Nature Mobiles

How long it’ll take:

35 - 45 mins

What the goal is:

Teach campers how to use balance and nature to create art.

What the objectives are:

Campers will create mobile using materials found around their yards and homes. Campers will use knots they learn to tie their structure together.

What you’ll need: prep campers and parents for this activity the day before so they can bring materials from around their home if possible.

• 1 very sturdy, longer stick

• 4-5 smaller sticks of varying size (smaller than their forearms) that are clear of bark (or as close as you can get)

  • Alternatives- Sticks, pencils, dowels, get creative.

• Colored permanent markers or washable markers

• Floor covering to paint/color/decorate on

• Yarn, twine, string, thin rope, or dental floss

• Scissors to cut yarn, twine, string, thin rope or dental floss (need around 10 lengths anywhere from 12-24 inches each)

• Natural items for hanging on the mobile (flowers, pine cones, shells, leaves, acorns, moss, Orange slices, other fruits, anything works!).

What you’ll do:

• Choose a larger, stronger stick to be the “anchor” and tie (using a slipknot) 2-3 feet of string to each end of it like so:

• Attach other sticks to the anchor stick in any creative way campers can think of. Example below:

To hang your sticks vertically from the anchor: you can use the slipknot to attach your sticks vertically to your anchor, or you can use a double half hitch tied to the anchor stick and then to your other sticks to hang them vertically.

To hang your sticks parallel from the anchor: You can use slip knots to attach your sticks to each end of your anchor, or experiment with the double half hitch as well!

• Decorate your mobile using paint, natural items, etc. Get Creative!!