Seasonal Ideas

Today marks the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, also known as the summer solstice – the longest day of the year. It occurs around June 20, 21, and 22, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most inclined towards the sun; because of this, the sun reaches its highest point in …

Now that you’ve started your garden, here are some tips and tricks to further boost your plants’ growth. These will help you keep your garden healthy while also saving time, money and energy! Banana Peel Water Instead of throwing out banana peels, cut them up and put them in a cup with some warm water. …

Starting and Maintaining a vegetable garden can be a great activity to keep your kitchen stocked with fresh, organic vegetables. It’s also a great way to spend time with friends and family. But… how does one start a garden? Here are some tips to get your garden started and help it thrive! 1. Location Plan …

Are you looking for an exciting and beautiful destination to journey to for the start of the new year? Look no further than the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! These mountain peaks are stunning at any time of year, including winter.  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the #1-visited national park in the U.S …

We are right at summer’s doorstep! Here are some fun ways to welcome the season, get the kids outside, and enjoy nature together.  1. Hiking – Take the day to walk some trails! This can be a good bonding experience between parents/caregivers and children and keeps everyone active. It can also yield some amazing views …

Today is Earth Day, a day set aside each year to help raise awareness of the need to protect our natural resources.  Wondering how to celebrate the day? Here are three easy ideas to get you started:  1. Start a Nature Journal: Sometimes it’s hard to care about something when you don’t know much about …

It’s the first day of winter! Here are some fun ways you can celebrate the season:  1. Make your own centerpieces from natural materials: pine boughs, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, sprigs of rosemary, or floating cranberries.  2. Take advantage of the abundance of citrus fruits. 3. Go snow-tubing.  4. Take a high-definition photo or use a …

This time of year I find myself playing a scavenger hunt of sorts when I’m in the car, searching for bright tufts of green in otherwise bare trees of winter. For some strange reason it brings me great joy to find our favorite holiday parasite boldly displaying itself high in the trees for all to …

Pumpkin picking, leaf peeping, getting lost in corn mazes — fall is a season full of outdoor activities. But people aren’t the only ones on the go. Squirrels are busy in the fall, bulking up for the winter with extra food and storing nuts, acorns, and seeds for later. Eastern gray squirrels can be found …

Today is the first day of autumn! Wondering what to do to enjoy the season? Here are 45 ideas to help get you started:  1. Carve a pumpkin and roast the seeds. 2. Go on a hayride. 3. Have a cookout and grill fall vegetables.  4. Make a Thankful Tree.  5. Go camping or campout …

It’s that time of year! Here are some ways to help get your school year off to a good start!  1. Let the sun wake you up. Read why you should consider it. 2. After the first week of school, bike around your block to relax. 3. In the morning, spend one minute doing jumping …

In August, many families are getting in their last vacation trips of the season and starting to think about shopping for school supplies. Fresh garden produce and ice-cold watermelons still grace many a picnic. But have you ever wondered what wildlife is up to this month? For many animals, spring and summer are times to …

When is the last time you’ve flown a kite?  Does a distant memory from your childhood emerge of a breezy day at the park?  These flowing streaks of fabric in the sky are often  regarded as toys solely for kids, but why is that?  I would like to advocate that adults can (and should) fly …

Temperatures are starting to rise, but there are lots of fun ways to spend time outdoors and still beat the heat. Try some of these water activities to stay cool when it’s hot outside. Go swimming. Check around to find the swimming spots are near you. Besides a pool, some other places to consider are …

When we were growing up, my brother, sister, and I used to go outside on summer nights and try to catch fireflies. Today, watching them flash in the evening is still one of my favorite things about summer. Not long ago, while we were camping in a valley in Tennessee, the fireflies flashed in the …

Spring comes each year with a predictable rhythm. Are your children or students feeling the drumbeat of its approach? Rather than letting spring fever take over, channel their excitement into observation of the outdoors. If you have a consistent commute with kids in the car, begin by pointing out the blooming flowers, shrubs, and trees …

If you’re a college student like me, the farewell of winter and emergence of spring means one thing —finals.  By this point in the semester, the mere thought of finishing projects, writing lengthy papers, and preparing for arduous cumulative tests may send you into a spiraling vortex of stress.  Luckily, stress is natural, which means …

The days are getting longer, flowers are blooming and it’s the perfect time to get outside. Looking for new things to do? Try the Rainbow Hunt. Try to find things in nature that make up the colors of the rainbow. Start with red then move on to orange, green, yellow, blue, indigo, and violent. In …

Looking for some ways to celebrate the season? Here are some ideas to try:  1. Spring flowers and bulbs are starting to bloom. Celebrate the season by playing bloom bingo. Learn how here. 2. Hurray! The time has changed and the days are getting longer. Spend the extra hour (and more!) of daylight outdoors. Some of our …

The past couple of years have become a more stress-filled year than any of us ever anticipated. But while we can’t always control the stressors in our lives, there are things we can do to find some stress-relief — including heading outside! In her book The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and …