Outdoor
MEET A TREE
Spending time with trees, even trees planted in a city, is a great way to calm down and improve our mental focus.
This “Meet a Tree” activity can help us become more aware of our senses through connecting to nature.
This game is fun with kids aged 4 and up
Materials needed:
blindfolds
small woods or group of trees
Tip: The 'seeing' partner leads the blindfolded partner to meet a tree so it may be best to start with the adult or older child leading.
How to meet a tree:
Divide into pairs
Put a blindfold on 1 person in each pair
The blindfolded person “meets the tree” by:
feeling the texture of the tree’s bark
Putting their arms around the tree to see how big it is
Exploring the tree’s branches and leaves
Noticing how different parts of the tree feel
Option: The seeing person can guide the blindfolded person’s hands to interesting places on or around the tree
Once the person has met their tree, walk them back to the starting point and remove the blindfold
The players then walk to find their tree from the picture they have in their mind from feeling the tree
Reflection: Does the tree look the way it felt?
Did you know? Most adults and children can find their way to a tree they have met blindfolded from a distance of 20 meters or more, but you can adjust the distance based on your own child’s abilities
Land Art
In Land Art you use earth, rocks, snow, and other parts of nature.
How to make Land Art
Go outside your home or for a walk
On your walk look for found materials (parts of plants, rocks, dirt that has fallen)
When you notice found materials you like - stop and make your art right there!
Try stacking, building shapes or patterns.
You may want to take a picture of your creation as your art will change as time and seasons pass.
To learn more about Land Art explore different artists like Andy Goldsworthy who's work inspired this outdoor art engagement adapted from KiwiCo
Remember to use what you can find on the ground