, paint and shiny green foil!  Check it out here!

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