Second Nature

With the holidays fast approaching and the economy what it is, creating beautiful gifts from nature with your young ones will surely ring in the festive season. Not to mention that research has shown, getting out into nature with your family improves mental, emotional, and physical health! It's a win, win!! You will see the look of pride in your little one's eyes when they watch someone receive a handmade gift. That is a gift in itself! Making crafts can incorporate an adventure by going out into nature and collecting twigs, pine needles, pine cones, acorns, other nuts, evergreens, berries, lichen, bits of moss. It's like a treasure hunt! Look for interesting textures, sizes and shapes. Some crafts are great to develop fine motor skills for little hands. Some crafts can be very unique emerging from the materials you have on hand and what you find in the woods. Remember to only take what you need. Many materials can be found on the forest floor, rather than from a live plant. Take just a few of what is abundant. If you find something special but there's only a few of them, leave it where you found it to ensure its continued presence. Enjoy adventures in nature with your family! Make gifts or seasonal decorations that will have your children beaming with pride. Some may even become family treasures that you pull out each holiday season. There are so many crafts you could create! Here are a few to get you started. Twig Star You will need: 5 slightly flexible, straight twigs Twine or string Evergreen clippings Decorations from nature: berries, cones, goldenrod galls… Ribbon Rubber bands Hot glue Instructions: Cut 5 thin bendy twigs the same length (maybe 6 or 9 inches). To attach twigs, rubber bands can help hold them together, then use twine to secure. Take the first two twigs, noticing which ends are thicker. Connect the thick end of one to the thin end of the other with a rubber band or string. Attach so the right twig is on top of the left twig. Pull twigs 30 degrees apart to form a point. Next, add another twig making sure it is the top-crossing twig at the attachment point. Each new twig should be placed on top of the last one. Adjust the position of the third twig so the angle matches the angle at the top. Weave the fourth twig through the twigs that form the star's top point. Weave under twig one and over twig two and attach to twig three. When attaching the last twig, first weave it under twig two and over twig three, then tie. Decorate by attaching greens, berries, hemlock cones, or lichen with hot glue. Tie a ribbon and it's ready to hang up! Wreath - kid friendly You will need: A piece of cardboard (could be a cereal box) 2 bowls to trace around, one big and one smaller for wreath shape Scissors 5 rubber bands Hole punch Twine Decorations from nature: pine branches, cones, berries, moss, leaves ... Instructions: Use the bowls to trace around the cardboard. First trace the large bowl, then place the small bowl in the center and trace around that. Cut the outside bowl first, then cut through the outside circle to get to the inside. (this cut will help you get the rubber bands on the loop.) Criss-cross the rubber bands on the loop to form a tight fit. Tape the loop shut Have your child weave pine boughs through the rubber bands and cover the whole wreath. Decorate by attaching additional pieces of nature as desired. Use the hole punch and twine and it's ready to hang up! Mushroom Ornament or Garland You will need: Acorn tops Twigs about as thick around as your pinky cut to 1.5 to 2 inches. Hot glue Tiny hook screws Twine Instructions: Glue the acorn top onto the top of the twig. Screw a tiny hook into the top of the acorn top and attach twine through. Tie a knot for a single mushroom or add more mushrooms to create garland. Second Nature is submitted by the naturalists at Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center (BEEC) in West Brattleboro. Come take a walk on the trails, open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Join us to find and create with Nature's Treasures on Dec. 6, and bring the children to Nature Explorers Day Camps for no school days Nov. 11, 24 and 25. Learn more about programs for all ages at www.BEEC.org. BEEC is a member supported non-profit organization.