You’ve heard it said that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes! Time to put that to the test with some outdoor winter fun. Once you’re bundled up there is plenty to do in your own winter wonderland. Lean into the uniqueness of winter and keep your body moving in order to most fully appreciate what this chilly and overlooked season has to offer.

Observe the changing weather

Winter is anything but boring! Even if you don’t have snow on the ground, the changing clouds in the sky, the direction of the wind, and the time of the setting sun can all be exciting opportunities for your budding meteorologist. 

Try tracking and observing the weather from your own back porch. Here are some DIY weather station crafts to help you gather data. If you are looking for a simpler observation activity, try this pinecone experiment to see how different pinecones open or close depending on air moisture.

Take your sketchbook on a nature walk

You never know what you might see in the hush of winter. Birds, squirrels, and foxes might be out and about! Listen for animal calls and look for tracks. Sketch anything of interest in your sketchbook! Are there any buds on the trees? Which trees still have leaves? Are there any interesting rocks? 

If you were getting ready to hibernate, where would you choose to stay? You can even create a wintry scavenger hunt and draw each item that you find—berries, icicles, acorn caps, and more are sure to be spotted with an attentive eye!

Collect firewood

There is something so satisfying about amassing a giant pile of sticks! The mission can either be for a real fire-starting lesson or simply wintery pioneers vying for survival in their pretend campsite. 

Once you have accumulated plenty of sticks, you can either assemble them in an effective campfire or use them to build shelters! If sticks are more limited, you can use tiny twigs to build a “fairy house” and imagine what little creatures might want to take refuge there.

Use the freezing weather as a medium for art

If snow is covering the ground, try snow spray painting! Fill spray bottles with water and food coloring and spray onto the fresh snow to make designs. 

If you anticipate temperatures dropping overnight, fill water balloons with water and food dye which will freeze into jewel-colored orbs for imaginative fun the following day!