Earth Day: Nature Scavenger Hunt

As soon as Lydia saw these egg carton butterflies in Family Fun she oohed and aaaahed. I promised we’d make them. So, I thought it would be a fun craft to share with you after my “earth day” craft yesterday.

Well, we started it this morning and about halfway through Lydia ran out of steam. They weren’t looking like the gorgeous butterflies in the magazine and honestly, I was getting a little bored, too. What’s wrong with me? Do I not know how to read directions? Do I pick crafts that are too hard for her? *sigh* I should have known better—we’ve done one of those tissue paper mod podge crafts TWICE before and it never turns out well.

Anywhoo, instead of a gorgeous recycled craft, we ended up having a VERY exciting time exploring God’s great earth instead!

I’ve always been really inspired by 5 Orange Potatoes which is a blog dedicated to helping kids love and experience nature. As a Christian, I totally love this because I feel like being around and interacting with nature is one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the greatness of God. This week (month?) 5 Orange Potatoes is hosting The Great Outdoor Challenge—which is exactly what it sounds like: challenging YOU to get your kids OUTDOORS!

Ever since Spring has sprung, I’ve been trying to get the kids outside, but now I’m trying to get them IN nature. Not just playing ball or blowing bubbles or playing with sidewalk chalk, I want them plain old PLAYING OUTSIDE.

So, if that wasn’t wordy enough, here’s a few pictures of our Outdoor Adventure today!

Lydia went on a photo scavenger hunt. I’d give her a topic (all green things, 4 different colored plants, leaves with your finger in the photo, etc.) and then she’d come back and show me all the pictures she took. She LOVED this and found so many fun things!

Then we found a dead bumblebee on the porch. We pulled out Lydia’s magnifying glass (a must after we started watching Sid The Science Kid!) and started investigating it. Lydia was a little freaked out by it-especially when the wind would blow and make it move! I would look through the magnifying glass first and say, “Oooh, I see it has fuzzy legs! What neat thing do you notice, Lydia?” And we’d go back and forth noticing interesting things about the bee. I finally swept him under the porch and Lydia cried.

Then as we were walking to check the mail Lydia found a snail shell on the ground. As we laid on the ground to examine it, we found another one. The kid were absolutely enthralled with them because they expected them to move at any moment.

We found more bugs–centipedes, ants and roly polies. And with each one the kids got more and more excited. It was the highlight of our day!

I went to Bible College and learned the term “general revelation” which just means that creation reveals God to the world. And today, I saw that. My kids were loving and enjoying the creation of a mighty and creative God. Being around the handiwork of God opens up my heart to Him. I pray my kids’ hearts were opened today, too!

But ask the animals what God does.
They will teach you.
Or ask the birds of the air.
They will tell you.
Or speak to the earth. It will teach you.
Or let the fish of the ocean educate you.
Are there any of those creatures that don’t know
what the powerful hand of the Lord has done?
He holds the life of every creature in his hand.
He controls the breath of every human being.

Job 12:7-10 NIrV

When was the last time you and your kids just played outside?