SEVEN ACTIVITIES TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CONNECT WITH NATURE

Compass Point: EAST/Nature is an activity from the YMCA Adventure Guides Curriculum.

We have to strive to be better stewards of the environment, practice conservation strategies and always recycle. Let’s be informed about the plants and animals you share this planet with. Use these activities to experience the outdoors and gain an appreciation for nature, even if it just in our own backyards.

Discussion:

Love the sacred circle of my family. How can we show it?
Listen while others speak. How can we do this better?

Activity: Nature Scavenger Hunt

This nature Scavenger Hunt is sure to help you find something new and appreciate nature. How many can you check off?

Craft: Rock Footprint

Create your very own footprint with stones/rocks found in your backyard or community park.

Give Back:

Earth Day was April 22^nd, what can you do to give back to nature?

Plant flowers or start your own garden
Is there trash around your house you can pick up? Safely with gloves
Are there items that you can start recycling instead of just throwing away?
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Certain Plastics

Go Wild:

Whether you capture wildlife with your camera, paint a pretty landscape, or discover a new place for your group to visit, there's plenty to do and see this spring at your Texas State Parks!

Song: “I Love the Mountains”

Can you make up your own hand motions or dance to this song? Sing-a-long!

I love the mountains.
I love the rolling hills.
I love the flowers.
I love the daffodils.
I love the fireside.
When all the lights are low.

Boom dee ah dah. Boom dee ah dah.
Boom dee ah dah. Boom dee ah dah.
Boom dee ah dah. Boom dee ah dah.
Boom dee ah dah. Boom dee ah dah.

I love the ocean
I love the open sea
I love the forest
I love the bumblebees
I love the stars above
When night turns into day

Boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee
Boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom

I love the sunshine
I love the butterflies
I love the windblow
I love the river flow
I love the city lights
When the moon is high

Boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom
Boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom

I love the daysies
I love the sugar peas
I love the meadows
I love the summer breeze
I love to walk on by
My head up in the sky

Boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom
Boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom-dee-a-da, boom

Storytime: “Three Soul Bears”

Once upon a time in a nursery rhyme there were

1, 2, 3 bears.

One was a mama bear, one was a papa bear, and

one was a wee bear.

One day they went a walkin’ in the deep forest

talkin’,

And along came a girl with golden curls.

She knocked on the door,

(make knocking sound three times)

Nobody there, so she walked right in, and along

came the 3 bears.

“Someone’s been sittin’ in my chair,” said the mama

bear,

(sing in a high voice) said the mama bear.

“Someone’s been sittin’ in my chair,” said the papa

bear,

(sing in a deep voice) said the papa bear.

“Hey, Mama, see bear,” said the little wee bear,

(sing in a wee voice) “Someone’s been sittin’ in my

chair, woow!”

“Someone’s been eatin’ my porridge,” said the

mama bear,

said the mama bear.

“Someone’s been eatin’ my porridge,” said the

papa bear,

said the papa bear.

“Hey, Mama, see bear,” said the little wee bear,

“Someone’s been eatin’ my porridge, woow!”

“Someone’s been sleepin’ in my bed,” said the

mama bear,

said the mama bear,

“Someone’s been sleepin’ in my bed,” said the papa

bear,

said the papa bear.

“Hey, Mama, see bear,” said the little wee bear,

“Someone is sleepin’ in my bed, woow!”

Goldie Locks she woke up, and broke up the

party,

“Bye bye, bye bye,” said the mama bear.

“Bye bye, bye bye,” said the papa bear.

“Bye bye, bye bye,” said the wee bear.

And that is the story of the three soul bears.

As you complete the activities, let your navigator or your Y staff know!