We know that keeping kids engaged in nature can be a struggle in the winter months. Here are three easy winter activities that keep them learning, creating, and experimenting in the colder months.

Go on a nature walk to find crunchy leaves. Bring them back home to crunch them into small pieces. Draw a design on paper with craft glue, then sprinkle or arrange the leaves on the glue. This is a great activity for exploring textures, color gradients, and being creative!

Bubbles aren't just for summer fun! If the weather drops low enough, ideally below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, bubbles will actually freeze mid-air! Any bubble solution will do, but works best if it's already cold, so it's a good idea to put it in the fridge for a few hours before you want to play. If you stay outside blowing bubbles long enough, the solution will also start to freeze in the bottle. Make sure to observe as the crystals form and grow!

Help our feathered friends this winter by making these adorable bird feeders. Cut an orange in half and remove the fruit. Use chopsticks, skewers, or sticks from nature to make a cross near the rim of the peel. These double as hangers and perches for the birds, so make sure they are sturdy. Tie strings to the wooden hangers, then fill with birdseed and hang outside on a tree! Be sure to observe them often and see how many different species of birds visit!