Print a Scavenger Hunt for Earth Day

When kids are very young the best thing you can do to celebrate Earth Day might be to make sure they spend some time outdoors exploring the natural world around them and learning a little bit about what they can do to protect the planet (like picking up trash, turning off lights, etc.).

I love the idea of doing an Earth Day scavenger hunt in nature, which is easy with this printable and other ideas from Mom on the Side.

Her scavenger hunt is pretty simple, but of course you can use any nature scavenger hunt you like (here are links to a bunch), or write one up with your child.

Remember to only observe these items, or if you take them home to make rubbings or use in other ways, return them to nature when you are done. Or give your child a camera and let them take pictures of the things they find. Never to early to learn “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.”

Looking for some books to pair with these crafts? Check these out.

[Photo: Mom on the Side.]

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Earth Day Activities for Kids

Whenever you go to the beach with kids, you’re sure to come home with some seashells and more than a little sand. Let’s use some of those treasures to make fun crafts.

This handprint craft is made with a sand-infused salt dough and some little shells from the beach. It’s a cute way to remember how little your kids were on that beach trip. Find the instructions at From Under a Palm Tree.

Here’s another take on sand dough that was used to make little ornaments and sculptures. Get the details from Pink Stripey Socks.

Moms and Crafters used air dry clay and seashells to make these cute necklaces. She used the storebought clay but you can also make your own air dry clay if you’d rather.

Crafts on Sea used a shell to make a whale, but I’m sure you could take this idea and make lots of different creatures. I love the idea of sea creatures made with shells like fish or a jellyfish or an octopus using the same method. They also have a seashell decoration made with salt dough that’s really cute and would be fun for kids to paint. Poke a hole before it dries for hanging if you want.

Or take a bunch of little shells and decorate a frame like these from Rhythms of Play. They used a handprint instead of a picture but you could also put in a picture from the beach trip.

This is probably one for the mamas to make because it uses epoxy, but I also wanted to share these cute and easy shell hair pins from Thrifty Mama Ramblings, which kids are sure to want for their mermaid pretend play.

Or how about some sensory play straight from the beach? Use store bought sand if you don’t have a beach nearby to make this beach sand slime from The Mama Notes. Thrown in some shells and kids will love playing with this one.

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