Make a Fairy/Gnome House
Enjoying nature can be simple and fun! Imagining that little creatures live in the trees and leaves deepens our connections to outdoor life. Finding small objects that could create a habitat for imaginary creatures is not only easy and free, but makes wonderful...
7 Games to Play in the Park
Celebrate the YMCA’s national initiative, Healthy Kids Day, with some fresh air and family-approved fun in your neighborhood park! Scavenger Hunt Make a list of things you want your kids to find. Give each team or individual a bag to collect items. The first one at...
Building a Crane Arm
Explore how cranes work by building a simple crane arm, then testing different loads to see how much work it takes to lift them! What You Need 2-ft. piece of string Pencil Ruler Paperclip Small items to lift using the crane (such as keys or washers) What You Do Tie...
Grow Your Own Strawberry Plant! (from the strawberries in your lunch box)
Did you know that strawberries are the only fruit that wear their seeds on the outside? Most strawberry plants come from the store, but to celebrate Earth Day (April 22), you can practice germinating and sowing your own strawberry plant using seeds from the...
Nature Rubbings!
Nature rubbings are a great way to learn about the details of nature while at the same time creating beautiful art or stationary. What You Need Pretty leaf or flat piece of nature. The more pronounced the details, the better the rubbing...
Electromagnets!
Early in the 1800s, people discovered that a current-carrying wire created a magnetic field, and this effect was increased when the wire was shaped into a coil. Many home appliances use electromagnets; for example, household fans rely on electromagnets to spin. What...
Domino Magic Trick!
Here is a fun magic trick you can do with a friend at home. What You Need A set of dominoes (one that goes up to double 6 makes the trick go faster) A table or space on the floor big enough to make a circle with all the dominoes What You Do Step 1: Lay out all the...
Make Your Own Musical Shaker!
Don’t worry if you don’t consider yourself “musical.” The only thing that matters is having fun and making music. An at-home play-along is a fantastic way to engage with music, so turn up your favorite song and get ready to rock with these easy do-it-yourself shakers,...
Make Your Own Writing Kit!
Talk about a long conversation! People didn’t always use email and text messages to talk to one another. Two hundred years ago, you would have to write a letter if you wanted to talk to someone, and you’d have to wait weeks or even months for a reply. You might have...
Milk-O-Rama!
What You Need 250mL (1 cup) milk (whole milk, if possible) 3-4 different bottles of food coloring Pie plate Liquid soap What You Do Step 1: Fill a pie plate with room temperature milk. Step 2: Add a few drops of food coloring to the milk. Make sure to use different...
Homemade Watercolors
This project is a great mix of science and art that engages children in several S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) principles at once. Children not only get to participate in the science of making the watercolors, but also enjoy the artistic...
Staycation Adventures
From travel costs to work obligations, lots of factors prevent us from leaving town for a traditional vacation…but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time right at home. Why not plan a staycation? It’s more than just free time at home; it’s an intentional...
