Make It Wild: Will It Rot? | Conduct a simple experiment to discover how long these items will take to return to the soil.

Explore a wild space to observe autumn flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees. Which plants and plant parts have faded or fallen to the ground? How will these natural objects return to the soil? Do you think they will decompose or sprout next spring?

Scout the area for rotting logs and examine them closely. How does the bark feel? Rough and sturdy? Spongy and soft? What is growing on or near the log? Choose a log and gently roll it away from you as if you are opening the front door to a hidden home. Watch quietly for a few moments to observe movement under the log. What can you spy under this log? When you are finished, gently roll the log back into place to “close the door” and respect this habitat.

Make It Wild: Star-Viewing Wand | This sweet wand will inspire you to stargaze on a clear winter’s night. Afterwards, you can use it for dramatic play.

Cold temperatures usually mean drier weather and more visibility for stargazing. Bundle up with your family on a clear winter night and head outside, preferably to an open area away from buildings and artificial light. It’s best not to bring a flashlight with you, but you might want a thermos of hot cocoa! Some constellations are easy to spot with the naked eye, such as Orion’s Belt. To help you focus, create the Star-Viewing Wand here. Snuggle up next to your loved ones and gaze at the stars!

Make It Wild: Wool Felted Rocks | Are there any rocks that look like they are wearing moss sweaters? Did you know you can make a sweater for a rock?

Rocks seem to invite little hands to touch and play with them. Nature play with rocks can enhance physical development as children pick up tiny stones with fingers or carry around and pile up larger rocks. The colors, sizes, and textures of individual rocks are intriguing. Careful study of rocks can reveal what minerals or crystals are present, or if you have come upon a fossil. Perhaps you have a future geologist in your midst!

Visit a stream, beach, or other waterway where rocks and stones are plentiful and you can freely explore. Look under the rocks for insect larvae, snails, and other aquatic critters. You might even see salamanders or crayfish.

Note: The best rock hounds examine their finds in person with other experts. Visit your local natural science museum, gem and mineral club, or university geology department for help identifying your rocks.

Make It Wild: Violet Jam | Some flowers are beautiful to look at and to eat! Make this delicious spring jam from foraged violets.

At long last, plants unfurl tender buds and reveal lovely petals and fresh new leaves. Given the bounty of spring plants as producers of food, hungry consumers (animals that are omnivores, herbivores, and carnivores) take advantage of delicious new food sources. Hunting goes hand in hand with foraging as animals seek nourishment after a lean winter, dormancy, or migration. Animals are also looking to feed their young, so although spring is a time of plentiful food, foraging animals must remain on high alert. There are others ready to spring into action.

Frolic and play outdoors as you explore spring growth. What clues indicate that animals are awake and feeding on tasty flowers and leaves? Is there evidence of insects such as ants nibbling at flower buds? Do you notice flies, beetles, or bees visiting nearby flowers? Are there signs that rabbits or deer have foraged in your yard or park?